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Fertilization and in vitro development of cryopreserved human prophase I oocytes
T L Toth1, S G Baka, L L Veeck
1Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23507.
Objective:
To determine the potential for in vitro maturation, fertilization, and cleavage after cryopreservation of immature, prophase I human oocytes.
Design:
Immature oocytes obtained in excess of the number required by the patient were randomized and cryopreserved at the prophase I stage or cultured as control. After thawing and maturation in vitro, test and control oocytes were inseminated with husband's sperm and evaluated for fertilization and cleavage in vitro.
Setting:
In vitro fertilization program.
Patients:
Consenting patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the purposes of IVF.
Main Outcome Measures:
Rates of maturation to metaphase II, fertilization, and cleavage were compared between control and cryopreserved oocytes.
Results:
Upon thaw, 58.5% (72/123) of prophase I oocytes were viable. Control oocytes demonstrated a 74.8% (98/131) maturation rate to metaphase II, a 56.5% (52/92) fertilization rate, and an 11.5% (6/52) blastocyst rate. Cryopreserved oocytes showed a 83.3% (60/72) rate of maturation, a 57.7% (30/52) fertilization rate, and a 3.3% (1/30) blastocyst rate. No significant differences were noted between any of these parameters.
Conclusions:
These results demonstrate that prophase I oocytes from stimulated IVF cycles are able to survive cryopreservation and resume meiosis to achieve full nuclear maturation post-thaw. In addition, cryopreserved oocytes retain the same capacity for fertilization and development as control oocytes.