Publications by authors named "Libby Ophir"

Background: The cumulus expansion process is one of the LH mediated ovulatory processes. Hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) regulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, the main component of the cumulus expansion process. Recently, the lncRNA HAS2 antisense RNA 1 (HAS2-AS1) was identified in our global transcriptome RNA-sequencing of novel ovulation associated genes.

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Ovarian follicular development and ovulation in mammals is a highly-regulated process. Most of the current knowledge of ovarian processes was obtained from the studies of non-human models. Molecular studies on human ovarian processes suffer from lack of material and appropriate research tools.

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Differences in cumulus cell gene expression after oocyte maturation in vitro (IVM) or in vivo have been described in previous studies. However, the possible impact of follicle stage on gene expression deregulation during human oocyte IVM remains unknown. Expression of selected genes of interest was compared in cumulus cell of three classes of human cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs): a) COCs derived from human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-triggered IVM cycles, collected at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage from mid-sized follicles (4-12 mm) and matured in vitro (IVM-GV); b) COCs derived from hCG-triggered IVM cycles, collected from mid-sized follicles (4-12 mm) and matured in vivo (IVM-MII); c) COCs derived from controlled ovarian stimulation in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, collected from large/preovulatory follicles and matured in vivo (IVF-MII).

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Exposure to di-butyl phthalate (DBP) exerts negative effects on female fertility in animal models, but human studies remain limited. Here, the effects of DBP exposure on mural granulosa cell function were investigated in primary cultures from women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Cultured cells treated with various doses of DBP (0, 0.

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Objective: To investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of reproduction-related genes in granulosa cells (GCs) of patients triggered with hCG compared with patients triggered with GnRH agonist and hCG (double trigger) for final oocyte maturation.

Design: Granulosa cells were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval, and gene expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Setting: Referral center.

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Poliovirus receptor (PVR), regulator of G-protein signaling-11 (RGS11), and erythrocyte protein band-4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) have been proposed to function in follicular maturation in mouse models. We have examined their expression in human mural (mGCs) and cumulus granulosa cells (CCs).

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Objective: To investigate the mRNA expression of genes related to steroidogenesis and OHSS in granulosa cells (GCs) of patients triggered with GnRH agonist compared to patients triggered with hCG.

Design: Mural GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval and gene expression was analyzed using quantitative real time RT-PCR.

Settings: Single center, case control study.

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Progesterone, the main steroid synthesized by the corpus luteum (CL), prepares the uterus for implantation, maintains the CL survival, and induces progesterone auto-secretion. However, the molecular mechanisms involving the progesterone auto-secretion pathways at the luteal phase are not fully understood, especially in humans. We aim to study the molecular mechanism of the progesterone pathway in human granulosa cells.

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