Human cumulus-enclosed germinal vesicle oocytes from early antral follicles reveal heterogeneous cellular and molecular features associated with in vitro maturation capacity

• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dev083
• Publication Date: 2015-04-23T02:02:10Z
• Authors: F. Sanchez; S. Romero; M. De Vos; G. Verheyen; J. Smitz
• Keywords: Germinal vesicle; In vitro maturation; Antral follicle

Are oocyte size, chromatin remodelling, transcriptional activity and mitochondrial distribution in human immature oocytes from early antral follicles retrieved for vitro maturation (IVM) associated with the acquisition of meiotic competence? Oocyte compaction, cessation RNA synthesis mitochondria rearrangement around nucleus are oocyte's potential to resume meiosis vitro. Information on features that confer competence mainly derives germinal vesicle (GV) failed following an hCG trigger after ovulation induction cycles. Characterization cumulus-enclosed GV small prior IVM provides knowledge initial status suggests culture requirements order promote Prospective collection 107 immediately retrieval (before IVM) 293 had (after IVM). Human were collected women polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), receiving total 450 IU highly purified-hMG treatment (patients) or who donated research (donors). Oocytes at GV-stage <10 mm (range 2–10 mm) diameter, before (oocytes retrieval) those mature (meiotically incompetent). allocated either staining, by incubating mitotracker red then fixed; nascent which was assessed fluorescent labelling (Click-iT® Assay). In every case, diameter recorded stained fixation. analysed confocal laser-scanning microscopy their characteristics compared related competence. Analysis revealed significantly larger than (112.7 versus 109.6 µm, P < 0.0001). showed 50.6% a condensed configuration (perinucleolar rim) consistently transcriptionally silent. This rate matched rates our current system (49%). However, not reinitiated 30 h demonstrated, apart being smaller higher dispersed intermediate (P = 0.005). many displayed internalization towards (12/30) perinuclear (6/30). These patterns observed more rarely incompetent (16/98 1/98, respectively). Most analyses involved use invasive techniques. Hence, despite fact these data deliver essential information intrinsic maturational developmental status, direct match embryological outcomes could be established. The evidence described here can aid tailoring systems completion nuclear cytoplasmic unexpanded cumulus-oocyte complexes. study supported grants Institute Promotion Innovation Science Technology Flanders, project numbers IWT 130327 110680; Fund Research number FWO G.0343.13, Belgian Foundation Against Cancer (HOPE project) COOK Medical. None authors has any competing interest declare.