T C Wu1, L Wang, Y J Wan. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine 90024.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) messenger ribonucleic acid in the human ovary. To detect ER gene transcripts in human oocytes; and to study the possible autocrine effect of estrogen (E) in granulosa/cumulus cells. DESIGN: Human ovaries from benign gynecological surgeries as well as the oocytes, cumulus-oocyte complexes, and granulosa/cumulus cells from the in vitro fertilization program were used to detect ER gene transcripts using the highly sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. SETTING: Molecular biology laboratory. RESULTS: The ER gene is expressed in human ovary. Estrogen receptor transcripts were detected in human cumulus-oocyte complexes and oocytes but not in granulosa/cumulus cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a lack of receptor-mediated autocrine effect of E during folliculogenesis and that E, secreted by granulosa/cumulus cells, may exert a paracrine effect to influence oocyte maturation and fertilization competence directly.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) messenger ribonucleic acid in the human ovary. To detect ER gene transcripts in human oocytes; and to study the possible autocrine effect of estrogen (E) in granulosa/cumulus cells. DESIGN:Human ovaries from benign gynecological surgeries as well as the oocytes, cumulus-oocyte complexes, and granulosa/cumulus cells from the in vitro fertilization program were used to detect ER gene transcripts using the highly sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. SETTING: Molecular biology laboratory. RESULTS: The ER gene is expressed in human ovary. Estrogen receptor transcripts were detected in human cumulus-oocyte complexes and oocytes but not in granulosa/cumulus cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a lack of receptor-mediated autocrine effect of E during folliculogenesis and that E, secreted by granulosa/cumulus cells, may exert a paracrine effect to influence oocyte maturation and fertilization competence directly.