Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of survivin gene expression in human granulosa cells during ovarian stimulation in Greek women with normal FSH levels, undergoing IVF or ICSI and to discover any correlation between levels of gene expression and clinical parameters, efficacy of ovulation or outcomes of assisted reproduction.MethodsTwenty nine women underwent ovulation induction for IVF or ICSI and ET with standard GnRH analogue-recombinant FSH protocol. Infertility causes were male and tubal factor. Cumulus–mature oocyte complexes were denuded and the granulosa cells were analyzed for each patient separately using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis for survivin gene expression with internal standard the ABL gene.ResultsThe ABL and survivin mRNA were detected in granulosa cells in 93.1%. The expression levels of survivin were significantly lower in normal women (male infertility factor) compared to women with tubal infertility factor (p = 0.007). There was no additional statistically significant correlation between levels of survivin expression and estradiol levels or dosage of FSH for ovulation induction or number of dominant follicles aspirated or number of retrieved oocytes or embryo grade or clinical pregnancy rates respectively.ConclusionsHigh levels of survivin mRNA expression in luteinized granulosa cells in cases with tubal infertility seem to protect ovaries from follicular apoptosis. A subpopulation of patients with low levels of survivin mRNA in granulosa cells might benefit with ICSI treatment to bypass possible natural barriers of sperm-oocyte interactions.
Highlights
The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of survivin gene expression in human granulosa cells during ovarian stimulation in Greek women with normal Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels, undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and to discover any correlation between levels of gene expression and clinical parameters, efficacy of ovulation or outcomes of assisted reproduction
Johnson et al, (2002) indicated that survivin could play an important role in granulosa cells, acting as a functional protein associated with regulation of the cell cycle and the inhibition of apoptosis [29]
Patient sample 29 women who had been subjected to IVF or ICSI and embryo transfer (ET) were enrolled in the study in order to determine the expression of survivin mRNA in their ovarian follicular granulosa cells
Summary
The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of survivin gene expression in human granulosa cells during ovarian stimulation in Greek women with normal FSH levels, undergoing IVF or ICSI and to discover any correlation between levels of gene expression and clinical parameters, efficacy of ovulation or outcomes of assisted reproduction. Survivin participates in the regulation of apoptosis by direct or indirect inhibition of the effector cell death proteases caspase-3 and caspase-7 and regulates the cell cycle in the G2/M phase by associating with mitotic spindle microtubules [18,19]. Johnson et al, (2002) indicated that survivin could play an important role in granulosa cells, acting as a functional protein associated with regulation of the cell cycle and the inhibition of apoptosis [29]. The gene expression levels of survivin in total pregnant patients were higher than those in total nonpregnant patients and than those in the male factor infertility [34]
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