Effects of the common 677C>T mutation of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene on ovarian responsiveness to recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone.
OBJECTIVE
The common 677C>T mutation of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is less prevalent in mothers of spontaneously conceived dichorionic twins than in those with singleton pregnancies. (Hasbargen U, Lohse P, Thaler CJ: Hum Reprod 2000; 15:2659-2662). As polyovulation is a pre-requisite for dichorionic pregnancies, we investigated whether the T allele is associated with reduced ovarian responsiveness to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).


METHODS
We studied 105 infertility patients undergoing a total of 269 A.R.T cycles stimulated with recombinant (r)-FSH. The MTHFR 677C>T genotype was analyzed by digestion of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments.


RESULTS
Homozygous 677C patients older than 35, required significantly (P <0.02) less r-FSH and produced significantly more oocytes (P < 0.04) and higher maximal serum estradiol concentrations (P < 0.002) than heterozygous or homozygous carriers of the 677T allele.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that, in patients of advanced reproductive age, the MTHFR 677C>T mutation affects ovarian responsiveness.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Grosshadern, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. thaler@med.uni-muenchen.de
Christian J
CJ
Thaler
Helen
H
Budiman
Heike
H
Ruebsamen
Dorothea
D
Nagel
Peter
P
Lohse
D000328:Adult; D003596:Cytosine; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013941:Thymine
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003596:Cytosine; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D013941:Thymine