Apoptotic markers and antioxidant enzymes have altered expression in cumulus and granulosa cells of young women with poor response to ovarian stimulation

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in Granulose (GC) and Cumulus Cells (CC) of women with low response to Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) and controls which underwent an IVF treatment.

Methods: mRNA concentrations of BCL-2, BAX, caspase-3, caspase-9, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and catalase were evaluated in patients (n=30) and donors (n=45) using qRT-PCR analysis on CG and CC.

Results: The concentrations of mRNA coding for BCL-2, BAX, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were significantly higher in GC from women with low response compared to women with normal response (p<0.001). In contrast, concentrations of catalase mRNA were significantly increased in normoresponders women (p< 0.05). The levels of catalase mRNA were also significantly higher in CCs from normoresponders women compared to patients with low response (p<0.003), and the levels of BAX mRNA in CC were significantly increased in patients (p<008).

Conclusions: In addition, we found a correlation between the expression of genes regulating OS and apoptosis and response to ovarian stimulation, which could mean that an increase in ovarian oxidative stress can reduce the number of oocytes obtained after ovarian stimulation.