Messenger RNA expression for the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor in human oocytes and preimplantation-stage embryos

Abstract

Objective To study the expression of the FSH and LH receptors in human oocytes and preimplantation embryos and their potential roles in early human development. Design Clinical and molecular studies. Setting University hospital IVF center. Patient(s) Female volunteers undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection at the IVF unit of the Athens University Hospital. All patients gave written informed consent. Intervention(s) Ovarian stimulation was performed with exogenous gonadotropin administration. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on mature oocytes. Main outcome measure(s) Unfertilized oocytes and zygotes and embryos at the 2-cell, 4-cell, morula, and blastocyst stage were selected for study. A polymerase chain reaction methodology was used to analyze human oocytes and embryos. Messenger RNA was reverse transcribed and amplified with FSH and LH receptor specific primers. Result(s) Transcripts for the FSH receptor were detected in oocytes and zygotes and embryos at the 2-cell, morula, and blastocyst stage, while no message was detected in embryos at the 4-cell stage. Transcripts for the LH receptor were observed in oocytes and zygotes and morula- and blastocyst-stage embryos, whereas no message was detected in embryos at the 2-cell and 4-cell stage. Conclusion(s) Messenger RNA for the FSH and LH receptors was observed in oocytes and preimplantation embryos at different stages, indicating a physiological role in the oocyte maturation process and early embryonic development in the human.