TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro maturation of human germinal vesicle-stage oocytes
T2 - Role of epidermal growth factor-like growth factors in the culture medium
AU - Ben-Ami, I.
AU - Komsky, A.
AU - Bern, O.
AU - Kasterstein, E.
AU - Komarovsky, D.
AU - Ron-El, R.
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Background In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is a promising technique to reduce the costs and avert the side effects of gonadotrophin stimulation for IVF. The pregnancy rates from oocytes matured in vitro are still lower than those of in vivo stimulation cycles, indicating that optimization of IVM remains a challenge. Recently, it was demonstrated that LH exerts its action on ovulation, at least in part, through stimulation of the production of the epidermal growth factor family members amphiregulin (Areg) and epiregulin (Ereg) in pre-ovulatory follicles, and they, in turn, serve as paracrine mediators of LH. We aimed to investigate the effect of supplementation of the medium with Areg and Ereg on the maturation rate of immature oocytes. Methods A total of 105 sibling human germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes obtained after gonadotrophin stimulation were cultured in a complex defined medium either with or without supplemented recombinant human Areg (75 ng/ml) and Ereg (75 ng/ml) for 24 h. Results Significantly more oocytes reached the metaphase II stage at 24 h in media supplemented with Areg and Ereg (75.5 versus 36.5, P < 0.001). In vitro matured oocytes retrieved from the two subgroups had no statistically significant difference in fertilization and cleavage rates or morphology scores. Overall, a significantly higher number of Day 2 (52.8 versus 26.9 P < 0.01) and Day 3 (45.2 versus 23, P < 0.05) embryos originated from GV oocytes cultured in the Areg- and Ereg-enriched medium. Conclusions Supplementation of the maturation medium with Areg and Ereg improves the maturation of human GV oocytes in vitro.
AB - Background In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is a promising technique to reduce the costs and avert the side effects of gonadotrophin stimulation for IVF. The pregnancy rates from oocytes matured in vitro are still lower than those of in vivo stimulation cycles, indicating that optimization of IVM remains a challenge. Recently, it was demonstrated that LH exerts its action on ovulation, at least in part, through stimulation of the production of the epidermal growth factor family members amphiregulin (Areg) and epiregulin (Ereg) in pre-ovulatory follicles, and they, in turn, serve as paracrine mediators of LH. We aimed to investigate the effect of supplementation of the medium with Areg and Ereg on the maturation rate of immature oocytes. Methods A total of 105 sibling human germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes obtained after gonadotrophin stimulation were cultured in a complex defined medium either with or without supplemented recombinant human Areg (75 ng/ml) and Ereg (75 ng/ml) for 24 h. Results Significantly more oocytes reached the metaphase II stage at 24 h in media supplemented with Areg and Ereg (75.5 versus 36.5, P < 0.001). In vitro matured oocytes retrieved from the two subgroups had no statistically significant difference in fertilization and cleavage rates or morphology scores. Overall, a significantly higher number of Day 2 (52.8 versus 26.9 P < 0.01) and Day 3 (45.2 versus 23, P < 0.05) embryos originated from GV oocytes cultured in the Areg- and Ereg-enriched medium. Conclusions Supplementation of the maturation medium with Areg and Ereg improves the maturation of human GV oocytes in vitro.
KW - Areg
KW - EGF-like growth factors
KW - Ereg
KW - GV oocytes
KW - in vitro maturation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650709920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/humrep/deq290
DO - 10.1093/humrep/deq290
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C2 - 20961941
AN - SCOPUS:78650709920
SN - 0268-1161
VL - 26
SP - 76
EP - 81
JO - Human Reproduction
JF - Human Reproduction
IS - 1
ER -