Detection of estrogen receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in human oocytes and cumulus-oocyte complexes using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction

To examine the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) messenger ribonucleic acid in the human ovary. To detect ER gene transcripts in human oocytes; and to study the possible autocrine effect of estrogen (E) in granulosa/cumulus cells. Human ovaries from benign gynecological surgeries as well as the oocytes, cumulus-oocyte complexes, and granulosa/cumulus cells from the in vitro fertilization program were used to detect ER gene transcripts using the highly sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. Molecular biology laboratory. The ER gene is expressed in human ovary. Estrogen receptor transcripts were detected in human cumulus-oocyte complexes and oocytes but not in granulosa/cumulus cells. These results suggest a lack of receptor-mediated autocrine effect of E during folliculogenesis and that E, secreted by granulosa/cumulus cells, may exert a paracrine effect to influence oocyte maturation and fertilization competence directly.