Superoxide Dismutase Detection in Human Cumulus Oophorus Cells

Abstract

A key factor limiting the success of Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) is oocyte and embryo quality, usually assessed by their morphologic appearance. Due to the subjectivity and inaccuracy of such criteria, other predictors of oocyte and embryo quality would be welcome. Cumulus oophorus (c.o.) cells are eligible as oocyte quality predictors, due to their direct contact with it. In addition, ART success was also related to oxidative stress, whose effects in the porcine and bovine oocytes may be prevented by the presence of c.o. cells. Yet, it is unknown if a similar effect exists in humans due to the scarcity of studies employing human c.o. cells. (c) 2008 Microscopy Society of America.