Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
Functional Manipulation of Maternal Gene Products Using In Vitro Oocyte Maturation in Zebrafish
Published on: April 22, 2017
Ionophore application for artificial oocyte activation and its potential effect on morphokinetics: a sibling oocyte
Omar Shebl1, Philip Sebastian Trautner1, Sabine Enengl1
1Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Gynecological Endocrinology, Kepler University Hospital, MedCampus IV, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, A-4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria.
Purpose:
To evaluate whether ionophore application at the oocyte stage changes the morphokinetics of the associated embryos in cases of artificial oocyte activation.
Methods:
In a prospective sibling oocyte approach, 78 ICSI patients with suspected fertilization problems had half of their MII-oocytes treated with a ready-to-use ionophore (calcimycin) immediately following ICSI (study group). Untreated ICSI eggs served as the control group. Primary analyses focused on morphokinetic behavior and the presence of irregular cleavages. The rates of fertilization, utilization, pregnancy, and live birth rate were also evaluated.
Results:
Ionophore-treated oocytes showed a significantly earlier formation of pronuclei (t2PNa) and a better synchronized third cell cycle (s3) (P < .05). The rate of irregular cleavage was unaffected (P > .05). Ionophore treatment significantly improved the overall rates of fertilization (P < .01) and blastocyst utilization (P < .05).
Conclusion:
Ionophore application does not negatively affect cleavage timing nor is it associated with irregular cleavage.
