P-111: EGFR, ERK, MEK Genes Expression Level in Cumulus Cells of PCOS Women Compared with Healthy Women

Background Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is known as a common endocrine disorder in women at reproductive ages and may cause developmental abnormality in oocyte. ERK has found as a regulator protein of Gap junctions (GJ) function and the level of exchanges between two neighbors cells, for example oocyte and surrounding cumulus cells (CCs) in the mammalian ovary. Such exchange is essential for many important events including resumption of meiosis in oocyte. EGFR and MEK are two genes important in the growth and maturation of oocytes. In this study we evaluate the expression Level of EGFR, ERK and MEK in CCs affected by PCOS. MaterialsAndMethods In this case-control study 40 women (PCOS= 20, control= 20) were evaluated. Total RNA content was extracted from CCs obtained from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) of patients after puncture. The quantitative expression level of EGFR, ERK and MEK were measured using real time PCR. Data analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA parametric tests in R statistical analyzing software. Results PCOS women CCs demonstrated the significant reduction in expression level of the EGFR compared with control (P=0.04). There were no significant difference in expression level of ERK (P=0.35) and MEK (P=0.11) in PCOS patients compared with healthy women. Conclusion Considering the observed reduction in expression level of EGFR and due to its important role in regulation of GJ function and gating, It seems that the regulation control of GJ function may affect by PCOS. In other hands, there was no significant difference in expression level of ERK and MEK between two groups. We hypothesized that interaction between mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and several signaling pathways occurring synchronously in same cell, may moderate the changes induced by PCOS.