Dell’Aversana C, Cuomo F, Longobardi S, et al. - Researchers examined if patient age and gonadotropin treatment strategy can differentially modulate microRNA (miRNA) expression pattern of cumulus oophorus cells (COCs) in women undergoing medically assisted reproduction (MAR) procedures. They conducted this study including 53 COC samples retrieved from mature metaphase II (MII) oocytes in 53 women undergoing MAR treatment. Pooling of a total of 38 samples for assay development was done by maternal age and gonadotropin treatment into four predetermined subgroups: ≥ 36 years and recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH), n = 10; ≥ 36 years and r-hFSH+ recombinant human-luteinizing hormone (r-hLH), n = 10; ≤ 35 years and r-hFSH, n = 9; ≤ 35 years and r-hFSH+r-hLH, n = 9. The subgroups were compared with respect to miRNome profiles. Findings suggest an independent impact of maternal age on miRNA expression in COCs while there appeared a possible impact of gonadotropin treatment on follicular miRNA expression and IVF efficacy. They suggest that attainment of a better understanding regarding the expression patterns and functions of miRNAs may aid in the development of novel therapeutics to treat ovarian dysfunction and improve fertility in older women.