Abstract
Seventy-one oocyte-corona-cumulus complexes (OCCCs) were obtained from eight women who conceived and delivered following in vitro fertilization (IVF) and eight women who were matched for the number of embryos transferred into the uterus but failed to conceive following the procedure. The steroid secretion of these OCCCs was assessed during a 24-hr culture period. Intermediate (N=35) and mature (N=36) complexes did not differ in steroid secretion, and progesterone was the major steroid secreted. OCCCs associated with a fertilized oocyte (N=59) produced significantly (P<0.02) higher levels of progesterone than those associated with nonfertilized oocytes (N=12) (515±53 vs 231±70 ngl OCCC/24 hr) but comparable levels of estradiol (9.17±1.14 vs 6.55±2.0 ng/OCCC/24 hr) and testosterone (0.34 ±0.09 vs 0.22±0.05 ng/OCCC/24 hr). Steroid production by OCCCs of oocytes which continued to cleave was not different from that of oocytes which did not cleave following fertilization, but the estradiol-to-testosterone ratio was significantly higher (31.4±3.5 vs 19.1±3.3; P<0.02) in the former group. The degree of cleavage was not related to the levels of steroid secretion. Cleaved oocytes associated with viable pregnancies (N=28) were derived from OCCCs which secreted significantly less testosterone than those which did not result in a pregnancy following transfer (N=26) (0.27±0.04 vs 0.41±0.04 ng/OCCC/24 hr). It is suggested that the steroids secreted by the corona-cumulus cells may directly affect the oocyte quality and its capacity to continue developing in the uterus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Zamboni L: Fine morphology of the follicle wall and follicle cell-oocyte association. Biol Reprod 1974;10:125–149
Fishel SB, Edwards RG: Essentials of fertilization. In Human Conception in Vitro, RG Edwards, JM Purdy (eds.). New York, Academic Press, 1982, pp 157–179
Dekel N, Kraicer PG: Induction in vitro of mucification of rat cumulus oophorus by gonadotrophins and adenosine 3,5-monophosphate. Endocrinology 1978;102:1797–1802
Schuetz AW, Dubin NH: Progesterone and prostaglandin secretion by ovulated rat cumulus cell-oocyte complexes. Endocrinology 1981;108:457–463
Hillensjo T, Magnuson C, Svenson V, thelander H: Effect of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone on progesterone synthesis by cultured rat cumulus cells. Endocrinology 1981;108:1920–1924
McNatty KP, Moore-Smith D, Makris A, Osathanondh R, Ryan KJ: Steroidogenesis by the human oocyte-cumulus cell complex in vitro. Steroids 1980;35:643–651
Shutt DA, Lopata A: The secretion of hormones during the culture of human preimplantation embryos with corona cells. Tertil Steril 1981;35:413–416
Laufer N, DeCherney AH, Haseltine FP, Behrman HR: Steroid secretion by the human egg-corona-cumulus complex in culture. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984;58:1153–1157
Laufer N, DeCherney AH, Haseltine FP, Polan ML, Mezer HC, Dlugi AM, Sweeney D, Nero F, Naftolin F: The use of high dose human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in an in vitro fertilization program. Fertil Steril 1983;40:734–741
Eppig JJ: Regulation of cumulus oophorus expansion by gonadotropins in vivo and in vitro. Biol Reprod 1980;23:545–552
Eppig JJ: FSH stimulates hyaluronic acid synthesis by oocyte-cumulus complexes from mouse preovulatory follicles. Nature 1979;281:483–484
Moor RM, Trounson AO: Hormonal and follicular factors affecting maturation of sheep oocytes in vitro and their subsequent developmental capacity. J Reprod Fertil 1977;49:101–109
Thibault E: Are follicular maturation and oocyte maturation independent processes? J Reprod Fertil 1977;51:1–15
Carson RS, Trounson AO, Findlay JK. Successful fertilization of human oocytes in vitro: concentration of estradiol 17β, progesterone and androstenedione in the antral fluid of donor follicles. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982;55:798–801
Botero-Ruiz W, Laufer N, DeCherney AH, Polan ML, Haseltine FP, Behrman HR. The relationship between follicular fluid steroid concentration and successful fertilization of human oocytes in vitro. Fertil Steril 1984;41:820–826
Croxato HB, Ortiz ME, Diaz S, Hess R, Balmaceda J, Croxato HD: Studies on the duration of egg transport by the human oviduct. II. Ovum location at various intervals following LH peak. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1978;132:629–634
Punnonen R, Lukola A: Binding of estrogen and progestin in the human fallopian tube. Fertil Steril 1981;36:610–614
Korenaga M, Kadota T: Changes in mechanical properties of the circular muscle of the isthmus of the human fallopian tube in relation to hormonal domination and postovulatory time. Fertil Steril 1981;36:343–350
Gemzell C, Guillome J, Wang CF: Ectopic pregnancy following treatment with human gonadotropins. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;143:761–765
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laufer, N., Tarlatzis, B.C., DeCherney, A.H. et al. Steroid secretion by human oocyte-coroma-comulus complexes associated with conceptions following in vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet 2, 156–161 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01131504
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01131504