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New molecular markers for the evaluation of gamete quality

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Abstract

Purpose

Only 30 % of IVF cycles result in a pregnancy, so that multiple embryos need to be replaced, per treatment cycle, to increase pregnancy rates, resulting in a multiple gestation rate of 25 %. The use of new markers in the gamete selection, could reduce the number of the oocytes to be fertilized and embryos to be produced, but the tools to evidence the gamete competence remain unavailable and more studies are needed to identify bio-markers to select the best oocyte and sperm to produce embryos with higher implantation potentiality.

Methods

To define oocyte competence, the apoptosis of the surrounding cumulus cells and the oxygen consumption rates for individual oocytes before fertilization seems to provide a non-invasive marker of oocyte competence and hence a quantitative assessment of the reproductive potential for the oocyte. The chromatin integrity seems to be used also as biological marker of sperm competence, together with the morphological evaluation of large vacuoles in the head.

Results

The apoptosis rate of cumulus cells lower than 25 % and an higher oxygen consumption could be an evidence of an overall metabolic activity, related to a better fertilization ability and embryo cleavage quality. The apoptosis rate of the sperm chromatin, evaluated by direct Tunel in situ analysis, seems to be, also for the male gamete, a marker of competence and implantation potentiality, in particular when it is lower than 20 %. The evaluation of the presence of large vacuoles in the sperm head prior to perform ICSI seems to increase the implantation rate, but it is not associated to chromatin integrity.

Conclusions

The biological concept of competence appears unrelated to any morphological parameters, so that it is necessary to investigate new molecular markers in the gamete selection. Apoptosis of cumulus cells in the oocytes and spermatozoa, revealing the presence of large vacuoles, could help to determine the competence of the gamete to be fertilize.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro di Biologia della Riproduzione, Via V. Villareale 54, 90141, Palermo, Italy

    G. Ruvolo, A. M. Brucculeri & E. Cittadini

  2. IVF Centre of Jordan hospital, Queen Nour St. 4th circle, Amman, Jordan

    R. R. Fattouh

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari e Biomolecolari, University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze, Edificio 16, 90128, Palermo, Italy

    L. Bosco

Authors
  1. G. Ruvolo
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  2. R. R. Fattouh
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  3. L. Bosco
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  4. A. M. Brucculeri
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  5. E. Cittadini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Ruvolo.

Additional information

Capsule To identify bio-markers to select the best oocyte and sperm to produce embryos with higher implantation potentiality, is one of the main interests of the researchers. Cumulus cells apoptosis, oocyte oxygen consumption, vacuolization of sperm head and chromatin integrity seems to be a promising tools.

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Ruvolo, G., Fattouh, R.R., Bosco, L. et al. New molecular markers for the evaluation of gamete quality. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 207–212 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9943-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9943-y

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