Tullia Maraldi1, Elisa Resca2, Alessia Nicoli3, Francesca Beretti4, Manuela Zavatti5, Francesco Capodanno6, Daria Morini7, Stefano Palomba8, Giovanni B La Sala9, Anto De Pol10. 1. Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: tullia.maraldi@unimore.it. 2. Tecnopolo di Mirandola, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: elisa.resca@unimore.it. 3. Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IRCCS-ASMN of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: nicoli.alessia@asmn.re.it. 4. Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.beretti@unimore.it. 5. Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: manuela.zavatti@unimore.it. 6. Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IRCCS-ASMN of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: capodanno.francesco@asmn.re.it. 7. Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IRCCS-ASMN of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: morini.daria@asmn.re.it. 8. Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IRCCS-ASMN of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: palomba.stefano@asmn.re.it. 9. Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IRCCS-ASMN of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy; University of Modena e Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy. Electronic address: lasala.giovanni@asmn.re.it. 10. Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: anto.depol@unimore.it.
Abstract
AIMS: Relevant roles in follicular development and ovulation are played by maternal antigen that embryos require (MATER), product of a maternal effect gene, and by reactive oxygen species (ROS), indispensable for the induction of ovulatory genes. At the moment, the relationship between these two biological systems and their involvement in the ovarian aging have not been still clarified. The aim of the current experimental study was to analyse the age-related changes of the MATER and NOX proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MATER and ROS homeostasis was studied in granulosa cells (GCs) and cumulus cells (CCs) of infertile patients who undergone oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization cycles using Western blot and confocal immunofluorescence analysis. Samples were obtained from subjects with age≥40years (cases) and with age≤37years (controls). KEY FINDINGS: The expression pattern of MATER and NOX observed in GCs was not different from that observed in CCs. High levels of both proteins were detected in the control samples. A significant lower expression of both MATER and NOX4 was observed in the case versus control samples. SIGNIFICANCE: The expression of MATER and NOX4 proteins are closely related to the follicular development and ovulation with particular regard for ovarian aging.
AIMS: Relevant roles in follicular development and ovulation are played by maternal antigen that embryos require (MATER), product of a maternal effect gene, and by reactive oxygen species (ROS), indispensable for the induction of ovulatory genes. At the moment, the relationship between these two biological systems and their involvement in the ovarian aging have not been still clarified. The aim of the current experimental study was to analyse the age-related changes of the MATER and NOX proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS:MATER and ROS homeostasis was studied in granulosa cells (GCs) and cumulus cells (CCs) of infertilepatients who undergone oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization cycles using Western blot and confocal immunofluorescence analysis. Samples were obtained from subjects with age≥40years (cases) and with age≤37years (controls). KEY FINDINGS: The expression pattern of MATER and NOX observed in GCs was not different from that observed in CCs. High levels of both proteins were detected in the control samples. A significant lower expression of both MATER and NOX4 was observed in the case versus control samples. SIGNIFICANCE: The expression of MATER and NOX4 proteins are closely related to the follicular development and ovulation with particular regard for ovarian aging.