Skip Navigation


Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on October 19, 2007
Human Reproduction 2007 22(12):3069-3077; doi:10.1093/humrep/dem336
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
22/12/3069    most recent
dem336v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (6)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Feuerstein, P.
Right arrow Articles by Royere, D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Feuerstein, P.
Right arrow Articles by Royere, D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Gene expression in human cumulus cells: one approach to oocyte competence

P. Feuerstein1,2, V. Cadoret1,3, R. Dalbies-Tran1, F. Guerif1,2,3, R. Bidault3 and D. Royere1,2,3,4

1 INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, Haras Nationaux, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France 2 Université François Rabelais de Tours, UFR Médecine, 37041 Tours, France 3 CHRU de Tours, Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, 37044 Tours, France

4 Correspondence address. E-mail: royere{at}med.univ-tours.fr

BACKGROUND: Dialogue between the oocyte and cumulus cells is essential for oocyte maturation. A prospective laboratory research project was designed to evaluate transcription of specific genes in cumulus cells harvested before intracytoplasmic sperm injection from pre-ovulatory follicles, according to individual oocyte nuclear maturity and developmental competence. Genes were chosen because their expression was induced by the LH peak [Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory protein (STAR), Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2 or PTGS2), Amphiregulin (AREG)] or because they were involved in oocyte lipidic metabolism [Stearoyl-Coenzyme A Desaturase 1 and 5 (SCD1 and SCD5)] or in gap-junctions [Connexin 43 (CX43 or GJA1)].

METHODS: mRNA levels in cumulus cells were assessed by real-time PCR.

RESULTS: Expression levels of all genes investigated, except Cx43, were increased after resumption of meiosis. Nuclear maturation was thus associated with increased expression of STAR, COX2, AREG, SCD1 and SCD5 by cumulus cells. When considering only cumulus associated with metaphase II oocytes, gene expression was independent of morphological status at Day 2. In contrast, transcript levels were lower and distributed over a narrower range in cumulus enclosing oocytes achieving blastocyst development at Day 5/6 than in cumulus enclosing oocytes unable to develop beyond the embryo stage.

CONCLUSION: Further developmental potential from embryo to blastocyst stage was associated with lower expression in a narrow range for these genes.

Key words: oocyte maturation/human cumulus cells/gene expression/developmental competence/resumption of meiosis

Submitted on July 11, 2007; resubmitted on August 17, 2007; accepted on September 12, 2007.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ReproductionHome page
R A Anderson, R Sciorio, H Kinnell, R A L Bayne, K J Thong, P A de Sousa, and S Pickering
Cumulus gene expression as a predictor of human oocyte fertilisation, embryo development and competence to establish a pregnancy
Reproduction, October 1, 2009; 138(4): 629 - 637.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Exp. Biol. Med.Home page
H. A. LaVoie and S. R. King
Transcriptional Regulation of Steroidogenic Genes: STARD1, CYP11A1 and HSD3B
Experimental Biology and Medicine, August 1, 2009; 234(8): 880 - 907.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
P. Devroey, B.C.J.M. Fauser, K. Diedrich, and on behalf of the Evian Annual Reproduction (EVAR)
Approaches to improve the diagnosis and management of infertility
Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2009; 15(4): 391 - 408.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. L. Robker, L. K. Akison, B. D. Bennett, P. N. Thrupp, L. R. Chura, D. L. Russell, M. Lane, and R. J. Norman
Obese Women Exhibit Differences in Ovarian Metabolites, Hormones, and Gene Expression Compared with Moderate-Weight Women
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2009; 94(5): 1533 - 1540.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. K. Nyholt de Prada, Y. S. Lee, K. E. Latham, C. L. Chaffin, and C. A. VandeVoort
Role for cumulus cell-produced EGF-like ligands during primate oocyte maturation in vitro
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2009; 296(5): E1049 - E1058.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Hum ReprodHome page
Q. Li, L. J. McKenzie, and M. M. Matzuk
Revisiting oocyte-somatic cell interactions: in search of novel intrafollicular predictors and regulators of oocyte developmental competence
Mol. Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2008; 14(12): 673 - 678.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol Hum ReprodHome page
S. Assou, D. Haouzi, K. Mahmoud, A. Aouacheria, Y. Guillemin, V. Pantesco, T. Reme, H. Dechaud, J. De Vos, and S. Hamamah
A non-invasive test for assessing embryo potential by gene expression profiles of human cumulus cells: a proof of concept study
Mol. Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2008; 14(12): 711 - 719.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.