Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Meiotic spindle visualization in living human oocytes.

Laura Rienzi1, Filippo Ubaldi, Marcello Iacobelli

  • 1Centre for Reproductive Medicine, European Hospital, Via Portuense 700, 00149 Rome, Italy. rienzi@icsiroma.it

Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|April 13, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Computer-assisted polarization microscopy (polscope) assesses oocyte meiotic spindles for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) quality. This technology can help select viable fresh and cryopreserved oocytes for improved ICSI success rates.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Germinal vesicle oocytes' rescue: a worthless treatment or a patient-centred approach? Eight years of clinical experience in poor prognosis patients.

Human reproduction (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Another round, another chance: oocyte developmental competence and outcomes in second IVF attempts-the earlier, the better.

Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics·2026
Same author

Single-port robotic orthotopic ovarian tissue auto-transplantation: a step-by-step case report.

International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society·2026
Same author

Preimplantation embryos that arrest in vitro: phenotypes, causes, and possible therapies.

Fertility and sterility·2026
Same author

Cost effectiveness of routine utilization of atypically-pronucleated zygotes in in vitro fertilization cycles with preimplantation genetic testing.

Fertility and sterility·2026
Same author

Understanding and addressing oocyte maturation failure and failed or abnormal fertilization during oocyte-to-zygote transition.

Fertility and sterility·2026

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Microscopy techniques
  • Assisted reproductive technology

Background:

  • The meiotic spindle's integrity and position are crucial for oocyte quality and successful fertilization.
  • Assessing oocyte quality before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is vital for improving fertilization and developmental outcomes.
  • Traditional methods lack the precision to evaluate the meiotic spindle in living oocytes without compromising viability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of a computer-assisted polarization microscopy system (polscope) for analyzing the meiotic spindle in oocytes undergoing ICSI.
  • To determine if meiotic spindle birefringence and alignment with the first polar body (PB1) correlate with oocyte quality and ICSI outcomes.
  • To investigate the impact of oocyte cryopreservation procedures on meiotic spindle integrity using polscope imaging.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a computer-assisted polarization microscopy system (polscope) to image the meiotic spindle in human metaphase II (MII) oocytes.
  • Analyzed the birefringence and alignment of the meiotic spindle relative to the first polar body (PB1) in fresh and cryopreserved MII oocytes.
  • Compared meiotic spindle characteristics in in-vitro matured oocytes versus in vivo matured oocytes.

Main Results:

  • A detectable birefringent meiotic spindle in MII oocytes is a positive indicator of oocyte quality, including fertilization and developmental potential.
  • Meiotic spindle alignment with PB1 was not consistently observed in fresh MII oocytes, suggesting potential displacement during preparation.
  • Oocyte cryopreservation procedures were found to cause significant meiotic spindle destruction, as evidenced by polscope analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Polscope imaging provides a non-invasive method to assess meiotic spindle status in oocytes for ICSI.
  • Meiotic spindle integrity and alignment are critical factors for successful ICSI, and polscope can aid in their evaluation.
  • The polscope system shows promise for selecting optimal fresh and cryopreserved oocytes for ICSI, potentially enhancing treatment efficacy.