FSH receptor gene polymorphisms have a role for different ovarian response to stimulation in patients entering IVF/ICSI-ET programs.

PURPOSE: To examine the frequency distribution of the Ser680Asn polymorphism of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene in ovarian dysfunction (OD) infertile women, "poor responders" (PR) and "good responders" (GR). METHODS: The hormonal profiles and treatment of all patients were analyzed and FSHR polymorphism was examined by PCR and RFLP. Women from all groups were classified as Asn/Asn, Asn/Ser, and Ser/Ser genotypes. RESULTS: The frequency distribution of Ser/Ser, Asn/Ser and Asn/Asn variants in OD patients was 45.5, 22.7, and 31.8%, respectively. Day 3 FSH levels in OD and GR patients were higher in Ser/Ser and Asn/Asn subgroups. Asn/Ser carriers from OD and GR groups provided more follicles and oocytes compared to other allelic variants. CONCLUSIONS: GR patients carry more often the Asn/Ser genotype. The latter is correlated with more follicles and oocytes in both OD and GR patients. The Ser/Ser variant might be related to higher serum FSH levels, while the Asn/Ser with lower.

Prolactin receptor mRNA expression in oocytes and preimplantation mouse embryos.

Prolactin was first identified as an anterior pituitary lobe hormone, responsible for the regulation of mammary gland growth and development. Prolactin receptors have been localized in a number of peripheral tissues, including tissues involved in reproduction. Studies with knockout animals have shown that prolactin receptor deficient mice present reproductive defects, whereas prolactin promotes the developmental potential of preimplantation mouse and rat embryos in vitro. To better understand the role of prolactin in the process of reproduction and early embryo development in mice, the expression of the four transcript variants of prolactin receptor was examined in the first stages of mouse embryo development. Prolactin long receptor mRNA was expressed in all stages examined, that is in cumulus cells, oocytes, zygotes, 2-cell embryos, 4-cell embryos, morulae and blastocysts. Prolactin receptor type S1 mRNA was observed only in cumulus cells, while S2 mRNA was present in cumulus cells, oocytes, zygotes and 2-cell embryos. S3 mRNA was expressed only in cumulus cells and oocytes. These results indicate that different isoforms of prolactin receptors may be present in the various stages of mouse preimplantation embryo and may play an important role in the control of its growth and development.