Author/Authors :
Shahnazi، Vahideh نويسنده , , Zaree، Mina نويسنده Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Nouri، Mohammad نويسنده Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Al-zahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. , , Mehrzad Sadaghiani، Mahzad نويسنده Alzahra Hospital, Infertility and IVF Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Fayezi، Shabnam نويسنده Students Research Committee, Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Darabi، Maryam نويسنده Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran , , Darabi، Masoud نويسنده Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ,
Abstract :
Abstract
Background: The omega-3 (?-3) fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is currently used in the clinic as a nutritional supplement to improve infertility, particularly in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of EPA on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene expression in primary cultured granulosa cells from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), and also to compare this effect with those in granulosa cells of PCOS patients.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, human granulosa cells were isolated from follicular fluid of normal and PCOS women undergoing IVF by hyaluronidase digestions, followed by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Cells were cultured in vitro, exposed to a range of concentrations of the EPA (25-100 µM) for 24 hr, and investigated with respect to COX-2 and IGF-1 gene expression by real time-PCR.
Results: In both groups, all doses of the EPA significantly induced IGF-1 mRNA gene expression compared to the untreated control. High doses of EPA in the presence of recombinant (r) FSH produced a stimulatory effect on IGF-1 and a suppressive effect (p=0.01) on the COX-2 gene expression, which were more pronounced in granulosa cells from PCOS patients.
Conclusion: EPA affect diversely the gene expression of IGF-1 and COX-2 in granulosa cells, which were more pronounced in PCOS compared to control. These findings represent the possible underlying molecular mechanisms for the positive impact of the ?-3 fatty acids on reproduction, especially in patients with PCOS.
