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The effect of immature oocytes quantity on the rates of oocytes maturity and morphology, fertilization, and embryo development in ICSI cycles

  • ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The goal was to evaluate the role of the number of retrieved immature oocytes on mature oocyte counts and morphology, and also the rates of fertilization and embryo development in ICSI cycles.

Methods

101 ICSI cycles were included in this prospective evaluation. Patients were divided into 2 groups of A (≤ 2 immature oocytes) and B (> 2 immature oocytes). In sub-analysis, the impacts of the number of GV and MI oocytes were assessed on the rates of fertilization and embryo development. Also, correlations between the numbers of immature and mature oocytes, as well as maternal age between two groups were analyzed. Assessments of oocyte morphology, fertilization, embryo quality and development were done accordingly.

Results

There was no correlation between the immature oocytes quantity with the number of mature ones. There were insignificant differences for embryo development between two groups, but fertilization rate was higher in group A (P = 0.03). In sub-analysis, insignificant differences were observed between two groups of ≤ and >2 GV and MI oocytes for rates of fertilization and embryo development. Also, the rates of clinical pregnancy and delivery were insignificant between groups. The rate of morphologically abnormal oocytes had no significant difference between two groups, except for wide perivitelline space (PVS) which was higher in group A (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference for maternal age between two groups.

Conclusions

In cases with few retrieved immature oocytes, rates of fertilization and incidence of wide PVS may increase, although immature oocytes may not have any negative impacts on early embryo development, or the rates on number of mature oocytes.

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Abbreviations

ICSI:

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

ART:

Assisted reproductive technology

COH:

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

GV:

Germinal vesicle

MI:

Metaphase I

IVM:

In-vitro maturation

GnRH:

Gonadotropin releasing hormone

rFSH:

Recombinant follicle stimulating hormone

hCG:

Human chorionic gonadotropin

mm:

Millimeter

IU:

International unit

im:

Intramascular

h:

Hour

OBGYN:

Obstetric and gynecology

WHO:

World health organization

2PN:

Two pronuclei

SE:

Standard error

OR:

Odds ratio

CI:

Confidence interval

PVS:

Perivitteline space

MII:

Metaphase II

AMH:

Anti-Mullerian hormone

PB:

Polar body

ZP:

Zona pellucida

SERc:

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum cluster

NS:

Not significant

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate Ms. Farimah Shamsi for her help in consulting for statistical analysis and Ms. Leila Motamedzadeh for her laboratory skill during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yazd Institute for Reproductive Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Iman Halvaei, Mohammad Ali Khalili & Mohammad Hossein Razi

  2. Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Stefania A. Nottola

Authors
  1. Iman Halvaei
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  2. Mohammad Ali Khalili
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  3. Mohammad Hossein Razi
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  4. Stefania A. Nottola
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Ali Khalili.

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Capsule

In cases with less than two retrieved immature oocytes fertilization rate may increase in cohort oocytes but has no effect on early embryo development. Also there is no correlation between the number of immature and mature oocytes in each cycle.

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Halvaei, I., Ali Khalili, M., Razi, M.H. et al. The effect of immature oocytes quantity on the rates of oocytes maturity and morphology, fertilization, and embryo development in ICSI cycles. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 803–810 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9799-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9799-6

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