Dataset Information

Possible mechanism of polyspermy block in human oocytes observed by time-lapse cinematography.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To analyze the fertilization process related to polyspermy block in human oocytes using an in vitro culturing system for time-lapse cinematography.

Methods

We had 122 oocytes donated for this study from couples that provided informed consent. We recorded human oocytes at 2,000 to 2,800 frames every 10 s during the fertilization process and thereafter every 2 min using a new in vitro culture system originally developed by the authors for time-lapse cinematography. We displayed 30 frames per second for analysis of the polyspermy block during fertilization.

Results

Three oocytes showed the leading and following sperm within the zona pellucida in the same microscopic field. The dynamic images obtained during the fertilization process using this new system revealed that once a leading sperm penetrated the zona pellucida and attached to the oocyte membrane, a following sperm was arrested from further penetration into the zona pellucida within 10 s.

Conclusions

The present results strongly suggest the existence of a novel mechanism of polyspermy block that takes place at the zona pellucida immediately after fertilization. These findings are clearly different from previous mechanisms describing polyspermy block as the oocyte membrane block to sperm penetration and the zona reaction. The finding presented herein thus represents a novel discovery about the highly complicated polyspermy block mechanism occurring in human oocytes.

SUBMITTER: Mio Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3463667 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Possible mechanism of polyspermy block in human oocytes observed by time-lapse cinematography.

Mio Yasuyuki Y Iwata Kyoko K Yumoto Keitaro K Kai Yoshiteru Y Sargant Haruka C HC Mizoguchi Chizuru C Ueda Minako M Tsuchie Yuka Y Imajo Akifumi A Iba Yumiko Y Nishikori Kyoko K

Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 20120614 9

<h4>Purpose</h4>To analyze the fertilization process related to polyspermy block in human oocytes using an in vitro culturing system for time-lapse cinematography.<h4>Methods</h4>We had 122 oocytes donated for this study from couples that provided informed consent. We recorded human oocytes at 2,000 to 2,800 frames every 10 s during the fertilization process and thereafter every 2 min using a new in vitro culture system originally developed by the authors for time-lapse cinematography. We displa ...[more]

PMID: 22695746

Similar Datasets

Project description:Recent studies reported morphokinetic indices for optimal selection of embryos in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The morphokinetics in blastocyst stage include the collapse and re-expansion rates after thawing. However, evaluation methods using these morphokinetics have not been established, mainly because the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclarified. In this study, we focused on the relationship between these morphokinetic observation of the blastocyst behaviour and the number of cells constituting the blastocyst. We evaluated 38 surplus human frozen-thawed blastocysts using time-lapse cinematography and recorded their expansion, contraction, and hatching. A total of 28 blastocysts expanded in culture (cross-sectional area ≥ 5,000 π μm2). In comparison to the ones that did not, the expanded group presented significantly more number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells, which eventually develop into the fetus and placenta, respectively (ICM: Expanded 10.2 ± 6.3 vs. Non-Expanded 6.0 ± 12.3, p < 0.05; TE: Expanded 165.7 ± 74.8 vs. Non-Expanded 57.0 ± 29.4, p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the expansion rate (up to 4 h) and the number of TE cells (r = 0.558, p = 0.0021). Additionally, blastocysts that hatched had a significantly higher number of TE cells than those that did not (hatching 225.2 ± 61.2 vs. no hatching 121.1 ± 48.6, p < 0.0001). The number of TE cells per unit of cross-sectional area correlated negatively with the contraction time (r = -0.601, p = 0.0007). No correlation between the number of ICM cells and these morphokinetics was detected. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that different morphokinetics of frozen-thawed blastocysts reflect the number of TE cells. The differentiation of blastocysts containing sufficient TE cells would be beneficial for implantation and prognosis of a subsequent pregnancy. Thus, evaluation of these morphokinetics can be an effective method to screen good embryos for ART.

Dataset Information

Possible mechanism of polyspermy block in human oocytes observed by time-lapse cinematography.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Possible mechanism of polyspermy block in human oocytes observed by time-lapse cinematography.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure