The expression levels of NOS2, HMOX1, and VEGFC in cumulus cells are markers of oocyte maturation and fertilization rate

Throughout the reproductive life of women, cumulus cells (CC) protect the dormant oocyte from damage, act as sensors of the follicular microenvironment, and act as a gatekeeper for oocyte developmental potential. One such mechanism relies on the hypoxia-tolerance response, which, with age, decreases systematically, including in the ovary. We aimed to evaluate the association between gene expression related to hypoxia and aging in CC and reproductive results in in vitro fertilization cycles. We recruited 94 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. Total RNA was extracted from pooled CCs collected after oocyte pick-up (OPU) and reverse-transcribed to complementary DNA using random hexamers to test 14 genes related to hypoxia response via HIF1 & alpha; activation, oxidative stress, and angiogenic responses. The expression of CLU, NOS2, and TXNIP had a positive correlation with age (r(s) = 0.25, r(s) = 0.24, and r(s) = 0.35, respectively). Additionally, NOS2 and HMOX1 expression correlated positively with the retrieval of immature oocytes (r(s) = 0.22 and r(s) = 0.40, respectively). Moreover, VEGFC levels decreased overall with increasing fertilization rate, independently of age (r(s) = -0.29). We found that the fertilization potential of a cohort of oocytes is related to the ability of CC to respond to oxidative stress and hypoxia with age, pointing at NOS2, HMOX1, and VEGFC expression as markers for oocyte maturation and fertilization success.