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08:51
Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application
Published on: August 19, 2019
Human oocyte maturation in vitro
Giovanni Coticchio1, Mariabeatrice Dal-Canto, Maria-Cristina Guglielmo
1Biogenesi, Reproductive Medicine Centre, Istituti Clinici Zucchi, Via Zucchi 24, Monza, Italy. coticchio.biogenesi@grupposandonato.it
The International Journal of Developmental Biology
|February 19, 2013
Summary
In vitro maturation (IVM) aids oocyte development for agriculture and human assisted reproduction. Further research into physiological criteria can enhance IVM systems for improved success rates.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology and assisted reproductive technologies.
Background:
- Oocytes from medium-sized antral follicles can mature in vitro after release from the follicular environment.
- In vitro maturation (IVM) is utilized in agriculture and proposed for human assisted reproduction, offering an alternative to standard ovarian stimulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of in vitro maturation (IVM) systems for oocyte development.
- To identify areas for improvement in current IVM systems to align with physiological maturation processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on oocyte maturation, both in vivo and in vitro.
- Analysis of recent findings concerning meiotic progression, cumulus cell support, and hormonal signaling in oocyte maturation.
Main Results:
- IVM supports oocyte maturation but does not fully replicate physiological nuclear and cytoplasmic changes induced by the ovulatory stimulus.
- IVM has been successfully applied in agriculturally important species and proposed for human assisted reproduction, including for women with polycystic ovaries and normovulatory patients.
- No increased incidence of congenital abnormalities has been reported in children born from IVM cycles.
Conclusions:
- Current IVM systems are largely empirical, limiting their efficiency.
- Understanding the control of meiotic progression, cumulus cell roles, and gonadotropin signaling modulation is key to developing more effective, physiologically-based IVM systems.
- Improved IVM systems could significantly increase birth rates in assisted reproduction.
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