and AKT/mTOR Signaling in Human Granulosa Cells: Functional Interaction and Impact on Ovarian Response.

We aimed to determine whether a functional link with impact on female ovarian reserve exists between expression and expression ratios of AKT/mTOR signaling genes in human granulosa cells in vivo, as suggested from prior in vitro data. Three hundred and nine women, who were classified as normal (NOR; = 225) and poor (POR; = 84) responders based on their ovarian reserve, were recruited during stimulation for assisted reproductive techniques. Expressions of and of key genes of the AKT/mTOR and AKT/FOXO1/3 signaling pathways were comparatively analyzed in their granulosa cells. expression in granulosa cells of NOR and POR correlated significantly with and expression. No correlation was found between and in all, and expression in POR, patients. expression was significantly higher and expression lower in POR samples, whereas expression was lower and expression was higher in NOR samples. In human native granulosa cells, expression significantly correlated with the expression of key genes of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, but not with the FOXO1/3 signaling pathway. Our data point to a functional link between expression and expression of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway genes controlling human follicular maturation.