Effects of aging on ovarian fecundity in terms of the incidence of apoptotic Granulosa cells

The objective was to determine the effects of women's age on the ovarian fecundity as assessed by the incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells. Twenty-eight normo-ovulatory women underwent ovulation induction for standard IVF. The husbands of these women showed severe male infertility factors. The women were divided into four groups according to their ages. Women underwent follicle aspiration after the administration of human menopausal gonadotropin plus human chorionic gonadotropin. The nuclei of granulosa cells were examined by using fluorescence microscopy, and the incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells was tabulated. Granulosa cells in the older women revealed a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells. The number of total oocytes and the number of mature oocytes obtained significantly decreased with age. However, endometrial thickness and follicular estradiol, progesterone, and free testosterone levels were not significantly different among four different age groups. Age increases apoptotic changes in granulosa cells and consequently decreases the ovarian fecundity.