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. 2009 Dec;94(12):4835-43.
doi: 10.1210/jc.2008-2269. Epub 2009 Oct 28.

Correlation of telomere length and telomerase activity with occult ovarian insufficiency

Samantha Butts  1 , Harold Riethman, Sarah Ratcliffe, Alka Shaunik, Christos Coutifaris, Kurt Barnhart
Affiliations

Correlation of telomere length and telomerase activity with occult ovarian insufficiency

Samantha Butts et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Occult ovarian insufficiency is associated with infertility, impaired response to ovarian stimulation, and reduced live birth rates in women treated with assisted reproductive technologies. Although a decline in ovarian follicle number is expected with age, the proximate causes of occult ovarian insufficiency in young women remain poorly understood. Abnormalities in telomere length and telomerase activity in human granulosa cells may serve as molecular markers for this condition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Subjects (37 yr old or less) undergoing in vitro fertilization were classified as cases of occult ovarian insufficiency or controls with mechanical infertility (male or tubal factor). Granulosa cells were acquired at the time of oocyte retrieval to quantify telomere length and telomerase activity.

Results: Fifty-four women were enrolled. Human granulosa cell telomerase activity was demonstrated, and lack of granulosa cell telomerase activity was associated with occult ovarian insufficiency (odds ratio, 11.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-495.6; P = 0.02). Telomeres were shorter in women with occult ovarian insufficiency than in controls (relative telomere/single copy gene ratio, 1.88 vs. 3.15; P = 0.039).

Conclusions: Aberrant telomere homeostasis is associated with occult ovarian insufficiency in young women. This finding is consistent with the presence of telomeric attenuation that has been shown in multiple age-related conditions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
TRAP assay results in three test samples using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Telomerase activity was demonstrated in two control samples (and absent in heat-inactivated negative controls) and absent in a sample from a case with occult ovarian insufficiency. Lane 1, Telomerase-positive control cells; lane 2, buffer, negative control; lanes 3 and 4, case subject: heat-inactivated extract and untreated extract; lanes 5 and 6, control subject: heat-inactivated extract and untreated extract; lanes 7 and 8, control subject: heat-inactivated extract and untreated extract.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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