Declining ovarian reserve adversely influences granulosa cell viability.
OBJECTIVE
To identify if declining ovarian reserve adversely influences granulosa cell (GC) parameters in patients undergoing IVF.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Academic IVF Center.


METHODS
Twenty-four women undergoing IVF.


METHODS
Mural and cumulus GCs were harvested (at time of egg retrieval).


METHODS
Influence of ovarian reserve, reflected by maximal basal FSH levels, on GC (cumulative, mural, and cumulus) counts and viability were investigated.


RESULTS
The FSH levels demonstrated an inverse correlation with cumulative and mural, but not cumulus, GC viability. Adverse influence of increasing FSH on cumulative GC viability was independent of patient's age. The GC counts were uninfluenced by ovarian reserve status. Neither GC count nor viability demonstrated any relationship with clinical pregnancy after IVF.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed an adverse association between declining ovarian reserve and GC parameters. We believe these findings may partly explain the suboptimal reproductive performance in these women.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. kweingast1@aol.com
Keri
K
Greenseid
Sangita
S
Jindal
Athena
A
Zapantis
Michael
M
Nihsen
Joshua
J
Hurwitz
Lubna
L
Pal
D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone