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Rotationally oscillating drill (Ros-Drill) for mouse ICSI without using mercury
Ali Fuat Ergenc1, Ming-Wen Li, Mehmet Toner
1Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA. ergenc@engr.uconn.edu
Molecular Reproduction and Development
|April 26, 2008
Summary
A novel mercury-free "Ros-Drill" intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique has been developed. This advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART) shows high success rates in mice, producing healthy offspring without hazardous mercury use.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Background:
- Conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) faces challenges with efficiency and deployment, particularly in mouse models.
- Piezo-assisted ICSI, while an advancement, requires mercury, posing a significant drawback.
- Mercury use in piezo-assisted ICSI presents a critical issue for safety and environmental concerns in assisted reproduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel, mercury-free microinjection technology for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
- To address the limitations of conventional and piezo-assisted ICSI by introducing a safer and potentially more efficient alternative.
Main Methods:
- Development of the "Ros-Drill" (rotationally oscillating drill) technique, utilizing microprocessor-controlled rotational oscillations on a spiked micropipette.
- Elimination of mercury and piezoelectric elements, replacing them with a novel mechanical oscillation system.
- Testing the Ros-Drill ICSI technique in mouse oocytes, assessing survival, fertilization, and blastocyst formation rates.
Main Results:
- The Ros-Drill ICSI technique demonstrated high oocyte survival rates (>70%) and fertilization rates (>80%).
- Successful blastocyst formation was achieved in approximately 50% of survived oocytes.
- Healthy, weaned pups were born after transferring Ros-Drill ICSI-created blastocysts into surrogate mothers, validating the technique's efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The Ros-Drill ICSI technique offers a mercury-free and effective alternative to existing assisted reproductive technologies.
- This automated method requires minimal training and shows significant advantages over conventional and piezo-assisted ICSI.
- The successful live births confirm the Ros-Drill ICSI's potential to resolve key issues in reproductive biology and ART.
