Factors affecting activation and fertilization of human oocytes following intracytoplasmic injection

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has dramatically altered the treatment of severe male factor infertility, resulting in improved fertilization and pregnancy rates. The purpose of this study was to investigate oocyte activation and fertilization in aged human oocytes following ICSI. Non-viable spermatozoa were injected into 24 h old human oocytes in the presence and absence of calcium and were assessed for evidence of activation and fertilization 16-19 h after the injection procedure. Sham injections were also carried out to assess the effect of the injection procedure itself and the presence of calcium in the injection medium on oocyte activation. Non-viable spermatozoa injected in the presence of 1.78 mM calcium were capable of normally fertilizing aged human oocytes and the resulting zygotes underwent cleavage. None of the oocytes injected with non-viable spermatozoa in the absence of calcium were fertilized normally, although the rates of activation following all treatments were similar.