BACKGROUND<\/p>\n
Oocyte in vitro<\/I> maturation (IVM) reduces the need for gonadotrophin-induced ovarian hyperstimulation and its associated health risks but the unacceptably low conception\/pregnancy rates have limited its clinical uptake. We report the development of a novel in vitro<\/I> simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM) system.<\/p>\n
METHODS AND RESULTS<\/p>\n
Bovine or mouse cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were treated with cAMP modulators for the first 1–2 h in vitro<\/I> (pre-IVM), increasing COC cAMP levels ~100-fold. To maintain oocyte cAMP levels and prevent precocious oocyte maturation, COCs were treated during IVM with an oocyte-specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor and simultaneously induced to mature with FSH. Using SPOM, the pre-IVM and IVM treatments synergized to increase bovine COC gap-junctional communication and slow meiotic progression (both P<\/I> < 0.05 versus control), extending the normal IVM interval by 6 h in bovine and 4 h in mouse. FSH was required to complete maturation and this required epidermal growth factor signalling. These effects on COC had profound consequences for oocyte developmental potential. In serum-free conditions, SPOM increased bovine blastocyst yield (69 versus 27%) and improved blastocyst quality (184 versus 132 blastomeres; both P<\/I> < 0.05 versus standard IVM). In mice, SPOM increased (all P<\/I> < 0.05) blastocyst rate (86 versus 55%; SPOM versus control), implantation rate (53 versus 28%), fetal yield (26 versus 8%) and fetal weight (0.9 versus 0.5 g) to levels matching those of in vivo<\/I> matured oocytes (conventional IVF).<\/p>\n
CONCLUSIONS<\/p>\n
SPOM is a new approach to IVM, mimicing some characteristics of oocyte maturation in vivo<\/I> and substantially improving oocyte developmental outcomes. Adaption of SPOM for clinical application should have significant implications for infertility management and bring important benefits to patients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BACKGROUND Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) reduces the need for gonadotrophin-induced ovarian hyperstimulation and its associated health risks but the unacceptably low conception\/pregnancy rates have limited its clinical uptake. We report the development of a novel in vitro simulated physiological … Continue reading