Objective: To quantify mitochondrial DNA using real-time PCR in women with premature ovarian failure (POF) and a control group.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Genome Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Korea Ministry of Health & Welfare.
Patient(s): Thrity patients with POF and 30 control individuals.
Intervention(s): The mitochondrial DNA content was quantified using real-time PCR. The effectiveness of the assay was determined by relative quantification using the comparative threshold cycle (CT) method.
Main outcome measure(s): Relative quantification of mitochondrial DNA content.
Result(s): The mitochondrial DNA content was significantly lower in the POF group than in the control group (0.58 +/- 0.38 vs. 1.15 +/- 0.67; P < .01). In both groups, there was a significant positive correlation between the mitochondrial DNA/28S rRNA ratio and mitochondrial DNA CT (control group: r = 0.774; P < .001; POF group: r = 0.556; P = .001) and a significant negative correlation between the mitochondrial DNA/28S rRNA ratio and 28S rRNA CT (control group: r = -0.677; P < .001; POF group: r = -0.627; P = .001).
Conclusion(s): This study has established the clinical feasibility of quantifying amounts of mitochondrial DNA, relative to an internal standard, using real-time PCR. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the roles of apoptosis and mitochondrial function in the pathogenesis of POF.