Steroid Production by the cumulus: relationship to fertilization in vitro

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Abstract
Insemination media were Collected from 92 follicles of 14 patients stimulated to progesterone and oestradiol in the insemination drops were assayed, corrected for carry−over from follicular fluid and volume and expressed as production per μg of protein in the cumulus. significantly higher progesteron production per unit protein was associated with oocytes which fertilized in vitro (P ≪ 0.02). Oocytes fertilizing with subsequent fragmentation or degeneration showed progesterone levels significantly higher than oocytes fertilizing normaly (P ≪ 0.05). Polyspermic oocytes ( n = 3 ) were associated with very high levels of progesterone production but were not significantiy different due to the low numbers. Oestradial production per unit protein was significantly greater in oocytes which degenerated (P ≪ 0.05). The Protein content of cumuli whose oocytes fertilized appeared to be significantly lower than those which did not (P ≪ 0.05). these results probably reflect the maturity of the follicle although direct actions of cumulus products upon gametes cannot be ruled out.

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