Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics logoLink to Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
. 1997 Apr;14(4):199–204. doi: 10.1007/BF02766110

Follicle stimulating hormone effects on immature human oocytes: In vitro maturation and hormone production

Karen L Durinzi 1,✉, Anne Colston Wentz 1,3, Erwin M Saniga 1,5, Deborah E Johnson 1, Susan E Lanzendorf 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3454701  PMID: 9130067

Abstract

Purpose:Our purpose was (1) to determine if in vitro maturation of unstimulated oocytes could be improved with the addition of urofollitropin; (2) to evaluate the output of estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, and androstenedione by the cultured oocyte-cumulus complex; and (3) to ascertain if steroid hormone production of the oocyte-cumulus complex correlates with final oocyte maturation stage.

Methods:Fifty-eight immature oocytes were obtained from 11 regularly cycling women undergoing oophorectomy. The oocyte-cumulus complexes were randomly assigned to control medium (Ham’s F-10 supplemented with 7.5% fetal bovine serum) or test medium (control medium supplemented with 75 mIU/ml of urofollitropin).

Results:(1) The addition of urofollitropin to oocyte culture medium does not significantly increase the ability of the oocyte to achieve the metaphase II stage; (2) the addition of urofollitropin significantly increases the production of progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione by the oocyte-cumulus complex; and (3) there is no difference in the production of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione by the oocyte-cumulus complex at the germinal vesicle, metaphase I or metaphase II stage of oocyte maturation.

Conclusions:This information is of importance in the use of oophorectomy specimens for patients who must undergo an oophorectomy but desire to attempt pregnancy using their oocytes, in the use of oophorectomy specimens for donor oocytes, or for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization using immature oocyte collection.

Key Words: immature oocyte collection, in vitro oocyte maturation, oocytes

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (559.0 KB).

References

  • 1.Andersen Y. Levels of steroid-binding proteins and steroids in human preovulatory follicle fluid and serum as predictors of success in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71:1375–1381. doi: 10.1210/jcem-71-5-1375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Lee MS, Ben-Rafael Z, Meloni F, Mastroianni L, Flickinger GL. Relationship of human oocyte maturity, fertilization, and cleavage to follicular fluid prolactin and steroids. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer. 1987;4:168–172. doi: 10.1007/BF01555465. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Franchimont P, Hazeé-Hagelstein MT, Hazout A, Frydman R, Schatz B, Demerlé F. Correlation between follicular fluid content and the results of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. I. Sex steroids. Fertil Steril. 1989;52:1006–1011. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)53166-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Lindner C, Lichtenberg V, Westhof G, Braendle W, Bettendorf G. Endocrine parameters of human follicular fluid and fertilization capacity of oocytes. Horm Metab Res. 1988;20:243–246. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1010803. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Laufer N., Botero-Ruiz W, DeCherney AH, Haseltine F, Polan ML, Behrman HR. Gonadotropin and prolactin levels in follicular fluid of human ova successfully fertilized in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984;58:430–434. doi: 10.1210/jcem-58-3-430. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Hillier SG, Fisch B, Wickings EJ. Sex steroid biosynthesis in luteinized granulosa cells. In: Naftolin F, DeCherney AH, editors. The Control of Follicle Development, Ovulation and Luteal Function: Lessons from In Vitro Fertilization. Boston: Raven Press; 1987. pp. 65–78. [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Dain LB, Stein P, Krimer ARD, Asch RH, Polak de Fried E, Charreau EH, Tesone M. Progesterone production in cultured human granulosa cells: Correlation with follicular fluid hormone levels. Fertil Steril. 1991;55:1093–1098. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54358-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Tapanainen J, Leinonen PJ, Tapanainen P, Yamamoto M, Jaffe RB. Regulation of human granulosa-luteal cell progesterone production and proliferation by gonadotropins and growth factors. Fertil Steril. 1987;48:576–580. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)59467-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Sjögren A, Hillensjö T, Hamberger L. The regulatory role of FSH in steroid formation by luteinized human granulosa cells in culture. Hum Reprod. 1987;2:469–473. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136572. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Vanderhyden BC, Armstrong DT. Effects of gonadotropins and granulosa cell secretions on the maturation and fertilization of rat oocytes in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev. 1990;26:337–346. doi: 10.1002/mrd.1080260408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Armstrong DT, Zhang X, Vanderhyden BC, Khamsi F. Hormonal actions during oocyte maturation influence fertilization and early embryonic development. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1991;626:137–158. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1991.tb37908.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Morgan PM, Warikoo PK, Bavister BD. In vitro maturation of ovarian oocytes from unstimulated rhesus monkeys: Assessment of cytoplasmic maturity by embryonic development after in vitro fertilization. Biol Reprod. 1991;45:89–93. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod45.1.89. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Kowalski W, Chatterton RT. Peripheral and not central suppression of ovarian function during osmotic pump infusion of adrenocorticotropin-(1-24) for one menstrual cycle in the cynomolgus monkey and its partial compensation by a transitory elevation of sex hormone-binding globulin levels. Endocrinology. 1992;130:3582–3592. doi: 10.1210/en.130.6.3582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Gibori G, Chatterton RT, Chien JL. Ovarian and serum concentrations of androgen throughout pregnancy in the rat. Biol Reprod. 1979;21:53–56. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod21.1.53. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Judge SM, Quade JP, Arrata WSM, Chatterton RT. Timecourse relationships between serum LH, serum progesterone, and urinary pregnanediol concentrations in normal women. Steroids. 1978;31:175–187. doi: 10.1016/0039-128X(78)90111-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Downs SM. Protein synthesis inhibitors prevent both spontaneous and hormone-dependent maturation of isolated mouse oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev. 1990;27:235–243. doi: 10.1002/mrd.1080270309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Jinno M, Sandow BA, Hodgen GD. Enhancement of the developmental potential of mouse oocytes matured in vitro by gonadotropins and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer. 1989;6:36–40. doi: 10.1007/BF01134579. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Oda T, Yoshimura Y, Izumi Y, Yoshimura S, Hara T, Takehara Y, Nakamura Y, Ohno T. The effect of the follicular fluid adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate degradation rate on successful fertilization and cleavage of human oocytes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;71:116–121. doi: 10.1210/jcem-71-1-116. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Salustri A, Petrungaro S, Felici M, Conti M, Siracusa G. Effect of follicle-stimulating hormone on cyclic adenosine monophosphate level and on meiotic maturation in mouse cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes cultured in vitro. Biol Reprod. 1985;33:797–802. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod33.4.797. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Schroeder AC, Downs SM, Eppig JJ. Factors affecting the developmental capacity of mouse oocytes undergoing maturation in vitro. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1988;541:197–204. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1988.tb22256.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Eppig JJ. Mammalian oocyte development in vivo and in vitro. In: Wassarman PM, editor. Elements of Mammalian Fertilization, Vol I. Basic Concepts. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1991. pp. 57–76. [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Hahlin M, Crona N, Knutsson F, Janson PO. Human granulosa cell tumor: stimulation of steroidogenesis by gonadotropins in vitro. Gynecol Oncol. 1991;40:201–206. doi: 10.1016/0090-8258(90)90278-S. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Tsang BK, Moon YS, Simpson CW, Armstrong DT. Androgen Biosynthesis in human ovarian follicles: cellular source, gonadotropic control, and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate mediation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979;48:153–158. doi: 10.1210/jcem-48-1-153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.McNatty KP, Makris A, DeGrazia C, Osathanondh R, Ryan KJ. The production of progesterone, androgens, and estrogens by granulosa cells, thecal tissue, and stromal tissue from human ovaries in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979;49:687–699. doi: 10.1210/jcem-49-5-687. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Voutilainen R, Tapanainen J, Chung BC, Matteson KJ, Miller WL. Hormonal regulation of P450scc (20,22-desmolase) and P450c17 (17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) in cultured human granulosa cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986;63:202–207. doi: 10.1210/jcem-63-1-202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Zoller LC, Weisz J. Identification of cytochrome P-450, and its distribution in the membrana granulosa of the preovulatory follicle, using quantitative cytochemistry. Endocrinology. 1978;103:310–313. doi: 10.1210/endo-103-1-310. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Seibel MM, Smith D, Dlugi AM, Levesque L. Periovulatory follicular fluid hormone levels in spontaneous human cycles. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1989;68:1073–1077. doi: 10.1210/jcem-68-6-1073. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.McNatty KP, Smith DM, Makris A, Osathanondh R, Ryan KJ. The microenvironment of the human antral follicle: interrelationships among the steroid levels in antral fluid, the population of granulosa cells, and the status of the oocyte in vivo and in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1979;49:851–860. doi: 10.1210/jcem-49-6-851. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Jinno M, Sandow BA, Ilzuka R, Hodgen GD. Full physiological maturation in vitro of immature mouse oocytes induced by sequential treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer. 1990;7:285–291. doi: 10.1007/BF01129537. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Shea BF, Baker RD, Latour VPA. Human follicular oocytes and their maturation in vitro. Fertil Steril. 1975;26:1075–1082. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)41473-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Cha KY, Do BR, Koo JJ, Choi DH, Yoon TK, Ko JJ: A difference in in vitro mautration and development rate of follicular oocytes collected from nonstimulated ovaries according to menstrual cycle. 47th Annual Meeting of the American Fertility Society, 1991, P106, S151

Articles from Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES