The Combination of Calcium Ionophore A23187 and GM-CSF Can Safely Salvage Aged Human Unfertilized Oocytes After ICSI

Overview

Journal J Assist Reprod Genet

Publisher Springer

Specialties Genetics
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2016 Oct 16

PMID 27743290

Citations 8

Authors

Konstantinos A Economou

Dimitra Christopikou

Erika Tsorva

Stephen Davies

Minas Mastrominas

Haris Cazlaris

Michael Koutsilieris

Panagoula Angelogianni

Dimitris Loutradis

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Artificial oocyte activation using calcium ionophores and enhancement of embryonic developmental potential by the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have already been reported. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of these two methods on aged human unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Then, we cultured the resulting embryos to the blastocyst stage and screened them for chromosomal abnormalities, to assess the safety of this protocol.

Methods: Aged human oocytes deemed unfertilized after ICSI were activated, either by briefly applying the calcium ionophore A23187 alone (group A) or by briefly applying the ionophore and then supplementing the culture medium with recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF) (group B). Next, the development was monitored in a time-lapse incubator system, and ploidy was analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), after whole embryo biopsy and whole genome amplification. Differences between oocytes and resulting embryos in both groups were evaluated statistically.

Results: Oocytes unfertilized after ICSI can be activated with the calcium ionophore A23187 to show two pronuclei and two polar bodies. Addition of rhGM-CSF in the culture medium of A23187-activated oocytes enhances their cleaving and blastulation potential and results in more euploid blastocysts compared to the culture medium alone.

Conclusions: This study shows that activating post-ICSI aged human unfertilized oocytes with a combination of a calcium ionophore and a cytokine can produce good-morphology euploid blastocysts.

Citing Articles

Significant differences in efficiency between two commonly used ionophore solutions for assisted oocyte activation (AOA): a prospective comparison of ionomycin and A23187.

Quintana-Vehi A, Martinez M, Zamora M, Rodriguez A, Vassena R, Miguel-Escalada I J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023; 40(7):1661-1668.

PMID: 37247099 PMC: 10352473. DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02833-9.

The Therapeutic and Diagnostic Potential of Phospholipase C Zeta, Oocyte Activation, and Calcium in Treating Human Infertility.

Abdulsamad H, Murtaza Z, AlMuhairi H, Bafleh W, AlMansoori S, AlQubaisi S Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023; 16(3).

PMID: 36986540 PMC: 10056371. DOI: 10.3390/ph16030441.

Successful Live Birth Outcome Following Assisted Activation of Failed Fertilized Oocytes.

Curnow E, Vannucci B, Muller C, Herndon C Reprod Sci. 2023; 30(8):2584-2588.

PMID: 36752985 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01186-z.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-containing medium treatment after thawing improves blastocyst-transfer outcomes in the frozen- thawed blastocyst-transfer cycle.

Okabe-Kinoshita M, Kobayashi T, Shioya M, Sugiura T, Fujita M, Takahashi K J Assist Reprod Genet. 2022; 39(6):1373-1381.

PMID: 35469373 PMC: 9174410. DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02493-1.

Oocyte activation deficiency and assisted oocyte activation: mechanisms, obstacles and prospects for clinical application.

Kashir J, Ganesh D, Jones C, Coward K Hum Reprod Open. 2022; 2022(2):hoac003.

PMID: 35261925 PMC: 8894871. DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac003.

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