O-299 Exposure of antral follicles to progestins during stimulation does not cause molecular perturbations in gonadotropin-responsiveness and steroidogenic function of granulosa cells in progestin-primed IVF cycles
Authors: Oktem O , Esmaeilian Y , Yusufoglu S , Iltumur E , Ata B , Yakin K , Urman B 
Published: July 2024

Study question

Does progestin exposure cause any molecular perturbations in the steroidogenic features and gonadotropin responsiveness of the granulosa cells in progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) cycles?

Summary answer

No. PPOS cycles are identical to antagonist cycles for gonadotropin receptor expression, response to gonadotropins, steroidogenic function at molecular level in normal responding IVF patients.

What is known already

PPOS is commonly used in IVF cycles as an alternative to antagonist cycles. Although accumulating evidence from clinical studies did not indicate any particular differences between these two types of stimulation protocol for IVF cycle characteristics, it is still unknown if exposure of antral follicle cohorts to synthetic progesterone derivatives during ovarian stimulation causes any subtle molecular aberrations in PPOS cycles in terms of steroidogenesis and gonadotropin responsiveness. To address this issue, detailed molecular analyses were conducted in the luteinized mural granulosa cells (GCs) obtained from the normal responding patients undergoing PPOS vs. antagonist IVF cycles.

Study design, size, duration

A translational research study in IVF patients.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

55 normal responding IVF patients underwent ovarian stimulation either with PPOS using medroxy progesterone acetate (5mg twice daily) or, with GnRH antagonist cetrorelix acetate were included in the study. Recombinant forms of FSH and hCG were used for ovarian stimulation and ovulation trigger, respectively. Luteinized mural granulosa cells obtained during oocyte retrieval procedure were used for the experiments. Cell culture, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, confocal time-lapse live cell imaging and hormone assays were used.

Main results and the role of chance

Demographic and IVF characteristics of the patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with PPOS vs. GnRH antagonist were similar including ovarian-response, mature oocyte yield and fertilization rates. Molecular analyses revealed that the expression of the enzymes involved in sex-steroid synthesis (StAR, aromatase, 3B-HSD, 17B-HSD) and uptake/storage/utilization of cholesterol (LDL receptor, Hormone-sensitive lipase, hydroxy-methyl glutaryl Co-enzyme-A reductase and Sterol O-acyltransferase1) in the GCs of the PPOS cycles were comparable to the antagonist IVF cycles. Both cycles were also similar for the expression of FSH and LH receptors at transcriptional and translational level. Basal and hCG-induced increases in 3B-HSD expression and P4 production, and basal and FSH-induced increases in aromatase expression and E2 output of the GCs of the PPOS patients did not show any meaningful differences from the antagonist cycles. Similarly, basal and hCG-induced up-regulation in the LDL receptor expression and cholesterol uptake rate did not differ between the groups. Confocal imaging also revealed similar patterns of expression for the steroidogenic enzymes and their co-localization with mitochondria. Lastly, the expression of the other genes regulating cumulus expansion, ovulation and luteal function (Relaxin, ADAMTS-1 and EGF-like growth factor amphiregulin (AREG)) in the GCs of the PPOS cycles were comparable to the antagonist cycles.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Caution should be exercised when interpreting our data, which was produced in normal responders. It is unclear if the molecular parameters assessed here vary according to infertility etiologies, ovarian response type, mode of trigger and any other underlying ovarian pathology or systemic diseases that are concomitantly present.

Wider implications of the findings

This study provides reassuring molecular evidence that exposure of antral cohorts to progestins follicular growth phase does not appear to have any detrimental effect on their steroidogenic, ovulatory and luteal functions, suggesting that PPOS IVF cycles are not different from traditional antagonist cycles.

Trial registration number

not applicable