Abstract
Research question
Can 1-day old human unfertilized oocytes activate and blastulate after exposure to
calcium ionophore (Ca.I) A23187?
Design
Prospective randomized trial analysis of sibling oocytes. Seventy unfertilized sibling
oocytes from 24 couples were randomly split into two groups. In the treatment group,
35 oocytes were cultured with 5-µM Ca.I A23187 for 10 min, washed and cultured until
day 6 of development (D+6). The remaining 35 oocytes (control group) were similarly
cultured until D+6. Activation, cleavage and blastulation rates were compared between
the two groups.
Results
Comparable activation rates were observed in the oocytes incubated with Ca.I A23187
and in the control group (11.4% versus 17.1%; P = 0.49). The cleavage rate observed was 45.7% in both groups. None of the embryos
reached blastocyst stage.
Conclusions
Activation and cleavage can occur in unfertilized oocytes after the diagnosis of failure
to fertilize. Unfortunately, the prevalence of activation is not affected by exposure
to Ca.I A23187. Additionally, these embryos have no tangible reproductive potential
as they arrest before reaching the blastocyst stage.
KEYWORDS
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Biography
Dr Esbert is an ESHRE-accredited senior embryologyst currently working as embryologist and research scientist at IVIRMA New Jersey. She graduated, and received her master's and PhD degrees, from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Her main research interest is male infertility and IVF.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 27, 2022
Accepted:
June 20,
2022
Received in revised form:
June 15,
2022
Received:
February 18,
2022
Declaration: ES is a consultant for, and receives research funding from, the Foundation for Embryonic Competence.Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Reproductive Healthcare Ltd.
