Recurrent spontaneous oocyte activation causes female infertility
Serdar Coskun1,2, Sateesh Maddirevula3, Khalid Awartani4
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. serdar@kfshrc.edu.sa.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Spontaneous oocyte activation (SOA) causes infertility in women. Investigations into two cases of recurrent SOA did not reveal clear genetic causes, highlighting the need for further research into its molecular mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Human embryology
- Infertility research
Background:
- Spontaneous oocyte activation (SOA) is a poorly understood phenomenon.
- Characterized by a single pronucleus post-retrieval without sperm.
- No clear genetic or pathological factors identified in humans.
Observation:
- Two patients with recurrent SOA and infertility were investigated.
- High rates of SOA observed across multiple cycles (61/69 and 44/49 oocytes).
- Embryo development and paternal contribution were assessed; no pregnancies resulted.
Findings:
- Clinical whole exome sequencing did not identify causative variants in either patient.
- Time-lapse imaging excluded transient second pronucleus formation in one case.
- Recurrent SOA significantly impacts fertility, leading to infertility.
Implications:
- Further research is crucial to understand the etiology of human SOA.
- Focus on molecular mechanisms regulating oocyte activation and calcium dynamics is needed.
- Understanding these mechanisms may lead to future treatments for recurrent SOA.
Related Concept Videos
02:07Oogenesis
64.7K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
64.7K
01:28Infertility in Females
1.3K
Female infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse and affects about 10–15% of couples worldwide. The primary cause of female infertility is ovulatory disorders, which hinder the release of eggs. These disorders can be classified as hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hyperprolactinemic anovulation disorders.
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of...
1.3K
01:57Meiosis II
185.7K
Meiosis II is the second and final stage of meiosis. It relies on the haploid cells produced during meiosis I, each of which contain only 23 chromosomes—one from each homologous initial pair. Importantly, each chromosome in these cells is composed of two joined copies, and when these cells enter meiosis II, the goal is to separate such sister chromatids using the same microtubule-based network employed in other division processes. The result of meiosis II is two haploid cells, each...
185.7K
01:27Ovarian Cycle
2.1K
The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle...
2.1K
01:30Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
4.0K
The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
4.0K
01:20Folliculogenesis
1.2K
Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...
1.2K