title: Investigation of gene expression profiles before and after embryonic genome activation and assessment of functional pathways at the human metaphase II oocyte and blastocyst stage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the oocyte versus the blastocyst transcriptome and provide data on molecular pathways before and after embryonic genome activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective laboratory research study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IVF clinic and a specialist preimplantation genetics laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples undergoing or having completed IVF treatment donating surplus oocytes or cryopreserved blastocysts after patient consent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sets of pooled metaphase II (MII) oocytes or blastocysts were processed for RNA extraction, RNA amplification, and analysis with the use of the Human Genome Survey Microarrays v2.0 (Applied Biosystems).
  
  
  METHODS
  Association of cell type and gene expression profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totals of 1,909 and 3,122 genes were uniquely expressed in human MII oocytes and human blastocysts respectively, and 4,910 genes were differentially expressed between the two sample types. Expression levels of 560 housekeeping genes, genes involved in the microRNA processing pathway, as well as hormones and hormone receptors were also investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lists of genes identified may be of use for understanding the processes involved in early embryo development and blastocyst implantation, and for identifying any dysregulation leading to infertility.
authors.affiliation: UCL Centre for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom. gkakourou@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kakourou
authors.forename: Souraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaroudi
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tulay
authors.forename: Carleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Serhal
authors.forename: Joyce C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Sioban B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sengupta
mesh_terms: D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs