title: Significance of mRNA levels of connexin37, connexin43, and connexin45 in luteinized granulosa cells of controlled hyperstimulated follicles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the mRNA levels of connexins in different sizes of luteinized follicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine the connexin mRNA levels in the granulosa cells of 91 luteinized follicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary care medical center and research unit of university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one female patients on controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sonoguided aspiration to collect the oocytes and the granulosa cells simultaneously.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RT-PCR data are normalized by comparing the intensity of the connexins to the intensity of internal controls (beta-actin). The follicles are grouped according to the size and the mRNA levels of the connexins. The correlations among the size of the follicles, the outcome of oocytes, and the mRNA levels of the connexins are compared by Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA levels of the connexins are low in the follicles equal or larger than 5.5 mL. High cx43 levels are linked to good prognosis of oocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The luteinized granulosa cells from the large follicles are relatively quiescent in the connexin mRNA expression. In addition to the volume, the mRNA levels of cx43 may serve as a marker to predict the outcome of oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Yin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Kuo-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Ko-En
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fu-Jeng
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fu-Tsai
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Shiuh-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics*; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017630:Connexins; D017931:DNA Primers; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein; C082920:connexin 45