Cumulus cell apoptosis as a predictor for oocyte quality in artificial reproduction technique

Abstract

To be able to predict the success of ART reliable tests for determining the quality of the oocytes are necessary. Apart from a vague morphologic assessment via microscopy a direct analysis of the oocyte quality is not possible. Because of the very close relation between the oocyte and the cumulus cells the analysis of the cumulus cells might give sufficient information on the oocyte quality. In this study we correlate the apoptotic activity of cumulus cells to the outcome of fertilized oocytes after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). 246 cumulus-oocyte-complexes from patients undergoing infertility treatment with the ICSI procedure were individually collected. The comet assay was used to determine the proportion of apoptotic cells within the cumulus population of each oocyte and correlated with oocyte fertilization and oocyte quality as well as with pregnancy outcome in 86 patients. We were able to show that high quality embryos correlate to a low rate of apoptotic cells in their corresponding cumuli. Differences regarding the pregnancy outcome were statistically not significant. Our results on cumulus cell apoptosis and embryo quality confirm other publications. To arrive at statistically proven criteria for the further development of single oocytes an increase in the number of analyzed patients is necessary.