TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro maturation of human oocytes in a follicle-mimicking three-dimensional coculture
AU - Torre, Maria Luisa
AU - Munari, Eleonora
AU - Albani, Elena
AU - Levi-Setti, Paolo E.
AU - Villani, Simona
AU - Faustini, Massimo
AU - Conte, Ubaldo
AU - Vigo, Daniele
PY - 2006/9
Y1 - 2006/9
N2 - Objective: To verify the hypothesis that a three-dimensional, follicle-mimicking structure enhances in vitro maturation yields without hormonal supplementation in an in vitro maturation program. Design: Feasibility study; 204 anonymous denuded germinal vesicles retrieved from gonadotropin-treated women were cultured for 48 hours without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells in a barium alginate membrane. Setting: An assisted reproduction center in Italy. Patient(s): One hundred twenty-two informed women. Intervention(s): Germinal vesicles retrieved after ovarian stimulation were denuded and cultured without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells enclosed in the core of a barium alginate capsule. Main Outcome Measure(s): Oocyte maturation and morphological investigation of follicle-mimicking structures. Result(s): Statistically significantly higher oocyte maturation yields were obtained by using the three-dimensional coculture system enclosed in a barium alginate membrane (after 48 hours: coculture, 90.3%; microdrop, 52.0%; odds ratio, 8.51). Morphological investigation indicated that after 48 hours of coculture, the decumulated oocyte appeared to be surrounded by a pseudocumulus structure that lies on the inner surface of the alginate membrane and protrudes toward the capsule's lumen. Conclusion(s): The maturation yield of cocultured oocytes is eightfold higher than that achieved with a microdrop maturation technique, making a higher number of gametes available for IVF programs. Stereomicroscopic morphological survey indicates a reassembly of granulosa cells surrounding oocyte zona, mimicking an antral cumulus oophorus.
AB - Objective: To verify the hypothesis that a three-dimensional, follicle-mimicking structure enhances in vitro maturation yields without hormonal supplementation in an in vitro maturation program. Design: Feasibility study; 204 anonymous denuded germinal vesicles retrieved from gonadotropin-treated women were cultured for 48 hours without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells in a barium alginate membrane. Setting: An assisted reproduction center in Italy. Patient(s): One hundred twenty-two informed women. Intervention(s): Germinal vesicles retrieved after ovarian stimulation were denuded and cultured without hormonal supplementation in microdrop culture or in a three-dimensional coculture with granulosa cells enclosed in the core of a barium alginate capsule. Main Outcome Measure(s): Oocyte maturation and morphological investigation of follicle-mimicking structures. Result(s): Statistically significantly higher oocyte maturation yields were obtained by using the three-dimensional coculture system enclosed in a barium alginate membrane (after 48 hours: coculture, 90.3%; microdrop, 52.0%; odds ratio, 8.51). Morphological investigation indicated that after 48 hours of coculture, the decumulated oocyte appeared to be surrounded by a pseudocumulus structure that lies on the inner surface of the alginate membrane and protrudes toward the capsule's lumen. Conclusion(s): The maturation yield of cocultured oocytes is eightfold higher than that achieved with a microdrop maturation technique, making a higher number of gametes available for IVF programs. Stereomicroscopic morphological survey indicates a reassembly of granulosa cells surrounding oocyte zona, mimicking an antral cumulus oophorus.
KW - alginate
KW - granulosa
KW - Oocyte IVM
KW - three-dimensional coculture
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U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.02.090
DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.02.090
M3 - Article
C2 - 16815387
AN - SCOPUS:33748123431
VL - 86
SP - 572
EP - 576
JO - Fertility and Sterility
JF - Fertility and Sterility
SN - 0015-0282
IS - 3
ER -