Zinc Plays Crucial Role in Fertilization of Healthy Eggs

Scientists have found that healthy eggs need a tremendous amount of zinc to reach maturity and be ready for fertilization.

The find from Northwestern University could help physicians assess the best eggs for fertility treatment.

Egg Donation
The term ‘Egg Donation’ is commonly used to refer to the contribution of her eggs by a woman to another, who is incapable of producing her own.

"Currently we can't predict which eggs isolated from a woman produce the best embryos and will result in a baby. Not all eggs are capable of becoming healthy embryos," said Alison Kim.

The study conducted in mice revealed that the egg becomes ravenous for zinc and acquires a 50 percent increase in the metal in order to reach full maturity before becoming fertilized.

"Zinc helps the egg exit from a holding pattern to its final critical stage of development," said Tom O'Halloran.

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.

Zinc levels were significantly higher in eggs than other important metals such as iron and copper. It was the only metal to change significantly in concentration during the maturation process.

The team also found that an insufficient accumulation of zinc caused all the eggs to pause prematurely before fertilizing.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technological procedure performed under a microscope, which aids in the introduction of a single sperm into the cytoplasm of an egg.

However, the progression of the process was restored by returning zinc to the eggs.

The research will be published in the September issue of the journal Nature Chemical Biology.

Infertility - Causes - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Infertility is a condition wherein couples fail to achieve pregnancy or if the woman has been unable to carry a pregnancy that results in a live birth.

Source-ANI