title: Predictive value of cumulus cell apoptosis with regard to blastocyst development of corresponding gametes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test if a high degree of apoptosis in cumulus cells could indicate diminished oocyte quality and developmental competence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public hospital and university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven women who gave written consent to participate in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cumulus-oocyte complexes were denuded separately and the resulting cumulus cell suspensions were analyzed for presence of apoptosis using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay detection kit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage of apoptotic cumulus cells and blastocyst formation rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Younger patients (< or = 35 years) showed significantly fewer apoptotic cumulus cells than older ones. In all patients gamete maturity was shown to be highly correlated to the rate of apoptosis in cumulus cells. At zygote and cleavage stages (days 1 to 4) no morphologic features were related to the degree of programmed cell death. However, blastocyst development was predictable taking into account the percentage of apoptosis in associated somatic cells. In addition, there was a trend toward better quality blastocysts from follicles with a lower rate of apoptotic cells. No influence on pregnancy and implantation rate was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apoptotic processes within follicles seem to impair oocyte maturation. Though not manifested in the morphologic appearance, gametes and embryos derived from cumulus complexes with no or minor apoptosis have an increased chance of giving rise to optimal blastocysts.
authors.affiliation: University of Salzburg, Institute of Zoology, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Claudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Corn
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hauser-Kronberger
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moser
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tews
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies