Is there any correlation between apoptotic genes expression in cumulus cells with embryo morphokinetics?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology and genetics
• Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Background:

• Embryo selection in ART relies on morphological assessment.
• Cumulus cells (CCs) surrounding oocytes may offer non-invasive markers for embryo viability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between apoptotic gene expression in CCs and embryo morphokinetic parameters.
• To evaluate the potential of combining CC gene expression with morphokinetics for improved embryo selection.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 269 embryos from 90 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.
• Assessed CCs for expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes (Bax, Caspase3, Bcl2).
• Monitored embryo morphokinetics including cleavage time (t2-t8), pronuclei appearance/fading (tPN, tPNf), and second polar body extrusion (tPB2).
• Evaluated cleavage patterns such as uneven blastomeres, cell fusion (Fu), and trichomonas mitoses (TM).

Main Results:

• Early cleavage time (t2) significantly correlated with CC expression of Bax, Caspase3, Bcl2, and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio.
• Uneven blastomere formation was associated with Bax and Caspase3 expression.
• Cell fusion (Fu) and trichomonas mitoses (TM) patterns significantly correlated with CC expression of Bax, Caspase3, Bcl2, and the Bax/Bcl2 ratio.

Conclusions:

• Embryo morphokinetics and cleavage patterns are linked to the apoptotic gene expression profile of surrounding cumulus cells.
• Integrating CC gene expression analysis with time-lapse microscopy (TLM) for morphokinetics may improve embryo selection and ART success rates.