Effects of Melatonin on the Transcriptome of Human Granulosa Cells, Fertilization and Blastocyst Formation

Abstract

Melatonin is a promising reagent that can improve assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in infertility patients. However, melatonin is not effective for all infertile patients, and it remains unclear for which patients melatonin would be effective. This study examined the effects of melatonin on ART outcomes and examined its mechanisms. Melatonin increased the fertilization rate in patients whose fertilization rates in the previous cycle were less than 50%, but not in patients whose fertilization rates were more than 50% in the previous cycle. Melatonin increased the blastocyst formation rate in patients whose embryo development rates in the previous cycle were less than 50%, but not in patients whose embryo development rates were more than 50% in the previous cycle. To clarify its mechanisms, transcriptome changes by melatonin treatment in granulosa cells (GCs) of the patients were examined by RNA-sequence. Melatonin treatment altered the transcriptomes of GCs of patients with poor ART outcomes so that they were similar to the transcriptomes of patients with good ART outcomes. The altered genes were associated with the inhibition of cell death and T-cell activity, and the activation of steroidogenesis and angiogenesis. Melatonin treatment was effective for patients with poor fertilization rates and poor embryo development rates in the previous ART cycle. Melatonin alters the GCs transcriptome and, thus, their functions, and this could improve the oocyte quality, leading to good ART outcomes.

BPS‐induced ovarian dysfunction: Protective actions of melatonin via modulation of SIRT‐1/Nrf2/NFĸB and IR/PI3K/pAkt/GLUT‐4 expressions in adult golden hamster

“…Further protective effects of melatonin against various detrimental conditions in nonseasonal breeder as well as in humans has been well reported. [53][54][55] Hence, we intended to explore the molecular basis of BPSstimulated ovarian dysfunction and the protective actions of melatonin against it.…”

Differential gene expression in decidualized human endometrial stromal cells induced by different stimuli

“…Total RNA was isolated from the cultured cells with an RNeasy® Mini Kit with DNAse treatment (QIAGEN, Inc., Valencia, CA). RNA-sequence was performed as reported previously 59 – 61 . mRNA was purified with oligo dT beads (NEBNext Poly(A) mRNA magnet Isolation Module, New England Biolabs).…”

Special Issue on “Pleiotropic Benefits of Melatonin: From Basic Mechanisms to Disease”

“…The therapeutic applications of melatonin in clinical practice are incredibly varied, even including improvements in assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes [ 17 ]. In this context, the article of Tamura and collaborators (2022) shows how melatonin alters the granulose cells transcriptome by modifying gene expression associated with the inhibition of cell death, T-cell activity, and the activation of steroidogenesis and angiogenesis.…”

“…In this context, the article of Tamura and collaborators (2022) shows how melatonin alters the granulose cells transcriptome by modifying gene expression associated with the inhibition of cell death, T-cell activity, and the activation of steroidogenesis and angiogenesis. As a consequence of this, melatonin could improve the oocyte quality and increase the blastocyst formation rate in patients whose embryo development rates in the previous ART cycle were less than 50%, ultimately leading to better outcomes of their infertility treatments [ 17 ].…”