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A Simplified Coculture System Using Homologous, Attached Cumulus Tissue Results in Improved Human Embryo Morphology and Pregnancy Rates During In Vitro Fertilization

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Abstract

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate simplified methods of human embryo coculture using either attached or nonattached autologous cumulus tissue.

Methods: Eight hundred one zygotes were cultured for 48 hr in a prospective, randomized trial comparing culture of embryos either with intact cumulus tissue, with cumulus tissue added to the droplet of culture medium, or without any cumulus tissue. In a follow-up study, embryo quality, pregnancy rates, and implantation rates were compared in 120 consecutive patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with a coculture system using cumulus tissue compared to a cohort of 127 patients undergoing IVF immediately preceding the institution of the coculture protocol.

Results: Embryo morphology was significantly improved (P < 0.05) following culture with attached cumulus tissue (5.61 ± 0.29) and culture with added cumulus tissue (4.72 ± 0.31) compared to that of embryos grown in culture medium without cumulus tissue (3.95 ± 0.26). The clinical pregnancy rate improved from 39.4% (50/127) to 49.2% (59/120) following institution of a system of coculture with attached cumulus tissue.

Conclusions: These data indicate that a simple coculture system using autologous cumulus tissue can result in improved embryo morphology, implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization. This coculture system is simple, is non-labor intensive, and eliminates many of the risks which may be present in other embryo coculture systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132

    Douglas T. Carrell & Charles E. Cornwell

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132

    Douglas T. Carrell, C. Matthew Peterson, Kirtly P. Jones, Harry H. Hatasaka & Laurence C. Udoff

  3. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Douglas T. Carrell, Cindy Thorp, Paul Kuneck, Lisa Erickson & Bruce Campbell

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  1. Douglas T. Carrell
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  2. C. Matthew Peterson
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  3. Kirtly P. Jones
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  4. Harry H. Hatasaka
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  5. Laurence C. Udoff
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  6. Charles E. Cornwell
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  7. Cindy Thorp
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  8. Paul Kuneck
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Carrell, D.T., Peterson, C.M., Jones, K.P. et al. A Simplified Coculture System Using Homologous, Attached Cumulus Tissue Results in Improved Human Embryo Morphology and Pregnancy Rates During In Vitro Fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 344–349 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020533711711

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020533711711

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