The incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa can predict prognosis of ova from patients participating in in vitro fertilization programs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between the incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa and follicular steroid concentrations in human follicles.


METHODS
Case-controlled prospective study for 132 individual follicles.


METHODS
Procedures were performed in Yamagata University Hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-six normo-ovulatory women with tubal infertility underwent ovulation induction for IVF-ET with a conventional hyperstimulation method.


METHODS
Patients underwent follicle aspiration after the administration of hCG.


METHODS
The nuclei of recovered granulosa cells were examined by fluorescence microscopy, and the incidence of apoptotic bodies was tabulated. Intrafollicular steroids were evaluated mainly by RIA. These data were analyzed with respect to oocyte-retrieval, oocyte maturity, fertilization, and embryo quality.


RESULTS
Membrana granulosa cells in the follicles from which oocytes were subsequently fertilized showed a significantly lower incidence of apoptotic bodies than those in follicles from which the oocytes did not fertilize. Membrana granulosa cells in the follicles from which oocytes were developed into good quality showed a significantly lower incidence of apoptotic bodies than those in the follicles from which oocytes developed into fair and poor quality. The incidence of apoptotic bodies was significantly higher in the mural granulosa cell region than in the cumulus cell region in most cases. Intrafollicular E2, P, and free T levels were not different between the oocyte groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that lower incidence of apoptotic bodies in individual follicles is associated with better outcomes for oocytes. Also, mural granulosa cells and cumulus cell in each follicle may show differentiation during follicular maturation.
Nakahara
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Saito
H
H
Saito
T
T
Ito
M
M
Ohta
N
N
Takahashi
T
T
Hiroi
M
M
D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin