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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Expression of mRNAs for pro-and anti-apoptotic factors in granulosa cells and follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization. A pilot study

Authors: József Bódis, Endre Sulyok, Ákos Várnagy, Viktória Prémusz, Krisztina Gödöny, Alexandra Makai, Ágnes Szenczi, Timea Varjas

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

This observational clinical study evaluated the expression levels and predictive values of some apoptosis-related genes in granulosa cells (GCs) and follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods

GCs and FF were obtained at oocyte retrieval from 31 consecutive patients with heterogeneous infertility diagnosis (age: 34.3 ± 5.8 years, body mass index: 24.02 ± 3.12 kg/m2, duration of infertility: 4.2 ± 2.1 years). mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic (BAX, CASP3, CASP8) and anti-apoptotic (BCL2, AMH, AMHR, FSHR, LHR, CYP19A1) factors was determined by quantitative RT-PCR using ROCHE LightCycler 480.

Results

No significant difference in GC or FF mRNA expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors could be demonstrated between IVF patients with (9 patients) or without (22 patients) clinical pregnancy. Each transcript investigated was detected in FF, but their levels were markedly reduced and independent of those in GCs. The number of retrieved oocytes was positively associated with GC AMHR (r = 0.393, p = 0.029), but the day of embryo transfer was negatively associated with GC LHR (r = − 0.414, p = 0.020) and GC FSHR transcripts (r = − 0.535, p = 0.002). When pregnancy positive group was analysed separately the impact of apoptosis- related gene expressions on some selected measures of IVF success could be observed. Strong positive relationship was found between gene expression levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors in GCs.

Conclusion

Our study provides only marginal evidences for the apoptosis dependence of IVF outcome and suggests that the apoptosis process induces adaptive increases of the anti-apoptotic gene expression to attenuate apoptosis and to protect cell survival.

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Title: Expression of mRNAs for pro-and anti-apoptotic factors in granulosa cells and follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization. A pilot study
Authors: József Bódis
Endre Sulyok
Ákos Várnagy
Viktória Prémusz
Krisztina Gödöny
Alexandra Makai
Ágnes Szenczi
Timea Varjas
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-03834-1

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Expression of mRNAs for pro-and anti-apoptotic factors in granulosa cells and follicular fluid of women undergoing in vitro fertilization. A pilot study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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