scholarly journals Morphology of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida of human oocytes that failed to fertilize in vitro

Reproduction ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Y. Liu ◽  
H. W. G. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Human Oocytes

A stereological study on organelle distribution in human oocytes at prophase I

Zygote ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Sílvia Pires-Luís ◽  
Eduardo Rocha ◽  
Carla Bartosch ◽  
Elsa Oliveira ◽  
Joaquina Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Human Oocyte ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Prophase I ◽  
Organelle Distribution ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Maturation Stages

SummaryThe ultrastructural analysis of human oocytes at different maturation stages has only been descriptive. The aim of this study was to use a stereological approach to quantify the distribution of organelles in oocytes at prophase I (GV). Seven immature GV oocytes were processed for transmission electron microscopy and a classical manual stereological technique based on point-counting with an adequate stereological grid was used. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the means of the relative volumes occupied by organelles in oocyte regions: cortex (C), subcortex (SC) and inner cytoplasm (IC). Here we first describe in GV oocytes very large vesicles of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), vesicles containing zona pellucida-like materials and coated vesicles. The most abundant organelles were the very large vesicles of the SER (6.9%), mitochondria (6.3%) and other SER vesicles (6.1%). Significant differences in organelle distribution were observed between ooplasm regions: cortical vesicles (C: 1.3% versus SC: 0.1%, IC: 0.1%, P = 0.001) and medium-sized vesicles containing zona pellucida-like materials (C: 0.2% versus SC: 0.02%, IC: 0%, P = 0.004) were mostly observed at the oocyte cortex, whereas mitochondria (C: 3.6% versus SC: 6.0%, IC: 7.2%, P = 0.005) were preferentially located in the subcortex and inner cytoplasm, and SER very large vesicles (IC: 10.1% versus C: 0.9%, SC: 1.67%, P = 0.001) in the oocyte inner cytoplasm. Further quantitative studies are needed in immature metaphase-I and mature metaphase-II oocytes, as well as analysis of correlations between ultrastructural and molecular data, to better understand human oocyte in vitro maturation.

Zona pellucida birefringence and meiotic spindle visualisation of human oocytes are not influenced by IVM technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Omidi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Khalili ◽  
Sareh Ashourzadeh ◽  
Marzieh Rahimipour
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Polar Body ◽  
Refractile Body ◽  
Meiotic Spindle ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Safe Technology ◽  
Maturation Rate

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the presence of the meiotic spindle and zona pellucida (ZP) birefringence with morphology of in vivo- and in vitro-matured human oocytes. Germinal vesicles (n = 47) and MI (n = 38) oocytes obtained from stimulated ovaries of patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) underwent IVM. Using a PolScope (OCTAX PolarAID; Octax, Herbon, Germany), the presence of spindles and ZP birefringence was assessed in both in vivo-matured (n = 56) and IVM (n = 56) oocytes. In addition, the morphology of each matured oocyte was evaluated microscopically. There were insignificant differences for ZP birefringence and meiotic spindle between the in vivo-matured and IVM MII oocytes. Subanalysis revealed that the rates of morphologically abnormal oocytes did not differ significantly between the two groups, except in the case of irregular shape (P = 0.001), refractile body (P = 0.001) and fragmented polar body (P = 0.03), which were higher in IVM oocytes. In the case of in vivo-matured oocytes, a significantly higher percentage of oocytes with intracytoplasmic and both intra- and extracytoplasmic abnormalities have a low birefringent ZP (P = 0.007 and P = 0.02, respectively). There was no relationship between morphological abnormalities and spindle detection. The findings suggest that clinical IVM is a safe technology that maintains the high maturation rate and integrity of oocytes. In addition, the use of the non-invasive PolScope is recommended for the detection of oocytes most suitable for ICSI.

scholarly journals Effects of Vitrification on Outcomes of In VivoMature, In Vitro-Mature and Immature Human Oocytes

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 2053-2062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-yan Song ◽  
Zhao-feng Peng ◽  
Xue-mei Chen ◽  
Hai-xia Jin ◽  
Gui-dong Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Occurrence Rate ◽  
Aneuploidy Screening ◽  
Immature Oocytes ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Group A ◽  
Mature Group ◽  
Group B

Background/Aims: To observe the effects of vitrification on spindle, zona pellucida, embryonic aneuploidy and DNA injury in in vivo-maruted, in vitro-mature and immature human oocytes. Methods: Between January 2009 and February 2015, 223 immature oocytes from 450 infertile patients, and 31 in vivo-mature oocytes from 3 infertile couples were collected. Of the 223 immature oocytes, 113 were used for in vitro culture before vitrification. Some oocytes were randomly divided into in vivo-mature group (group A, n = 15), in vitro-mature group (group B, n = 88) and immature group (group C, n = 85), and then the oocytes with spindle in these three groups after freezing-thawing were selected to use for Polscope imaging, embryonic aneuploidy screening and embryo development evaluation. Other oocytes were randomly divided into group A (n = 16), group B (n = 25) and group C (n = 25) for detecting DNA injury. Results: After thawing, spindle occurrence rate, spindle Retardance value, and cleavage rate were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (all P < 0.05), but there were no statistical differences in fertility rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastulation rate and aneuploidy rate amongst the three groups (all P > 0.05). Zona pellucida density (ZPD) was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C both before and after vitrification (all P < 0.05). ZPD was significantly higher after thawing than before vitrification (all P < 0.05), but zona pellucida thickness (ZPT) was not significantly changed in all the three groups (all P > 0.05). Rate of comet cells was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (all P < 0.01). Comet tail was significantly longer in group C than in groups B and A (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: In vivo- and in vitro-mature human oocytes are more suitable to vitrification than immature human oocytes. Spindle Retardance value has more predictive value for embryonic development potential than ZPD and ZPT.

Zona pellucida solubility and cortical granule complements in human oocytes following assisted reproductive techniques

Zygote ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Manna ◽  
L. Rienzi ◽  
E. Greco ◽  
M. Sbracia ◽  
A. Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Germinal Vesicle ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Class I ◽  
Dissolution Time ◽  
Cortical Granule ◽  
Human Oocytes ◽  
Fertilisation Rate ◽  
Reproductive Techniques

In this study the solubility to α-chymotrypsin of the zona pellucida (ZP) of human oocytes and polyploid embryos obtained during various clinical procedures of assisted fertilisation (IVF, ICSI, cyropreservation) was evaluated. The aim of the study was to determine whether changes in ZP solubility occur during such procedures and whether abnormal solubility could be likened to fertilisation failure. Correlation between ZP solubility and cortical granule (CG) density was also studied. The results showed that ZP solubility varied considerably among germinal vesicle or metaphase oocytes obtained from different subjects, but was essentially identical for the oocyte cohort obtained from individual women. On the basis of ZP solubility metaphase oocytes were subdivided into two classes: class I, average ZP dissolution time ± SE = 24.1 ± 0.9 min, n = 28; and class II, 46.7 ± 2.0 min, n = 13. Prolonged ZP dissolution times of metaphase oocytes were significantly correlated with a low in vitro fertilisation rate in sibling oocytes. The zonae of fertilised eggs (polyploid embryos) showed long solubilisation times (IVF: 45.3 ± 3.4 min, n = 18; ICSI: 48.9 ± 2.7 min, n = 19). ZP solubility of oocytes that failed to fertilise was intermediate between that of class I metaphase oocytes and embryos (unfertilised IVF: 33.0 ± 2.7 min, n = 13; unfertilised ICSI: 43.0 ± 2.4 min, n = 9). A moderate spontaneous ZP hardening occurred when metaphase oocytes were cultured for 24 h. Finally, cryopreservation of unfertilised oocytes caused hardening of their ZP, with dissolution times that were comparable to those found in fertilised eggs (49.5 ± 2.3 min, n = 10). In most cases, an inverse correlation was found between ZP dissolution time and CG density (longer solubilisation times corresponding to lower CG density). ZP hardening caused by cryopreservation, however, was not associated with a significant reduction in CG density in most of the oocytes examined.

Heterogeneity of the zona pellucida carbohydrate distribution in human oocytes failing to fertilize in vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2773-2780 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Talevi ◽  
R. Gualtieri ◽  
G. Tartaglione ◽  
A. Fortunato
Keyword(s):  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Human Oocytes

Differences between antigenic determinants of pig and cat zona pellucida proteins

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Jewgenow ◽  
M Rohleder ◽  
I Wegner
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Zona Pellucida ◽  
Antigenic Determinants ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Contraceptive Vaccine ◽  
Sperm Binding ◽  
Dependent Inhibition ◽  
Dose Dependent Inhibition ◽  
Dose Dependent

Despite many efforts, the control of reproduction in feral cat populations is still a problem in urban regions around the world. Immunocontraception is a promising approach; thus the present study examined the suitability of the widely used pig zona pellucida proteins (pZP) for contraception in feral domestic cats. Purified zona pellucida proteins obtained from pig and cat ovaries were used to produce highly specific antisera in rabbits. Antibodies against pZP raised in rabbits or lions were not effective inhibitors of either in vitro sperm binding (cat spermatozoa to cat oocytes) or in vitro fertilization in cats, whereas antibodies against feline zona pellucida proteins (fZP) raised in rabbits showed a dose-dependent inhibition of in vitro fertilization. Immunoelectrophoresis, ELISA and immunohistology of ovaries confirmed these results, showing crossreactivity of anti-fZP sera to fZP and to a lesser extent to pZP, but no interaction of anti-pZP sera with fZP. It is concluded that cat and pig zonae pellucidae express a very small number of shared antigenic determinants, making the use of pZP vaccine in cats questionable. A contraceptive vaccine based on feline zona pellucida determinants will be a better choice for the control of reproduction in feral cats if immunogenity can be achieved.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document