Abstract: There is a close relationship between human cumulus granulosa cells and oocytes, because the former could influence the development and maturation of oocytes and therefore the embryos quality. In assisted reproductive technology, study on cumulus granulosa cells may offer us more objective， accurate and non-invasive criteria for embryo selection so that the pregnancy rates can be increased and the elective single embryo transfer protocol can be promoted. On the other hand， the high order multiple pregnancy rates and the poor outcomes can be also decreased considerably. Nowadays，it is a hot area to explore the relationship between cumulus cells and oocyte developmental potential at the genetic and transcriptional levels. It was reported that the up-regulation of oogenesis-related genes in cumulus cells can predict good quality embryos. Checkpoints and DNA repair-related genes are associated with oocyte quality. Cell apoptosis, glucogenesis, antioxidative stress-related genes and transcription factor NFIB are the biological parameters to predict the oocyte developmental potential and pregnancy outcome.

Key words: Cumulus cells, Oogenesis, Reproductive techniques, assisted, Embryo transfer, Pregnancy outcome