Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran: a closer look at risk factors / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran and to investigate related risk factors. @*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n=188) and those treated with prolonged corticosteroid administration (n=306). All fresh fecal samples were examined using the direct wet-mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and agar plate culture techniques. @*RESULTS@#In total, 16.8% of patients were positive for at least 1 intestinal parasite; the helminthic and protozoan infection rates were 5.1% and 12.3%, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher in corticosteroid-treated individuals (19.6%) than cancer patients (12.2%) (p<0.05). The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis among patients receiving chemotherapy and those treated with corticosteroids were 4.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis infection was significantly higher in older patients (p<0.05). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Strongyloidiasis is one of the most common parasites among patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of these patients are necessary to minimize the complications of severe strongyloidiasis.

Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran: a closer look at risk factors / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis and other intestinal parasites in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran and to investigate related risk factors. @*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n=188) and those treated with prolonged corticosteroid administration (n=306). All fresh fecal samples were examined using the direct wet-mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and agar plate culture techniques. @*RESULTS@#In total, 16.8% of patients were positive for at least 1 intestinal parasite; the helminthic and protozoan infection rates were 5.1% and 12.3%, respectively. The infection rate was significantly higher in corticosteroid-treated individuals (19.6%) than cancer patients (12.2%) (p<0.05). The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis among patients receiving chemotherapy and those treated with corticosteroids were 4.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence rate of S. stercoralis infection was significantly higher in older patients (p<0.05). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Strongyloidiasis is one of the most common parasites among patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs in northern Iran. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of these patients are necessary to minimize the complications of severe strongyloidiasis.

TGF-beta1 polymorphisms -509 C>T and +915 G>C and risk of pancreatic cancer

Aim: Our aim was to determine the association between TGF-beta1 polymorphisms at position -509 C>T [rs1800469] and +915 G>C [rs1800471] and pancreatic cancer susceptibility in Iranian population

Background: Ninety percent of pancreatic cancer patients have less than 5-year overall survival and approximately 50% of cases were diagnosed with metastasis in the time of admission. Previous evidences have demonstrated the strong association between TGF-beta1 variations and cancer susceptibility so far

Methods: A total of 78 patients with pancreatic cancer and 94 healthy controls were enrolled in this case control study from 2007-2012. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples according to phenol chloroform extraction. The genotypes of TGF-beta1 rs rs1800469 and rs1800471 were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method

Results: The mean age of cases and the control group were 64.50 +/- 13.718 and 40.12 +/- 16.001, respectively. For polymorphism-509 C>T, the frequency of TT genotype were 31 [33.0], CT, 47[50] and CC, 16 [17] in control and 19 [24.4], 45 [57.7] and 14 [17.9] in cases respectively. In position +915 G>C, the frequency of GG genotype was 84 [89.4] and GC, 10 [10.6] in control and 71 [91.0] and 7 [9] in cases, respectively. We did not observe any significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the TGF-beta1-509 C>T [rs1800469] and codon +915 G>C [rs1800471] between the two study groups [P>0.05]

Conclusion: we found that TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms rs1800469 and rs1800471 might not play a role in pancreatic cancer susceptibility in Iranian population

In vitro differentiation of insulin secreting cells from mouse bone marrow derived stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 positive stem cells

Objective: Bone marrow has recently been recognized as a novel source of stem cells for the treatment of wide range of diseases. A number of studies on murine bone mar-row have shown a homogenous population of rare stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 [SSEA-1] positive cells that express markers of pluripotent stem cells. This study focuses on SSEA-1 positive cells isolated from murine bone marrow in an attempt to differentiate them into insulin-secreting cells [ISCs] in order to investigate their differentiation potential for future use in cell therapy

Materials and Methods: This study is an experimental research. Mouse SSEA-1 positive cells were isolated by Magnetic-activated cell sorting [MACS] followed by characterization with flow cytometry. Induced SSEA-1 positive cells were differentiated into ISCs with specific differentiation media. In order to evaluate differentiation quality and analysis, dithizone [DTZ] staining was use, followed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR], immunocytochemistry and insulin secretion assay. Statistical results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA

Results: The results achieved in this study reveal that mouse bone marrow contains a population of SSEA-1 positive cells that expresses pluripotent stem cells markers such as SSEA-1, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 [OCT-4] detected by immunocytochemistry and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 [CXCR4] and stem cell antigen-1 [SCA-1] detected by flow cytometric analysis. SSEA-1 positive cells can differentiate into ISCs cell clusters as evidenced by their DTZ positive staining and expression of genes such as Pdx1 [pancreatic transcription factors], Ngn3 [endocrine progenitor marker], Insulin1 and Insulin2 [pancreaticbeta-cell markers]. Additionally, our results demonstrate expression of PDX1 and GLUT2 protein and insulin secretion in response to a glucose challenge in the differentiated cells

Conclusion: Our study clearly demonstrates the potential of SSEA-1 positive cells to differentiate into insulin secreting cells in defined culture conditions for clinical applications

effects of l-arginine on the hippocampus of male rat fetuses under maternal stress

Introduction: Prenatal stress has deleterious effects on the development of the brain and is associated with behavioral and psychosocial problems in childhood and adulthood. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of L-arginine on fetal brain under maternal stress

Methods: Twenty pregnant Wistar rats [weighting 200-230 g] were randomly divided into 4 groups [n=5 for each group]. The first nonstress and stress groups received 2 mL of normal saline and the other nonstress and stress two groups received L-arginine [200 mg/kg, IP] from their 5[th] to 20[th] days of pregnancy. The pregnant rats were killed on 20[th] day and the brain fetuses removed and prefrontal cortical thickness, total neurons in the prefrontal cortex and in the areas of CA1, CA2, and CA3 of the hippocampus were measured and counted. Nitrite levels in the brain were measured as an indicator for nitric oxide [NO] level

Results: There was a significant decrease of mean number of pyramidal cells in the CA1 in prenatal stress group compared to nonstress and nonstress plus arginine groups. The NO level in brain tissue increased significantly in the stress plus arginine [3.8 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg] and in nonstress rats [2.9 +/- 0.3 nmol/mg] compared to the stress group [1.8 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg]. Prefrontal cortical thickness decreased significantly in stress rats [1.2 +/- 0.09 mm] compared to the nonstress plus arginine [1.7 +/- 0.15 mm] and nonstress [1.6 +/- 0.13 mm] groups

Discussion: Results indicated that prenatal stress could lead to neurodegeneration of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rat fetuses. L-arginine as a precursor of NO synthesis had neuroprotective effect during prenatal stress and could be used an effective treatment for stress

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human prostate specific antigen

Prostate Specific Antigen [PSA] is an important laboratory marker for diagnosis of prostatic cancer. Thus, development of diagnostic tools specific for PSA plays an important role in screening, monitoring and early diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this paper, the production and characterization of a panel of murine monoclonal antibodies [mAbs] against PSA have been presented. Balb/c mice were immunized with PSA, which was purified from seminal plasma. Splenocytes of hyperimmunized mice were extracted and fused with Sp2/0 cells. By adding selective HAT medium, hybridoma cells were established and positive clones were selected by ELISA after four times of cloning. The isotypes of produced mAbs were determined by ELISA and then purified from ascitic fluids using Hi-Trap protein G column. The reactivities of the mAbs were examined with the purified PSA and seminal plasma by ELISA and western blot techniques. Furthermore, the reactivities of the mAbs were assessed in Prostate Cancer [PC alpha], Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [BPH] and brain cancer tissues by Immunohistochemistry [IHC]. Five anti-PSA mAbs [clones: 2G2-B2, 2F9-F4, 2D6-E8, IgG1/K] and clones [2C8-E9, 2G3-E2, IgG2 alpha/K] were produced and characterized. All mAbs, except 2F9-F4 detected the expression of PSA in PCa and BPH tissues and none of them reacted with PSA in brain cancer tissue in IHC. Besides, all mAbs could detect a protein band around 33 kD alpha in human seminal plasma in western blot. These mAbs can specifically recognize PSA and may serve as a component of PSA diagnostic kit in various biological fluids

Expression of spermatogonial and pluripotency markers in spermatogonial stem cells after treatment with different culture factors

As condition and component of culture determine fate map of spermatogonial stem cells [SSCs], the aim of this study was to evaluate of growth factors GDNF, LIF and RA on proliferation and differentiation of SSC. SSCs were cultured in two groups: The first group GDNF and LIF and the second group RA. The number of clumps and colony formation was monitored during 1 month in culture. To identification of the colony, stained with PLZF using immunostaining. Pluripotency gene Oct 4 and neural markers MAP2, NeuroD and Nestin were analyzed by RT-PCR. In the presence of GDNF and LIF, cells proliferated rapidly and many compact clumps were appeared whereas after exposure to RA cells formed small clumps. The results of immunocytochemistry shows PLZF was detected in the group GDNF and LIF. RT-PCR showed high level expression Oct 4 in the group GDNF and LIF whereas neural markers MAP2, NeuroD and Nestin were expressed in the group RA. GDNF and LIF are essential for self-renewal and colony formation of SSCs that confirm the stem cells activity of these cells but RA inhibits stem cell activity of SSCs and induces neural differentiation of these

Molecular characterization of bovine cryptosporidium using cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein [COWP] gene

Cryptosporidium is a globally distributed protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans and cattle. The aim of the present study was to determine the species of Cryptosporidium among cattle with diarrhea by a nested PCR-RFLP technique at Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein [COWP]. Fecal samples from 158 calves aged 1-20 weeks were collected from 10 dairy farms in Qazvin province, Iran. Initial identification of Cryptosporidium was carried out by Zeihl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method of stool samples. DNA was extracted from 26 [16.45 %] positive microscopically samples and Cryptosporidium genotypes were determined. Cryptosporidium parvum were identified in 80.8% of the positive samples and, Cryptosporidium andersoni in 19.2%. In conclusion the use of COWP primers could be sensitive enough to conduct a routine detection study. The nested PCR method using the COWP gene sequence can be an alternative diagnostic method to identify infected with Cryptosporidium and its genetic diversity

Promotion of remyelination by adipose mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a cuprizone model of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system [CNS]. Stem cell transplantation is a new therapeutic approach for demyelinating diseases such as MS which may promote remyelination. In this study, we evaluate the remyelinating potential of adipose mesenchymal stem cells [ADSCs] and their effect on neural cell composition in the corpus callosum in an experimental model of MS. This experimental study used adult male C57BL/6 mice. Cultured ADSCs were confirmed to be CD73[+], CD90[+], CD31[-],CD45[-], and labeled by PKH26. Animals were fed with 0.2% w/w cuprizone added to ground breeder chow ad libitum for six weeks. At day 0 after cuprizone removal, mice were randomly divided into two groups: the ADSCs-transplanted group and the control vehicle group [received medium alone]. Some mice of the same age were fed with their normal diet to serve as healthy control group. Homing of ADSCs in demyelinated lesions was examined by fluorescent microscope. At ten days after transplantation, the mice were euthanized and their cells analyzed by luxol fast blue staining [LFB], transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry. Results were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]. According to fluorescent cell labeling, transplanted ADSCs appeared to survive and exhibited homing specificity. LFB staining and transmission electron microscope evaluation revealed enhanced remyelination in the transplanted group compared to the control vehicle group. Flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in Olig2 and O4 cells and a decrease in GFAP and Iba-1 cells in the transplanted group. Our results indicate that ADSCs may provide a feasible, practical way for remyelination in diseases such as MS

Production and characterization of a marine monoclonal antibody against human ferritin

Ferritin is an iron storage protein, which plays a hey role in iron metabolism. Measurement of ferritin level in serum is one of the most useful indicators of iron status and also a sensitive measurement of iron deficiency. Monoclonal antibodies may be useful as a tool in various aspects of ferritin investigations. In this paper, the production of a murine monoclonal antibody [mAb] against human ferritin was reported. Balb/c mice were immunized with purified human ferritin and splenocytes of hyper immunized mice were fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. After four times of cloning by limiting dilution, a positive hybridoma [clone: 2F9-C9] was selected by ELISA using human ferritin. Anti-ferritin mAb was purified from culture supernatants by affinity chromatography. Determination of the antibody affinity for ferritin by ELISA revealed a relatively high affinity [2.34 10[9] A/[1]] and the isotype was determined to be lgG2a. The anti-ferritin mAb 2F9-C9 reacted with 79.4% of Hela cells in flow cytometry. The antibody detected a band of 20 kDa in K562 cells, murine and human liver lysates, purified ferritin in Western blot and also ferritin in human serum. This mAb can specifically recognize ferritin and may serve as a component of ferritin diagnostic bit if other requirements of the hit are met

effect of retinoic acid on in vitro maturation and fertilization rate of mouse germinal vesicle stage oocytes

Retinoids are recognized as important regulators of cell differention and tissue function, Previous studies, performed both in vivo and in vitro, indicate that retin-oids influence several reproductive events. In this study, we investigated the effect of all-trans retinoic acid [t-RA] on maturation and fertilization rate of immature oocytes [germinal vesicle]. Germinal vesicle [GV] oocytes were recovered from 4-6 week old female mice 48 hours after injection of 10 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG]. Collected oocytes were divided into seven groups: control, sham and five experimental groups. t-RA at concentrations of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 jjM were added to oocyte maturation medium in the experimental groups. The maturation rate was recorded after 24 hours of culture in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO[2] at 37°C. Fertilization and developmental rates of matured oocytes were recorded after in vitro fertilization [IVF] and 24 hour culture. The rate of oocytes that developed to the metaphase II stage of maturation significantly increased with 2 and 4 microM t-RA compared to the control and sham groups [p<0.05]. In addition, the number of fertilized oocytes was significantly higher in 4 microM retinoic acid compared to the control [p<0.05], but the difference between the number of fertilized oocytes which developed to the 2-cell stage was not significant between the two groups. The results show that t-RA enhanced mouse oocyte maturation in vitro and improved fertilization and development rates in a dose dependent manner

Comparison of the photobleaching and photostability traits of alexa fluor 568- and fluorescein isothiocyanate- conjugated antibody

Synthetic fluorescent dyes that are conjugated to antibodies are useful tools to probe molecules. Based on dye chemical structures, their photobleaching and photostability indices are quite diverse. It is generally believed that among different fluorescent dyes, Alexa Fluor family has greater photostability than traditional dyes like fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC] and Cy5. Alexa Fluor 568 is a member of Alexa Fluor family presumed to have superior photostability and photobleahing profiles than FITC. In this experimental study, we conjugated Alexa Fluor 568 and FITC dyes to a mouse anti-human nestin monoclonal antibody [ANM] to acquire their photobleaching profiles and photostability indices. Then, the fluorophore/antibody ratios were calculated using a spectrophotometer. The photobleaching profiles and photostability indices of conjugated antibodies were subsequently studied by immunocytochemistry [ICC]. Samples were continuously illuminated and digital images acquired under a fluorescent microscope. Data were processed by ImageJ software. Alexa Fluor 568 has a brighter fluorescence and higher photostability than FITC. Alexa Fluor 568 is a capable dye to use in photostaining techniques and it has a longer photostability when compared to FITC

Production of monoclonal antibody against human nestin

We have employed a peptid-based antibody generation protocol for producing antibody against human nestin. Using a 12-mer synthetic peptide from repetitive region of human nestin protein devoid of any N-or O-glycosylation sequences, we generated a mouse monoclonal antibody capable of recognizing human, mouse, bovine, and rat nestin. A wide variety of nestin proteins ranging from 140-250 kDa was detected by this antibody. This antibody is highly specific and functional in applications such as ELISA, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot assays

Conjucation of R-Phycoerythrin to a polyclonal antibody and F [ab'] 2 fragment of a polyclonal antibody by two different methods

R-phycoerythrin [R-PE], a fluorescent protein from phycobiliprotein family, is isolated from red algae. Conjugation of antibodies to R-PE facilitates multiple fluorescent staining methods. In the present study polyclonal antibodies and polyclonal F[ab']2 fragment antibodies were conjugated to R-PE by two different methods. The efficiency of the methods was evaluated using Immunocytochemistry [ICC] and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. In the first conjugation method, PE was attached to SMCC linker followed by conjugation of antibody to PE-SMCC. In the second method, SH groups were added onto R-PE molecule, while the antibody was attached to SPDP linker. Then, the antibody-SPDP molecule was conjugated to R-PE. Our results showed that the two conjugation methods did not have any abrogative effects on the antibody binding activity

Differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into schwann cell phenotype in comparison with bone marrow stem cells

Bone marrow is the traditional source of human multipotent mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs], but adipose tissue appears to be an alternative and more readily available source. In this study, rat adipose-derived stem cells [ADSCs] were induced to differentiate into Schwann-like cells and compared with rat bone marrow stem cells [BMSCs] for their Schwann-like cells differentiation potential. BMSCs and ADSCs were characterized for expression of MSCs-specific markers, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. They were induced to differentiate into Schwann-like cells and analyzed for expression of the Schwann specific markers. The immunocytochemical differentiation markers were S-100 and real time quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] markers were S100, P75 and glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]. 3-[4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay and Annexin V-Fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]/ Propidium iodide [PI] double labeling method were employed to detect early stage cell apoptosis. BMSCs and ADSCs showed similarities in expression of the MSC-specific markers, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. Both quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated that BMSCs and ADSCs had equal expression of the Schwann-specific markers following Schwann-like cells differentiation. However, gene expression of P75 was higher in BMSCs compared with ADSCs. MTT assay and flow cytometry found that of the total BMSCs and ADSCs in the culture medium, 20% to 30% of the cells died, but the remaining cell population remained strongly attached to the substrate and differentiated. Comparative analysis showed that Schwann-like cell differentiation potential of ADSCs was slightly decreased in comparison with BMSCs. Therefore, BMSCs are more favorable choice than ADSCs for tissue engineering

Assessment of thyroglobulin expression in reproductive organs at different stages of mouse estrous cycle

Prevalence of abortion is higher in women with autoimmune thyroid disease. In the majority of cases, however, no abnormality of thyroid function is detected despite the high levels of antithyroid antibodies. The direct influence of such harmful autoantibodies in female reproductive organs may serve a role in pregnancy loss. In this study, expression of thyroglobulin in the reproductive tissues of cycling mice has been evaluated. Stages of estrous cycle were determined by cellular morphology and ratio of epithelial cells to leukocytes in vaginal smear of Balb/C mice. At each phase, the mice were sacrificed and their uterus, ovary and fallopian tubes were removed. Expression of thyroglobulin-specific transcript in endometrium was investigated by two sets of primers using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]. In addition, expression of thyroglobulin in reproductive tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry and dot blot analysis. The results showed that thyroglobulin mRNA is not expressed in endometrial tissue of Balb/C mice at any stage of estrous cycle. Immunohistochemical analysis also confirmed that thyroglobulin or its cross reactive-antigens are not expressed at the protein level in the female reproductive organs. The results showed that thyroglobulin was not expressed in the reproductive organs of female mice. It is plausible that antithyroglobulin antibodies could interact with newly-generated antigens during placentation and pregnancy

Ectopic expression of sortilin 1 [NTR-3] in patients with ovarian carcinoma

Gene expression profiling of ovarian carcinoma tissues has shown an increase of four-fold expression of SORTl gene. Sortilin 1 [NTR-3] is a 95-100 kDa protein normally expressed in heart, brain, placenta, skeletal muscle, spinal cord, thyroid, and testis. However, its expression has never been reported in normal ovary. Here, we report expression of sortilin 1 in ovarian carcinoma tissues both at gene and protein levels. Sortilin 1 was expressed in all ovarian carcinoma patients [n=15] as well as ovarian carcinoma cell lines [n=5] regardless of their phenotypic characteristics. Non-malignant ovaries [n=6] did not express sortilin 1. The molecular basis for this ectopic expression is not yet clear. Our results showed a major cell surface expression of sortilin 1 rather than ER-Golgi compartment where it is mainly expressed. This finding may introduce sortilin 1 as a novel tumor marker for diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma and may signify its therapeutic value in targeted therapy

Melatonin influences the proliferative and differentiative activity of rat adipose-derived stem cells

This study was performed to determine whether melatonin at physiological concentrations [0.01-10nM] could affect the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of Rat ADSCs in vitro. ADSCs were isolated from the fat of adult rats. After cell expansion in culture media and through three passages, osteogenesis was induced on a monolayer culture with osteogenic medium with or without melatonin at physiological concentrations [0.01-10nM]. After 4 weeks cultures were examined for mineralization by Alizarin Red S and von Kossa staining and for alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity by ALP kit. Cell viability and apoptosis were also assayed by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-5-[3-carboxymethoxyphenlyl]-2-[4-ulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium assay and flowcytometry, respectively. All assays were performed in triplicate. The results indicated that at physiological concentrations, melatonin suppressed proliferation and differentiation of ADSCs. These data indicate that ADSCs exposed to melatonin, had a lower ALP activity in contrast to the cells exposed to the osteogenic medium alone. Similarly, the mineral deposition [calcium level] also decreased. The flow cytometry proved that the cell growth decreased and the apoptotic cells increased. These results suggest that physiological concentration of melatonin has a negative effect on ADSCs osteogenesis

effects of cumulus cells on in vitro maturation of mouse germinal vesicle stage oocytes

In vitro maturation [IVM] of oocytes is a promising technique to reduce the costs and avert the side-effects of gonadotropin stimulation for in vitro fertilization [IVF]. The pregnancy rates from oocytes matured in vitro are much lower than those of in vivo stimulation cycles, indicating that optimization of IVM remains a challenge. In this study, we investigated the effect of cumulus cells on maturation and fertilization rate of immature oocytes [Germinal vesicle]. Germinal vesicle [GV] oocytes were recovered from 6-8 weeks old Balb C female mice 48hr after injection of 10 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG]. Collected oocytes were divided into two groups. Group A: GV oocytes without cumulus [denuded oocyte]. Group B: GV oocytes with cumulus cells [cumulus-oocyte complex]. The oocytes in both groups were cultured in TCM-199 medium in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air at 37?C. The maturation, fertilization and developmental rates were recorded after 24hr. Maturation, fertilization and developmental rates in denuded oocytes [DO] were 65.1%, 68.02%, 78.63% respectively, and in cumulus-oocyte complex [COC] were 78.20%, 85.57% and 85.05%, respectively. The maturation, fertilization and developmental rates of COC were significantly higher than those of DO [p<0.05]. The results show that cumulus cells have beneficial effects on maturation, fertilization and cleavage rates of mice oocytes