title: Presence of a 31-kD protein band in human cumulus--corona radiata--conditioned media and pregnancy outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate relationships between cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) morphology, protein patterns of cumulus-corona (CC) cell-conditioned media, and pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private university IVF center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty infertile women who underwent IVF-ET procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  COC grading, analysis of CC cell morphology and conditioned media, and pregnancy rate (PR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After IVF and embryo transfer, cultured CC cells were classified as high (HA) or low (LA) on the basis of their adhesive properties. Neither adhesion activity nor fertilization rates and embryo quality were correlated with COC grading. PR in cycles with HA cells was 38%, but 14% of cycles showing LA activity also had positive outcome. To find more meaningful parameters of CC cells useful to predict fertilization and pregnancy, the electrophoretic protein patterns of media conditioned by HA or LA cells were studied. Retrospective analysis showed that all cycles in which replaced embryos were associated with the presence of a 31-kD band in conditioned media failed implantation, whereas 83% of cycles lacking this band resulted in positive, ongoing pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy prediction cannot rely simply on CC cell morphological analysis. Screening of conditioned media may provide more reliable parameters.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Università de L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cecconi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gualtieri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talevi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins