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To identify markers of oocyte competence, we compared the biochemical characteristics of fluid and cells from follicles containing oocytes with different capacities to form an embryo. Follicles (5-6 mm) were dissected, and follicular fluid (FF), granulosa cells (GC), cumulus cells (CC) from immature and mature cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COC) were individually collected. The oocytes were matured, fertilized, and cultured individually until day 8 (D8) of development. On D8, the samples were grouped according to embryo production into those that gave rise to blastocysts (EMB) and those that did not reach the blastocyst stage (NEMB). In CCs from immature and mature COCs and GCs, expression of CASP3, SERPINE2, VCAN, LUM, FSHR, EGFR, PGR, and GHR genes was quantified. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA), progesterone, and estradiol concentrations in the FF were determined. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test (GraphPad Prism 9). GHR was highly expressed in immature CCs from the EMB group, whereas CASP3 was highly expressed in mature CCs from the NEMB group (P |