ABSTRACT
Background: Poor ovarian response phenomenon has been observed in some of the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer patients. Some investigations found that follicle stimulating hormone receptor [FSHR] gene plays a role in the process, but no direct evidence shows the correlation between genotypes of FSHR and ovarian response
Objective: Exploring the molecular mechanism behind the mutation of FSHR promoter association with ovarian granulosa cells and poor ovarian response
Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed using 158 women undergoing the controlled short program ovarian stimulation for IVF treatment. The 263 bp DNA fragments before the follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] receptor 5' initiation site were sequenced in the patients under IVF cycle, 70 of which had poor ovarian response and 88 showed normal ovarian responses
Results: With a mutation rate of 40%, 63 in 158 cases showed a 29[th] site G-A point mutation; among the mutated cases, the mutation rate of the poor ovarian responders was significantly higher than the normal group [60% versus 23.9%; [chi]2=21.450, p<0.001]. Besides, the variability was also obvious in antral follicle count, and ovum pick-ups. The estradiol peak values and the number of mature eggs between the two groups had significant difference. However, there was no obvious variability [t=0.457, p=0.324] in the basic FSH values between the two groups [normal group, 7.2 +/- 2.3 U/L; mutation group, 7.1 +/- 2.0 U/L]
Conclusion: The activity of FSHR promoter is significantly affected by the 29[th] site G-A mutation that will weaken promoter activity and result in poor response to FSH