P-29: Effects of Growth Factors and GranulosaCell Coculture on In vitro Maturation ofOocytes

Background: The maturation medium for in-vitro oocyte maturation is usually supplemented with serum. However, supplementation of serum from pregnant women adversely affects the outcome of in-vitro maturation. The purpose of the study was to assess if growth factors or granulosa cell coculture could overcome the adverse effects of pregnant women’s serum. Materials and Methods: The basal maturation medium consisted of TCM 199, 75 mIU/ml hMG, 0.2 mM pyruvate, and 10% serum. The maturation medium for control-1 contained fertile women’s serum. The maturation medium for control-2 contained pregnant women’s serum. The maturation media for the study groups consisted of medium for control-2, with the addition of EGF, IGF-1, activin, TGF-β, or granulosa cell coculture. Immature oocytes were obtained from FVB mice, and the experiment was repeated 6 times. After maturation, the oocytes were fertilized and cultured to blastocysts, and the cumulus cells were analyzed for apoptosis. Results: The maturation, fertilization, and blastocyte rates of control-2 group were significantly lower thanthose of control-1 group. Addition of EGF, IGF-1, activin, TGF-β, or granulosa cell coculture could not improve the outcome of in-vitro maturation. Cumulus cell proliferation was inhibited by pregnant women’s serum. Apoptosis of cumulus cell was not correlated with invitro oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development. Conclusion: The pregnant women’s serum has detrimental effects on in-vitro maturation of oocytes, and the addition of growth factors or granulosa cells could not overcome its detrimental effects. The detrimental effects may act via inhibition of cumulus cell proliferation.