Background: The maturation medium for in-vitro oocyte maturation is usually supplemented with serum. However, supplementation of serum from pregnant women adversely affects the outcome of in-vitro maturation. The purpose of the study was to assess if growth factors or granulosa cell coculture could overcome the adverse effects of pregnant women’s serum. Materials and Methods: The basal maturati...

Objective Crocin is an active ingredient of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its antioxidant properties have been previously investigated. This carotenoid scavenges free radicals and stimulates glutathione (GSH) synthesis; consequently, it may protect cells against oxidative stress. The aim of this research is to protect oocytes from oxidative stress by the addition of a natural source antioxida...

In vitro maturation (IVM) is emerging as a popular technology at the forefront of fertility treatment and preservation. However, standard in vitro culture conditions usually increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been implicated as one of the major causes for reduced embryonic developmental competence. It is well-known that higher than physiological levels of ROS triggers granulosa ...

Background Follicle cryopreservation has been proposed as an alternative fertility preservation option. Follicles can be cryopreserved in intact ovarian tissue pieces or after isolation of individual follicles from the fresh ovarian tissue using enzymatic or mechanical techniques. Researchers have used different cryoprotectants and various techniques to improve cryopreservation. It is plausible...

  Background & Aim: Considering that antioxidants are known as effective free radicals scavenger, it may be able to improve the in vitro oocyte maturation and the fetal quality. This study was designed to determine the effect of Gundelia tournefortii leaves (GTE) hydro-alcoholic extract as a source of antioxidant on in vitro oocyte maturation. Experimental: Germinal vasicle (GV) were...

Background: The study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the development potential and the diameter of ovine oocytes. Materials and Methods: Ovaries collected from a local abattoir were transported to the laboratory within 1-3 h of slaughter. The oocytes from follicles (2-6 mm in diameter) were recovered by aspiration and stored in a preincubated (at 38.6 C, 5% CO2 and maxi...

Background: Oocyte maturation is usually defined as the period of progression from the first to the second meiotic arrest and involves coordinated nuclear and cytoplasmic modification. Ca2+ signals are known as important regulators of oocyte maturation. Extracellular Ca2+ is important for first polar body formation, normal meiosis kinetics, and for preserving the chromosome and spindle configur...

in vitro maturation (ivm) was carried out in the presence of different concentrations (10, 50, 100 or 200 µm) of α-linolenic acid (ala). embryonic cleavage, blastocyst formation following parthenogenetic activation (pa) and in vitro fertilization (ivf), and numbers of total and apoptotic cells in blastocyst were then determine for the 50 μm concentration and compared with the control group. out...

Background: Despite great advances achieved in the field of in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM), almost all IVM media are supplemented with undefined component which not only pose the risk of pathogen transmission but also hinders our knowledge of molecular mechanisms of maturation. One of these components is serum that containing various concentration of unknown molecules affecting cellular proce...

objective: crocin is an active ingredient of saffron (crocus sativus l.) and its antioxidant properties have been previously investigated. this carotenoid scavenges free radicals and stimulates glutathione (gsh) synthesis; consequently, it may protect cells against oxidative stress. the aim of this research is to protect oocytes from oxidative stress by the addition of a natural source antioxid...