Somayyeh Sadat Tahajjodi - Ph.D, Stem Cell Biology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Me
Ehsan Farashahi Yazd - Ph.D,Stem Cell Biology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Azam Agha-Rahimi - Ph.D, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Y
Reza Aflatoonian - Ph.D, Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Centre, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Ali Khalili - Ph.D, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran- Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Y
Mahnaz Mohammadi - B.Sc, Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Background: Cumulus cells, as oocyte nurse cells, provide a suitablemicroenvironment with growth factors and cellular interactions required for oocytematuration. Thus, these cells may serve as a natural niche for in vitro studies of femalegerm cell development. Cumulus cells may help attain a better understanding of thecauses of infertility in women and eventually improve the outcomes of cases thatrespond poorly to standard infertility treatment.Objective: The aim of this study was to isolate, culture, and investigate the biologicalcharacteristics of human cumulus cells.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, cumulus cells were isolated,cultured, and characterized using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactionanalyses of specific genes including FOXL2, CYP19A1, FSHR, AMHR, and LHR. Thepresence of vimentin, a structural protein, was examined via immunofluorescentstaining. Moreover, levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and progesterone secretionby cumulus cells were measured with ELISA after 2, 4, 12, 24, and 48 hr of culture.Results: In adherent culture, human cumulus cells expressed specific genes andmarkers as well as secreted AMH and progesterone into the medium.Conclusion: Cumulus cells secrete AMH and progesterone in an adherent cultureand might be applicable for in vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro gametogenesis (IVG)studies.

Cumulus cells, Conditioned medium, In vitro maturation, In vitro gametogenesis, Niche