Gene Expression in Granulosa Cells From Small Antral Follicles From Women With or Without Polycystic Ovaries

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of anovulation. A key feature of PCOS is arrest of follicles at the small- to medium-sized antral stage. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To provide further insight into the mechanism of follicle arrest in PCOS, we profiled (i) gonadotropin receptors; (ii) characteristics of aberrant steroidogenesis; and (iii) expression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and its receptor in granulosa cells (GCs) from unstimulated, human small antral follicles (hSAFs) and from granulosa lutein cells (GLCs). SETTING: GCs from hSAFs were collected at the time of cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for fertility preservation and GLCs collected during oocyte aspiration before in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. PARTICIPANTS: We collected hSAF GCs from 31 women (98 follicles): 10 with polycystic ovaries (PCO) and 21 without. GLCs were collected from 6 women with PCOS and 6 controls undergoing IVF. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expression of the following genes: LHCGR, FSHR, AR, INSR, HSD3B2, CYP11A1, CYP19, STAR, AMH, AMHR2, FST, INHBA, INHBB in GCs and GLCs were compared between women with PCO and controls. RESULTS: GCs in hSAFs from women with PCO showed higher expression of LHCGR in a subset (20%) of follicles. Expression of FSHR (P < 0.05), AR (P < 0.05), and CYP11A1 (P < 0.05) was lower, and expression of CYP19A1 (P < 0.05), STAR (P < 0.05), HSD3B2 (P = NS), and INHBA (P < 0.05) was higher in PCO GCs. Gene expression in GL cells differed between women with and without PCOS but also differed from that in GCs. CONCLUSIONS: Follicle arrest in PCO is characterized in GCs by differential regulation of key genes involved in follicle growth and function.