New Imaging Technique Could Boost IVF Success

A novel technique could boost IVF success rates and reduces the number of multiple births, shows study.

The technique has been successfully used in mice to track the discrete movements inside an egg that occur during stimulation at fertilization, and Cardiff University scientists say it could be used in humans too.

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The Cardiff scientists worked with a team in Oxford University to analyse the internal contents of the human egg or cytoplasm to observe distinct rhythmic patterns.

"Current IVF treatment involves fertilising eggs in the laboratory and then choosing those embryos considered to be the healthiest for implantation into the mother's womb, using selection criteria such as the number and appearance of cells produced during the division process," according to Professor Karl Swann from Cardiff University's School of Medicine, who led the research.

"However, the implantation of selected eggs using current methods requires days in culture and does not always succeed.

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"We already know from previous research in mice that sperm entry into the mouse egg triggers 'rhythmic cytoplasmic motions', which may help to predict successful embryo development. Adopting this key method we have now been able to show that the same type of rhythmic movements occur in human eggs," he added.

In a HFEA-approved procedure, human eggs were injected with an egg-activating sperm-specific protein ('PLC-zeta') and then imaged over a period of several hours.

Invitro Fertilisation
During IVF fertilization takes place invitro, in an incubated petri dish. The resulting embryo is transferred back to the uterus on Day 3 at the 6-8 cell stage. Sometimes the embryo transfer in done at the blastocyst stage on Day 5. The embryo is drawn into a specialized catheter along with a small amount of culture medium and is transferred to the uterus.

The scientists were able to view distinct internal movements or spasms, which is the first time that they have been detected in human eggs. These movements correlate exquisitely with the exact timing of biochemical changes occurring at fertilisation.

The scientists hope that this information could help provide an early and effective indication of viability of a successful pregnancy in human IVF.

In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes can be Affected by PCB Exposure
A new study showed PCBs at concentrations found in the general U.S. population are associated with the failure of fertilized embryos to implant in the uterus after in vitro fertilization IVF.

The study has been published in the international journal, Fertility and Sterility.

Source-ANI