[A control study of artificial oocyte activation in the same period]

Objective: To compare the fertility rate and embryo outcome between normal fertilization and the use of Calcium ionophore A23187 on the same period of the same cycle of human ovum for artificial activation. Methods: Patients who conducted the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle in vitro fertilization assisted reproductive from January 2015 to December in reproductive center of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled.The protocol of this study was approved by the ethics committee of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University.The subjects must met at least one of the inclusion criteria: (1)the normal fertilization rate was less than 30% ICSI in the previous ICSI cycle; (2)no good quality embryos in a previous period of third days in ICSI; (3)patients with globozoospermia.The ovum were randomly divided into two groups, control group and artificial oocyte activation (AOA) group. In the control group, the eggs were treated with routine ICSI operation, and the AOA group was activated by A23187 after ICSI. Normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, pregnancy and birth outcome of two groups were compared. Results: The 2PN fertilization rate in the AOA group 65.93% (60/91) was significantly higher than that in the control group 46.67% (41/89) (P<0.05). In addition, in patients who met the inclusion criteria of 1 categories (2PN≤30%), the 2PN fertilization rate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the AOA group [79.59% (39/49)] compared with the control group [57.14% (28/49)]. In patients who met the inclusion criteria of 3 categories (globozoospermia), the 2PN fertilization rate was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the AOA group [75% (6/8)] compared with the control group [0% (0/5)]. Conclusions: The use of calcium ionophore A23187 assisted activation could be helpful to improve the normal fertilization rate of ICSI. But the effects of early embryonic development and the safety of generation need to be further studied.