Group culture of human preimplantation embryos could increase the number useable blastocysts per in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. The present study compares outcomes a specific group embryo strategy vs. single 1 media droplet. standard, individual protocol (IC) 30 μL drops was substituted by (GC) consisting on grouping up to 3 zygotes same volume droplets. A retrospective analysis developmen...

Oocyte-specific genes play important roles in regulating ovarian development, principally through the proper and timely progression of oogenesis and folliculogenesis. Development of transgenic mouse models has been critical in revealing how oocyte-specific transcripts influence oocyte development and growth, integrity of the oocyte-granulosa cell complex, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and e...

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in women. The abnormalities of endocrine and intra-ovarian paracrine interactions may change the microenvironment for oocyte development during the folliculogenesis process and reduce the developmental competence of oocytes in PCOS patients who are suffering from anovulatory infertility and pregnancy loss....

The assessment of oocyte quality in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) is getting increasing attention from embryologists. Oocyte selection and the identification of the best oocytes, in fact, would help to limit embryo overproduction and to improve the results of oocyte cryostorage programs. Follicular fluid (FF) is easily available during oocyte pick-up and theorically represents an optimal s...

BACKGROUND Our aim was to evaluate whether extending the interval between human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) priming and immature oocyte retrieval increases the oocyte maturation rate following in vitro maturation (IVM). METHODS This study was performed retrospectively. IVM was performed on 113 polycystic ovary syndrome patients (n = 120 cycles). Oocyte collection was performed either 35 h (...

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) plays a role as an oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI) in many species, including the bovine. However, the effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) on CNP expression and its potential mechanisms have not reported in the bovine. In the present study, we aimed to study the effects of LH on CNP expression and to illuminate the potential molecular mechanism in this process...

Background: Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a 45-56 kDa glycoprotein that has an important role in proliferation and embryo implantation. Its effect on oocyte maturation and how to exert the function remained to be elucidated. Methods: Immature mice superovulated with human menopausal gonadotropin and germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes were obtained from ovary 48 hours after. GV oocytes were cul...

In the ovary, connexin-coupled gap junctions in granulosa cells play crucial roles in follicular and oocyte development as well as in corpus luteum formation. Our previous work has shown that theca cell-derived bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)4 and BMP7 decrease gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) activity via the down-regulation of connexin43 (Cx43) expression in immortalized human...

BACKGROUND Mammalian oocyte activation occurs via a series of intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations thought to be induced by a sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). There is now strong evidence to indicate that certain types of human male infertility are caused by failure of the sperm to activate the oocyte in an appropriate manner. Molecular analysis of the PLCζ gene of a male pati...