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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Minimally Invasive Embryo Transfer and Embryo Vitrification at the Optimal Embryo Stage in Rabbit Model
Published on: May 16, 2019
Effect of atosiban on rabbit embryo development and human sperm motility
Piotr Pierzynski1, Barbara Gajda, Zdzislaw Smorag
1Center for Reproductive Medicine KRIOBANK, Bialystok, Poland. piotr.pierzynski@wp.pl <piotr.pierzynski@wp.pl>
Objective:
To investigate embryotoxic potential and effects on human sperm motility of the mixed vasopressin V(1a)/oxytocin receptor antagonist atosiban considered for novel indication of improvement of uterine receptivity in embryo-transfer recipients.
Design:
One-cell rabbit embryo bioassay and human sperm motility bioassay were performed in control media or in media containing atosiban.
Setting:
Private center of reproductive medicine and academic research institute of reproduction biotechnology.
Animal(S):
Rabbit females (New Zealand and California, N = 15) aged 4.5-6.5 months.
Intervention(S):
In vitro exposure of one-cell rabbit embryos and human sperm to atosiban in the range of therapeutic concentrations clinically occurring in human beings.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Embryo development and sperm motility.
Result(S):
Preimplantation development of one-cell rabbit embryos was not affected by atosiban in the concentrations < or =15,000 nM, which was 50-fold higher than the mean plasma concentration reached during regular therapy (300 nM). Atosiban did not affect human sperm motility in concentrations of < or =3,000 nM, in other words, 10 times the human mean plasma concentration.
Conclusion(S):
Clinical application of atosiban in the proposed indication may be safe for embryos because it is compatible with preimplantation rabbit embryo development and human sperm motility.
