Mitochondrial Activity of Cumulus Cells From the Cumulus-oocyte Complex and Oocyte Competence

The need for non-invasive biomarkers of oocyte competency has become urgent as women increasingly delay attempts at childbearing. The aging process is complex and includes impaired mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, diminished metabolic activity, and activity of several cell-signaling systems. Cumulus cells form an intimate association with the oocyte in the follicle, and they can have a significant impact on oocyte meiotic and developmental competence. In the IVF lab, the clump of cumulus cells is typically cut away from the oocyte immediately after an oocyte retrieval procedure, and then the cumulus cells are discarded. Measuring the mitochondrial respiratory activity of cumulus cells may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for oocyte competency and a predictor of reproductive success in IVF patients in the future.