Comparative assessment of the DNA damage caused in cumulus cells by Corneumon®, Gonal-F®, Pergoveris® and Puregon® in women undergoing assisted reproduction techniques, and its impact on reproductive outcomes

Abstract Assisted reproduction technology (ART) is performed with the support of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) to increase the number of oocytes retrieved, thus improving the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Several recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH) are used in ART, and significant research has been undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the various comercially available rhFSH. Due to their close bio-dynamic relationship with the oocyte, cumulus cells (CCs) have been proposed as biomarkers of oocyte quality. The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative assessment of the DNA damage caused in CCs of women undergoing ART by four widely used rhFSH in IVF protocols, Corneumon®, Gonal-F®, Pergoveris® and Puregon®, and to analyze the impact of the CCs DNA damage on several IVF outcomes. Comet assay results show that the tested rhFSH caused variable and statistically significant levels of CCs DNA damage (Corneumon® < Pergoveris® < Gonal-F® < Puregon®). Analysis of the reproductive outcomes show that the groups with lower CCs DNA damage (Corneumon® and Pergoveris®) had higher number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rates, and number of high-quality embryos suitable for IVF/vitrification, than the groups with higher CCs DNA damage (Gonal-F® and Puregon®), however the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. In addition, the Pearson’s correlation between fertilization rates and CCs DNA damage was statistically significant, r = −0.98, p = 0.017. These results support CCs DNA damage as an index of the effectiveness of rhFSH and human oocyte competence.