Effect of GOLPH3 on cumulus granulosa cell apoptosis and ICSI pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that GOLPH3 mediates cell growth, proliferation and differentiation and inhibits cell apoptosis; however, the role of GOLPH3 in cumulus granulosa cells and the value of GOLPH3 in predicting ICSI pregnancy outcomes remain unknown until now. Our findings showed higher positive expression rate, score of staining intensity, and immunohistochemical score of GOLPH3 in the cumulus granulosa cells of the pregnant women relative to non-pregnant women, and a higher apoptotic rate of cumulus granulosa cells was detected in non-pregnant women than in pregnant women. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that pregnancy correlated negatively with GOLPH3 expression and apoptosis of cumulus granulosa cells, and positively with the number of follicles punctured, number of grade III oocytes, number of eggs retrieved for ICSI, number of zygotes, number of cleavage-stage embryos, number of top-quality embryos, number of blastocysts, number of top-quality blastocysts, and number of frozen embryos. GOLPH3 may be involved in the apoptosis of cumulus granulosa cells, which may correlate with oocyte maturation and egg development. GOLPH3 expression in cumulus granulosa cells may facilitate the selection of top-quality eggs and embryos, the prediction of the clinical pregnancy outcomes of ICSI, and the increase of the pregnancy rate.

Assessing ICSI outcome by combining non‐invasive indicators: Early time‐lapse morphokinetics and apoptosis in associated cumulus cells among women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome

“…Likewise, we found significantly lower percentages of apoptotic CCs in women achieved chemical and clinical pregnancy plus live birth compare to nonpregnant women in both PCOS and TF infertility groups. In line with our results, it is confirmed that percentage of apoptosis in CCs among women who became pregnant is significantly fewer than women who did not achieve pregnancy (Lin et al, ; Ruvolo et al, ). With regard to early pregnancy loss, we found that the apoptotic cumulus cells are significantly higher in women with early pregnancy loss among the patients with PCOS but not in the TF fertility group.…”

“…Earlier reports showed the higher percentages of apoptotic cumulus cells among immature oocytes compared with mature ones (Host, Gabrielsen, Lindenberg, & Smidt‐Jensen, ) as well as women who achieved pregnancy compared with who did not (Ruvolo, Fattouh, Bosco, Brucculeri, & Cittadini, ). In addition, apoptosis of cumulus cells is considered as a new indicator for the prediction of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; Lee et al, ; Lin et al, ). On the other hand, time‐lapse system (TLS), which has been recently introduced to ART laboratories, provides additional data on both morphologic and the exact timing of embryo development entitled "morphokinetic variables" that could improve ART outcome compared with a standard incubator (Adamson et al, ; Fishel et al, ).…”

Granulosa Cell Apoptosis in the Ovarian Follicle—A Changing View

“…Yuan et al ( 71 ) found no difference in TUNEL staining and caspase activity until the LH surge, whereas caspase activity for the combined caspases 1–9 was present before the LH surge but then disappeared after the LH surge ( 71 ). In a recent study, the same technique of counting pyknotic cells found that the level of apoptosis was reduced in patients who became pregnant ( 80 ). The finding was supported by qPCR data of a greater level of caspase 3 in the non-pregnant group.…”

Rewarding Conversation Between Oocyte and Cumulus Cells Directs the Process of Folliculogenesis

“…Surgeon Patrick Steptoe was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 for his work at the time (4). Despite all the advanced techniques provided in the scope of assisted reproductive techniques, pregnancy cannot be achieved in approximately 40% -50% of the patients undergoing the procedure (5). Selection of the best quality sample from the oocyte pool has a great importance in the success achieved by assisted reproduction techniques (ART).…”

“…On the other hand high quality oocyte selection is expected to increase implantation and pregnancy rates (5,7). It has been shown in many studies that the perfect two-way interaction between oocyte and surrounding somatic cells (granulosa, cumulus cells) is highly determinant in egg quality (6,(8)(9)(10)(11).…”