Abstract:

Abstract： Objective To study the close relationship between transcript level of GREM1 in human cumulus cells and the oocyte maturation and the embryo quality，to further probe whether transcript level of gremlin1 (GREM1) in cumulus cells can predict the embryos developmental competence in vitro. Methods A retrospective study was performed on cumulus cells isolated from 160 oocytes retrieved from 42 patients. Based on oocyte maturation，D3 embryo quality and the blastocyst forming capacity，mRNA levels in cumulus cells were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. Results Nuclear maturation was associated with increased expression of GREM1（1.9739±0.5114 vs. 1.5105±0.2629，P<0.001），GREM1 transcript level increased in cumulus cells isolated from D3 high-quality embryos and successful blastocyst forming，compared with the failure group（2.2693±0.4193 vs. 1.9263±0.4912，P<0.05和2.3874±0.2999 vs. 1.5943±0.2078，P<0.001）. Conclusions Results indicate that GREM1 levels in cumulus cells can be correlated with oocyte maturation and the embryo quality，and can be used as possible markers of embryo developmental competence.

Key words: cumulus cells, GREM1, genetic expression, oocyte maturation, embryo developmental competence

摘要：

目的 探讨辅助生殖技术中人卵丘细胞GREM1基因表达水平与卵母细胞发育潜能的关系。方法 回顾性分析福建泉州市妇幼保健生殖医学中心2012年3月至2014年3月接受卵胞浆内单精子显微注射-胚胎移植（ICSI-ET)治疗的男方因素不孕妇女42例的160个卵母细胞，以形态学评分标准将正常受精的胚胎分为优质胚胎30个和非优质胚胎70个，移植后剩余胚胎冷冻保存或囊胚培养。根据卵母细胞成熟与否、D3 胚胎质量及D5/D6囊胚培养情况，实时荧光PT-PCR分别检测其卵丘细胞中GREM1表达水平的差异。结果 成熟卵母细胞的卵丘细胞GREM1表达水平比不成熟卵母细胞高（1.9739±0.5114 vs. 1.5105±0.2629，P<0.001），同样在D3优质胚胎中，检测其卵丘细胞GREM1表达水平比非优质胚胎中的高（2.2693±0.4193 vs. 1.9263±0.4912，P<0.05）；进一步的囊胚培养发现，D5/D6 囊胚培养成功的卵丘细胞GREM1表达水平比失败组的明显升高（2.3874±0.2999 vs. 1.5943±0.2078，P<0.001）。结论    卵丘细胞GREM1表达水平与卵母细胞成熟及胚胎质量有关，成熟的卵母细胞与后期形成的胚胎质量密切相关，检测卵丘细胞GREM1表达可预测胚胎发育潜能。

关键词: 卵丘细胞, GREM1, 基因表达, 卵子成熟度, 胚胎发育潜能