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Early cumulus cell removal could reduce the available embryo rate in human IVF

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 28, pages 1213–1216 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to compare cumulus cell removal at different times and to evaluate their effects on embryo developmental potential and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods

We retrieved 606 IVF cycles with standard long down regulation protocol from January 2010 to December 2010. These cycles were divided into two groups: group A, 364 cycles with high risk of fertilization failure, whose cumulus cells were removed 4 h after short gamete coincubation; group B, 242 cycles as control, whose cumulus cells removal were performed 17 to 18 h after insemination. The epidemiological, clinical, laboratory factors and the outcomes of these cycles were analyzed.

Results

The available embryo rate of group A was significantly lower (P = 0.002). There were no significant differences in other laboratory parameters and outcomes between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

For patients with high risk of fertilization failure, there could be a risk of compromising the rate of available embryos, if fertilization is judged by the presence of 2 PB by cumulus cell removal only 4 h post-insemination. Therefore, this strategy is not recommended to all IVF cycles and future studies are needed to confirm its reliability.

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Acknowledgements

We express our sincere gratitude to all staff in our medical center. We thank Professor RC Chian from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in McGill University for his advice on this paper. Dr. Meishan Jin is acknowledged for her comments about the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. The Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, NO.7 Weiwu Road, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China

    Duo Wei, Cuilian Zhang, Baoli Yin, Juanke Xie, Xiaobing Song, Qi Liu, Lin Hu, Yixuan Zhang & Haoying Hao

  2. National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics of China; The Key laboratory for reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education; Center for Reproductive Medicine, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, 250021, China

    Peng Wang

Authors
  1. Duo Wei
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  2. Cuilian Zhang
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  3. Baoli Yin
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  4. Peng Wang
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  5. Juanke Xie
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  6. Xiaobing Song
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  7. Qi Liu
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  8. Lin Hu
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  9. Yixuan Zhang
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  10. Haoying Hao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cuilian Zhang.

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Capsule Evaluate the effects of early cumulus cell removal on embryo developmental potential and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

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Wei, D., Zhang, C., Yin, B. et al. Early cumulus cell removal could reduce the available embryo rate in human IVF. J Assist Reprod Genet 28, 1213–1216 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9650-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9650-5

Keywords

  • Short gamete coincubation
  • Fertilization
  • Cumulus cell
  • Available embryo rate
  • In vitro fertilization