Zona pellucida gene mRNA expression in human oocytes is related to oocyte maturity, zona inner layer retardance and fertilization competence

Autor: Chiara Benedetto, Johan Smitz, Stefano Canosa, Alberto Revelli, T. Adriaenssens, Wim Coucke, Paola Dalmasso
Přispěvatelé: Follicle Biology
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
polarized light microscopy
0301 basic medicine
RNA
Messenger/genetics

Embryology
zona pellucida
medicine.medical_treatment
Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins/genetics
cumulus cells
Signal transduction
Zona Pellucida/metabolism
0302 clinical medicine
Human fertilization
Gene expression
Cumulus Cells/cytology
Zona pellucida
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Gene Expression Regulation
Developmental

Cell Differentiation
Oocytes/cytology
ZP4
ZP3
medicine.anatomical_structure
Fertilization/genetics
Ephrin-B2/genetics
ZP2
ZP1
Female
pregnancy
Adult
Ephrin-B2
Biology
Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
Andrology
03 medical and health sciences
Genetics
medicine
Humans
RNA
Messenger

Blastocyst
Molecular Biology
Metaphase
Retrospective Studies
Germinal vesicle
Embryogenesis
Cell Biology
Oocyte
030104 developmental biology
Reproductive Medicine
Fertilization
Oocytes
Ovulation induction
ovulation induction
Developmental Biology
Popis: STUDY QUESTION: Do the mRNA expression levels of zona pellucida (ZP) genes, ZP1, 2, 3 and 4 in oocyte and cumulus cells (CC) reveal relevant information on the oocyte? SUMMARY ANSWER: The ZP mRNA expression in human oocytes is related to oocyte maturity, zona inner layer (IL) retardance and fertilization capacity. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: ZP structure and birefringence provide useful information on oocyte cytoplasmic maturation, developmental competence for embryonic growth, blastocyst formation and pregnancy. In order to understand the molecular basis of morphological changes in the ZP, in the current study, the polarized light microscopy (PLM) approach was combined with analysis of the expression of the genes encoding ZP1, 2, 3 and 4, both in the oocytes and in the surrounding CC. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a retrospective study comprising 98 supernumerary human cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) [80 Metaphase II (MII), 10 Metaphase I (MI) and 8 germinal vesicle (GV)] obtained from 39 patients (median age 33.4 years, range 22-42) after controlled ovarian stimulation. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Single oocytes and their corresponding CC were analysed. Oocytes were examined using PLM, and quantitative RT-PCR was performed for ZP1, 2, 3 and 4 in these individual oocytes and their CC. Ephrin-B2 (EFNB2) mRNA was measured in CC as a control. Presence of ZP3 protein in CC and oocytes was investigated using immunocytochemistry. Data were analysed using one-parametric and multivariate analysis and were corrected for the potential impact of patient and cycle characteristics. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Oocytes contained ZP1/2/3 and 4 mRNA while in CC only ZP3 was quantifiable. Also ZP3 protein was detected in human CC. When comparing mature (MII) and immature oocytes (MI/GV) or their corresponding CC, ZP1/2 and 4 expression was lower in mature oocytes compared to the expression in immature oocytes (all P < 0.05) and ZP3 expression was lower in the CC of mature oocytes compared to the expression in CC of immature oocytes (P < 0.05). This coincided with a significantly smaller IL-ZP area and thickness in mature oocytes than in immature oocytes (all P < 0.05). In mature oocytes, IL-ZP retardance was significantly correlated with the expression of all four ZP mRNAs (all P < 0.05). The oocyte ZP3 expression was the main predictor of the fertilization capacity, next to IL-retardance and IL-thickness. Using stepwise regression analysis, IL-thickness combined with EFNB2 expression in CC and the patient's ovarian response resulted in a noninvasive oocyte fertilization prediction model. LARGE SCALE DATA: Not applicable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This is a retrospective study and the relation of oocyte mRNA levels to fertilization capacity is indirect as oocyte gene expression analysis required lysis of the oocyte. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Overall relations between PLM observations, mRNA expression changes and intrinsic oocyte competence were successfully documented. As such PLM and CC gene expression are confirmed as valuable noninvasive techniques to evaluate oocyte competence. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was funded by University of Torino, Italy, WFWG UZ-Brussel and Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie IWT 110680, Belgium. All authors declare that their participation in the study did not involve actual or potential conflicts of interests.
Databáze: OpenAIRE