title: LH receptor gene expression in cumulus cells in women entering an ART program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Luteinizing hormone (LH) exerts its actions through its receptor (LHR), which is mainly expressed in theca cells and to a lesser extent in oocytes, granulosa and cumulus cells. The aim of the present study was the investigation of a possible correlation between LHR gene and LHR splice variants expression in cumulus cells and ovarian response as well as ART outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients undergoing ICSI treatment for male factor infertility underwent a long luteal GnRH-agonist downregulation protocol with a fixed 5-day rLH pre-treatment prior to rFSH stimulation and samples of cumulus cells were collected on the day of egg collection. RNA extraction and cDNA preparation was followed by LHR gene expression investigation through real-time PCR. Furthermore, cumulus cells were investigated for the detection of LHR splice variants using reverse transcription PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concerning LHR expression in cumulus cells, a statistically significant negative association was observed with the duration of ovarian stimulation (odds ratio = 0.23, p = 0.012). Interestingly, 6 over 7 women who fell pregnant expressed at least two specific types of LHR splice variants (735 bp, 621 bp), while only 1 out of 19 women that did not express any splice variant achieved a pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consequently, the present study provide a step towards a new role of LHR gene expression profiling as a biomarker in the prediction of ovarian response at least in terms of duration of stimulation and also a tentative role of LHR splice variants expression in the prediction of pregnancy success.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Reproduction, IVF Unit, 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alexandra Hospital, Athens University Medical School, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Myrto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papamentzelopoulou
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mavrogianni
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Partsinevelos
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marinopoulos
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dinopoulou
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Theofanakis
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anagnostou
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loutradis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011974:Receptors, LH; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone