title: Evaluation of telomere length in cumulus cells as a potential biomarker of oocyte and embryo quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is the relative telomere length in cumulus cells associated with embryo quality and the subject's age?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative telomere length in cumulus cells at the time of oocyte collection may be a new potential biomarker for selecting highly competent oocytes and good quality embryos.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Telomeres play central roles in aging and in determining cell fate. In mammalian ovarian follicles, maturing oocytes are nurtured and supported by surrounding somatic cells, the mural granulosa and cumulus cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 350 oocyte-cumulus complex samples were collected from 80 IVF cycles prospectively recruited for this study at the Lee Women's Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cumulus cells were manually separated from the oocyte-cumulus complex under a microscope. DNA was extracted from cumulus cells and assessed for telomere length by real-time quantitative PCR. We analyzed telomere length relative to a single copy marker gene (36B4) to evaluate the effect of the real reproductive age of cumulus cells on oocyte and embryo development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative telomere length was longer in cumulus cells from mature oocytes compared with cumulus cells from immature oocytes, and in cumulus cells from good-quality embryos compared with cumulus cells from poor-quality embryos. The cut-off value of the T/S ratio between good and poor-quality embryos on embryonic Day 3 was 4.235.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only a limited number of cumulus cells were measured for each oocyte and the corresponding embryo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative telomere length in cumulus cells at the time of oocyte collection is predictive of highly competent oocytes and good-quality embryos but may not be sufficiently discriminating to be clinically useful.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  National Science Council, Taiwan (NSC 97-2314-B-040-018). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
authors: Division of Infertility Clinic, Lee Womens' Hospital, Taichung City 406, No. 263, Bei Tun Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: En-Hui
authors: EH
authors: Cheng
authors: Shee-Uan
authors: SU
authors: Chen
authors: Tsung-Hsien
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Yi-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Pai
authors: Lii-Shung
authors: LS
authors: Huang
authors: Chun-Chia
authors: CC
authors: Huang
authors: Maw-Sheng
authors: MS
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers