The Expression Pattern of Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthase-2 in Immature Oocytes and Surrounding Cumulus Cells May Explain A Disrupted Oocyte Maturation Process

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the gene expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 in the cumulus-oocyte complex with the level of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 in follicular fluid and follicle diameter, oocyte maturation, and fertilization capacity.

Study Design: As the study group, 26 cumulus-oocyte complexes and 26 follicular fluids obtained from immature (n=10) or unfertilized mature oocytes (n=16) and as the control group, 26 cumulus complexes and 26 follicular fluids surrounding mature and fertilized oocytes were retrieved one by one totally from 32 patients in 32 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

Results: There was no significant efficacy of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 gene expressions in cumulus complexes and the level of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 in follicular fluids in terms of oocyte maturation stage. The level of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 in follicular fluids and follicle diameters showed a significantly positive correlation in the mature and fertilized oocyte group (r=0.414; p=0.035).

Conclusions: Although the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 gene expressions in immature oocytes and their cumulus cells were similar to those in oocytes that have completed their nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, the level of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthases-2 in the follicular fluid and follicle diameter correlation may lead to new clinical approaches in cases of premature follicular rupture before oocyte maturation is completed.