Cumulus Glycodeliii' and Its Possible Impact on Oocyte Maturity

摘要

For ART procedures markers of oocyte quality to enhance fertilization outcome and pregnancy rate are of permanent interest. Biochemical markers are in favour today, but in daily practice the method of choice is only morphologic analysis. The immunocompetent glycoprotein Glycodelin (Gd) could be one of the biochemical markers, since Gd occurs in different isoforms. The cumulus cell isoform, GdC has been described previously [1]. In our study we visualized Gd in human cumulus cells and showed a variation of Gd per ICSI-cycle. Immunostaining of cumulus cells derived from individual denuded oocytes resulted in different Gd-levels even within the oocytes of each patient. Persisting CC-adherence after enzymatic hyaluronidase-treatment as a marker for immaturity was accompanied with a decreased Gd-level.