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Cumulus Cell Gene Expression in Assessment of Oocyte Quality

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Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization

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Abstract

Cumulus cells originate from granulosa cells and surround oocytes from the time of ­follicular antrum formation until after fertilization. The cumulus cells have essential functions in the ovary, mediating transmission of endocrine signals and supporting oocyte growth and maturation. The relationship between oocytes and their associated cumulus cells is extremely intimate. Cytoplasmic projections extend from the innermost layer of cumulus cells, penetrating the zona pellucida and forming gap junctions at the oocyte surface. This allows for direct exchange of macromolecules, a bidirectional communication essential for the production of competent oocytes. The fact that cumulus cells are so closely associated with the oocyte, and share the same microenvironment within the ovary, has led to suggestions that information concerning oocyte quality might be obtained by analyzing them. Several studies focused on cumulus cell gene expression have now been published, indicating that a noninvasive assessment of oocyte potential, based upon analysis of the surrounding cumulus cells, may indeed be possible.

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Acknowledgment

Dagan Wells is funded by NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuffi eld Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women’s Centre, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Dagan Wells PhD, FRCPath

Authors
  1. Dagan Wells PhD, FRCPath
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Correspondence to Dagan Wells PhD, FRCPath .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Scientific and Laboratory Director, Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta, 30342, Georgia, USA

    Zsolt Peter Nagy

  2. , Sr. Embryologist, Montreal Reproductive Centre, Montreal, H4A 3J3, Québec, Canada

    Alex C. Varghese

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic, Euclid Avenue 9500, Cleveland, 44195, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

Glossary

Downregulated/underexpressed

Cases where fewer mRNA transcripts are found. Gene expression is reduced (i.e., the gene is less active).

Gene expression

A complete set of all of the genes (i.e., the entire genome) is present in all cells. However, only a fraction of these genes are active in a cell at any given moment. Genes which are being actively transcribed, producing mRNA and ultimately proteins, are said to be “expressed.”

Microarray

A method for simultaneously quantifying the number of transcripts from large numbers of genes (typically thousands or tens of thousands of genes simultaneously assessed).

mRNA

transcripts The molecules that serve as intermediates between genes (made of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) and the proteins they produce. The DNA sequence of a gene is transcribed into a messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) copy, which is subsequently translated into a polypeptide.

Real-time PCR

A method of quantifying the number of mRNA transcripts from individual genes. Real-time PCR is generally considered the most accurate method for quantifying gene expression but only allows analysis of small numbers of genes at a time.

Transcriptome

The sum total of all mRNA transcripts found within an individual cell or tissue. The charac­terization of the transcriptome reveals all of the genes expressed (i.e., active).

Upregulated/overexpressed

When two different samples are compared, some genes may be found to have dif­ferences in the number of mRNA transcripts. If a sample contains a greater number of mRNA transcripts than expected, the gene is said to be upregulated or overexpressed (i.e., it is more active).

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Wells, D. (2012). Cumulus Cell Gene Expression in Assessment of Oocyte Quality. In: Nagy, Z., Varghese, A., Agarwal, A. (eds) Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1780-5_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1780-5_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1779-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1780-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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