The Correlation Between Follicular Dysplasia And The Levels Of SCF, BMP-15 And GDF-9 In Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the correlation between follicular dysplasia and stem cell factor(SCF),Bone morphogenetic protein-15(BMP-15),Growth differentiation factor-9(GDF-9)in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods: Follicular fluid and granulosa cells were collected from 30 cases of patients with PCOS(PCOS group)and 40 cases of normal controls(Control group)undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.Comparison of patients with general indicators(Including the number of retrieved oocytes,age,FSH,LH,etc.)and laboratory data(Including MII oocyte rate,fertilization rate and high-quality embryo rate).Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the levels of SCF,bone morphogenetic protein-15(BMP-15)and growth differentiation factor-9(GDF-9)in follicular fluid,the expression of SCF in granulosa cells was determined by immunofluorescence staining,and the expression of SCF protein in two groups was compared by Western blotting.Results:(1)Compared with the control group(n = 40),the levels of LH and T were significantly increased in PCOS group(n = 30)(P < 0.05).No difference of other indicators were found between these two groups(P> 0.05);(2)In control group and PCOS group,the MII oocyte rate was 84.67±13.95% and 71.10±12.53%,respectively.The fertilization rate was 74.37±9.33% and 63.26±6.07%,respectively.The rate of high quality embryo was 35.11±3.04% and 33.85±2.59%,respectively.The MII oocyte rate and fertilization rate of PCOS group were significantly lower than that of the control group(P< 0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the rate of high quality embryo between the two groups(P> 0.05);(3)The mean concentrations of SCF in the follicular fluid from the control group and the PCOS group was 23.05±2.86ng/L and 21.17±3.11ng/L,respectively.The concentration of SCF in the follicular fluid from PCOS patients was significantly lower than that from the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P< 0.05).Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of SCF was significantly decreased in the granulosa cells of PCOS patients compared with the control group,and the results were further verified by Western blotting;(4)In control group and PCOS group,the average concentration of BMP-15 was 132.53±32.51ng/L and 115.50±27.61ng/L,respectively.The average concentration of GDF-9 was 138.28±27.81ng/L and 121.97±19.66ng/L,and the concentration of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in follicular fluid was significantly lower than that in control group(P < 0.05).Conclusion:(1)compared with the control group,PCOS patients showed remarkably follicular dysplasia,poor quality of the egg,but no significant difference in the high quality embryo rate;(2)The level of SCF in follicular fluid and granulosa cells of PCOS group were significantly lower,suggesting that reduced SCF may be related to the abnormal development of PCOS follicles;(3)The levels of BMP-15 and GDF-9 in patients with PCOS were down regulated,indicating that these factors may also be involved in the regulation of abnormal follicular development in PCOS patients.