title: Dynamics of expression and localization of the cannabinoid system in granulosa cells during oocyte nuclear maturation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the expression of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 and cannabinoid-degrading enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoglyceride lipase (MGLL) in human granulosa cells and to investigate their differential distribution with respect to CB1 at various stages during the nuclear maturation of the oocyte.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of granulosa cells from germinal vesicle (GV), metaphase I (MI), and MII oocytes by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and indirect immunofluorescence assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients from the Human Reproduction Unit of Cruces University Hospital undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the granulosa cells of 300 oocytes from 53 patients. The oocyte maturation stages were 75 at GV stage, 51 at MI, and 174 at MII.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mRNA and protein expression of CB1, CB2, FAAH, and MGLL and localization in granulosa cells at each oocyte maturation stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CB1, FAAH, and MGLL are present in human granulosa cells during oocyte maturation, but the presence of CB2 receptor is not entirely clear in those cells. CB1 and FAAH were detected in the periphery of the granulosa cells from the GV to the MII oocytes, and they colocalized in some portions of the cell membrane. On the other hand, MGLL immunostaining was more homogeneous across the cell and overlapped with CB1 only weakly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of the cannabinoid system in granulosa cells suggests a possible role of this system in the nuclear maturation of the oocyte.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain; BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain. Electronic address: e.agirregoitia@ehu.es.
authors.forename: Ekaitz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agirregoitia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ibarra-Lecue
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain.
authors.forename: Lide
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Totorikaguena
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain; Human Reproduction Unity, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cruces University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain; Human Reproduction Unity, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cruces University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Expósito
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain; Human Reproduction Unity, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cruces University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matorras
authors.affiliation: BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Leyre
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urigüen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain; BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.
authors.forename: Naiara
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agirregoitia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; D008540:Meiosis; D008994:Monoacylglycerol Lipases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases
chemical_list: D000581:Amidohydrolases; D002186:Cannabinoids; D008994:Monoacylglycerol Lipases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; D000099252:Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases; C571130:CNR1 protein, human; C588309:CNR2 protein, human
keywords: Cannabinoid; granulosa cells; oocyte maturation