The Impact of Genetic Variation and Gene Expression Level of The Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor on Ovarian Reserve

Ghezelayagh, Zeinab; Totonchi, Mehdi; Zarei-Moradi, Shabnami; Asadpour, Ommolbanin; Maroufizadeh, Saman; Eftekhari-Yazdi, Poopak; Gourabi, Hamid; Mohseni-Meybodi, Anahita

doi:10.22074/cellj.2018.4183

The Impact of Genetic Variation and Gene Expression Level of The Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor on Ovarian Reserve

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ University of Science and Culture, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran;Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine,

² Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health, Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

⁴ 4Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

10.22074/cellj.2018.4183

Abstract

Objective
Ovarian reserve is defined as the capacity of the ovary to provide fertile oocytes. Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a disorder in which ovaries are prone to go through early menopause. Where this loss of function occurs before the age of 40, it results in the premature ovarian failure (POF) disease. Throughout folliculogenesis, the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) starts a signaling cascade in the granulosa cells where its inactivation leads to the arrest of follicle maturation and therefore adversely affects ovarian reserve. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of genetic variation (polymorphisms and inactivating mutations) of FSHR with POF and DOR.
Materials and Methods
This case-control study comprised 84 POF, 52 DOR and 80 fertile Iranian women. To determine the presence of the 566C>T mutation and the -29G>A polymorphism in FSHR, PCR-RFLP method was used. SSCP-sequencing was used to identify any allelic variants in exon 10. The expression of human FSHR at the transcript level was also compared between DOR and fertile controls by real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results
The 566C>T polymorphism was normal in all the cases. All genotypes of -29G>A and 919G>A (exon 10) polymorphisms were observed. Statistically significant differences were seen in the genotypic distribution of both polymorphisms when comparing the control group with the DOR patient group. A decrease was observed in FSHR expression of DOR patients compared with the control group but was not significant.
Conclusion
We conclude that the -29G>A and 919G>A polymorphisms in FSHR may be associated with DOR. Although these polymorphisms had significant differences at the genic level, no significant variation was found at the transcript level.

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