Reproductive biology
Presence of a 31-kD protein band in human cumulus–corona radiata–conditioned media and pregnancy outcome

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate relationships between cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) morphology, protein patterns of cumulus–corona (CC) cell–conditioned media, and pregnancy outcome in IVF-ET cycles.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Private university IVF center.

Patient(s): One hundred twenty infertile women who underwent IVF-ET procedures.

Intervention(s): None.

Main Outcome Measure(s): COC grading, analysis of CC cell morphology and conditioned media, and pregnancy rate (PR).

Result(s): After IVF and embryo transfer, cultured CC cells were classified as high (HA) or low (LA) on the basis of their adhesive properties. Neither adhesion activity nor fertilization rates and embryo quality were correlated with COC grading. PR in cycles with HA cells was 38%, but 14% of cycles showing LA activity also had positive outcome. To find more meaningful parameters of CC cells useful to predict fertilization and pregnancy, the electrophoretic protein patterns of media conditioned by HA or LA cells were studied. Retrospective analysis showed that all cycles in which replaced embryos were associated with the presence of a 31-kD band in conditioned media failed implantation, whereas 83% of cycles lacking this band resulted in positive, ongoing pregnancy.

Conclusion(s): Pregnancy prediction cannot rely simply on CC cell morphological analysis. Screening of conditioned media may provide more reliable parameters.

Keywords

Cumulus–corona cells
SDS-PAGE
morphological analysis
pregnancy outcome

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Supported by Progetto Ricercadi Interesse Nazionale (P.R.I.N.) grant (to R.T.) 1999 “Glicobiologia della fecondazione: struttura e funzione di glicoproteine di superficie di gameti e gamonti.”