Abstract: A method for evaluating the quality of mammalian oocytes comprises determining the expression level of one or more of the genes ACPP, AQP11, CCDC126, CLU, CYP11 A1, CYP19A1, EGR3, FN1, FOSL2, GMNN, HRAS, HSD3B2, HS-D17B1, HSD11B2, HSDL1, IGF1, IGFBP4, IGFBP5, IRS1, KCNK3, KLF6, NEK6, SMAD7 or STC1 in a test sample derived from a cumulus cell or granulosa cell associated with the oocyte, and comparing the expression level of said at least one marker gene expression in the sample with the expression level in a control. Differential expression of the gene between the sample and the control is indicative of the quality of the oocyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Specifically, the inventions described herein increase the survival rate of manipulated embryos for increasing post implantation numbers of viable offspring. In particular, the present invention provides for compositions and methods for allowing further embryonic development and increasing rates of embryonic maturation, such as increasing cleavage rate, TE numbers, and blastocyte formation of in vitro fertilized and nuclear transfer embryos in media comprising follistatin, thereby providing for increased survival of fertilized and manipulated embryos leading to increased numbers of live offspring from in vitro fertilized and implanted nuclear transfer embryos. Further provided are diagnostic kits for determining transplantation potential.

Abstract: A method of determining the probability of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) or embryo transfer (ET) method being successful is disclosed. Relaxin can be measured directly in the serum or indirectly by culturing granulosa lutein cells extracted from the patient as part of an IVF/ET procedure. A method of enhancing the rate of a successful pregnancy resulting from an IVF/ET procedure is also disclosed whereby relaxin is administered and/or endogenous relaxin levels are enhanced by varying convention IVF/ET procedures.