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Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that modulate post-transcriptional gene regulation. They are often used as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. However, their roles in assisted reproduction are still unknown. Methods This prospective study was designed to evaluate the expression profiles of seven extracellular miRNAs (miR-7-5p, miR-202-5p, miR-378-3p, miR-224, miR-320a, miR-212-3p, and miR-21-5p) in human follicular fluid (FF) to explore the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Of 255 women, 145 were without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and their ovarian assets were normal (NOR), while 110 were with normo-androgenic PCOS. Results The combination of six FF miRNAs expression profile discriminated between PCOS and NOR women with a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 87.32% (AUC = 0.881 [0.61; 0.92], p = 0.001). MiR-202-5p significantly had a lower abundance level, and miR-378-3p had a high abundance level in pooled FF samples from patients treated with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) than those treated with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) (p < 0.001). Our results showed that miRNA-320a was significantly different in top-quality embryos versus non-top-quality embryos on day 3 in NOR patients with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 71%, (AUC = [0.753 (0.651; 0.855)], p = 0.001). For clinical pregnancy outcome prediction, FF miRNA-21 exhibited high sensitivity (74.8%) and specificity (83.7%) with the AUC value of 0.774 (0.682; 0.865). Conclusion Conclusively, our results provide evidence that miR-7-5p, miR-378-3p, miR-224, miR-212-3p were a differentially high expression in normo-androgenic PCOS patients than NOR patients. While miRNA-320a was significantly different in top-quality embryos versus non-top-quality embryos on day 3 (p = 0.001). The expression level of FF miR-212-3p was significantly related to the probability of embryos to develop into a high-quality blastocyst in patients with normal ovarian reserve.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) specifically undergoes degradation during the tissue repair and remodeling, morphogenesis, and various signaling activities through its unique biochemical and biomechanical properties. 1,2 Up to date, nearly about 200 Zn-dependent matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with

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In order to determine the maternal changes contributing to the formation of the chorioallantoic and yolk-sac placentas, rat gestation sites were examined by light and electron microscopy on days 7 through 10 of pregnancy. On day 7, the implantation chamber showed different compartments and contained the blastocyst in the antimesometrial chamber. The epithelial lining of the implantation chamber disappeared at the antimesometrial chamber, transformed into disintegrated cells in the mesometrial chamber, and showed signs of the programmed cell death in the decidual crypt. On day 8, the mesometrial chamber lumen contained red blood cells and it was continuous with subepithelial sinusoids. The endothelial cells lining the mesometrial sinusoids also showed some characteristics of the sprouting type angiogenesis such as hypertrophy and cell proliferation. While the yolk-sac placental circulation was more obvious with participation of the giant trophoblasts at the antimesometrial pole of the conceptus on day 9, the antimesometrial cells showed autophagic degeneration after the formation of the chorioallantoic placenta on day 10. The contribution of the regional cell death and angiogenesis to form both of the two placentas are discussed.