Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 5, 831-835,
May 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Comet assay of cumulus cell DNA status and the relationship to oocyte fertilization via intracytoplasmic sperm injection*
1 Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and 2 Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California, USA
This paper postulates that in the ovary, the close association between the cumulus cells and the oocytes permits the fertilizing ability of the oocytes to be determined indirectly through cumulus cell DNA status. The objective was to use a modified comet assay to analyse cumulus cell DNA and relate the data to oocyte fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures. Oocytes were retrieved (n = 15 cases) and free-floating cumulus cells were pooled and smeared on clear glass slides to dry. Meanwhile, the denuded oocytes were injected with spermatozoa and fertilization was assessed, followed by embryo transfer. The fixed cumulus cells were stained in acridine orange, coated with a mini-gel agarose layer, lysed in alkaline buffer and electrophoresis performed. Analyses of fluorescent cell images (n = 449) showed that the tail moment was positively correlated to the percentage of fertilization after ICSI (r = 0.567, P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no correlation between tail moment and number of oocytes retrieved, total ampoules used, endometrial thickness and age of patient. The results suggested that the competence of the oocytes was associated with the cumulus cell DNA status. A unique feature here was the comet assay for archived material with obvious advantages.
Key words: alkaline comet assay/apoptosis/cumulus oophorus/intracytoplasmic sperm injection/single cell gel electrophoresis
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 11234 Anderson St, Suite 3401,Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California 92354, USA. E-mail: pchann{at}yahoo.com
* Presented in part at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, San Diego, California, USA, October 21–25, 2000.
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