Automatic user-independent zona pellucida imaging at the oocyte stage allows for the prediction of preimplantation development

Ebner, Thomas; Balaban, Başak; Moser, Marianne; Shebl, Omar; Urman, Bülent; Ata, Barış; Tews, G

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.106

Cited by 60 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Moreover, when at least one embryo with a low IL-ZP area (that derives from an oocyte with a low IL-ZP area) is transferred, the pregnancy chance results to be approximately double than the one observed when embryos derived from oocytes with a high IL-ZP area are replaced (PR/ET 54.5 % vs. 21.4 %). These findings substantially agree with those of some previous studies suggesting an inverse relationship between IL-ZP thickness and oocyte competence [8][9][10][11][12][13], but were obtained used IL-ZP area measurement instead of IL-ZP thickness measurement. Indeed IL-ZP area appears to be more reliable and to have a lower intra-and interobserver variability than IL-ZP thickness, because it is automatically measured by the PLM software system that was used in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Another PLM parameter, IL-ZP retardance, was previously proposed as a putative marker of good embryo quality [12]. We could not confirm this finding, as we did not observe any significant difference in the mean IL-ZP retardance between conception and non-conception cycles, both in oocytes and embryos.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

“…Several studies on human oocytes reported that some birefringent characteristics of the meiotic spindle (MS) [5][6][7][8] and of the zona pellucida (ZP) [8][9][10][11][12][13] were associated with a high level of structural organization of the oocyte and could be positively related to the developmental potential of the embryo derived from it. These reports, however, were not fully convincing; especially those dealing with the MS were thoroughly criticized because the comparative analysis of the MS by confocal microscopy showed important discrepancies with PLM data [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polarized light microscopy-detectable structures of human oocytes and embryos are related to the likelihood of conception in IVF

Molinari

Evangelista²,

Racca³

et al. 2012

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose To clarify if birefringent structures of human oocytes and embryos, measurable by polarized light microscopy, have any value in predicting the chance of pregnancy in human in vitro fertilization and may halp to identify the most competent oocytes and embryos. Methods The inner layer of the zona pellucida (IL-ZP) and the meiotic spindle (MS) were analyzed by polarized light microscopy in 258 oocytes and in the 209 embryos deriving from them. Data obtained from 102 ICSI cycles with conception were compared with those obtained in 156 cycles without conception. The retardance and area of the IL-ZP, as well as the retardance, length of the major axis, and area of the MS were measured. Furthermore, polarized light microscopy parameters were related to the embryo morphological score by multiple regression analysis. Result(s) The mean area of the IL-ZP of both oocytes and embryos was significantly lower in conception than in nonconception cycles (p00.0001 for oocytes and p00.002 for embryos). The area of the IL-ZP in embryos was significantly, inversely related to the embryo morphological score (p00.011). The area, the major axis length and the retarcance of the MS, as well as the retardance of the IL-ZP in oocytes and embryos were comparable in conception and non-conception cycles. ConclusionThe area of the IL-ZP of the human oocytes may represent a marker of oocyte competence, as oocytes with a low IL-ZP area are more frequently obtained in conception cycles. When measured in embryos, a low IL-ZP area identifies embryos with a high chance of implantation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polarized light microscopy-detectable structures of human oocytes and embryos are related to the likelihood of conception in IVF

Molinari

Evangelista²,

Racca³

et al. 2012

J Assist Reprod Genet

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“…Several strategies have been suggested to objectively identify the best oocytes [10]. Birefringence of the spindle and the zona of the metaphase II oocyte, as evaluated by polarized light microscopy, have been recently proposed as criteria of quality in live human oocytes [13,23,24]. Several studies have reported a positive correlation between high birefringence of the zona pellucida (HZB) and that of the spindle (SP) in metaphase II oocytes, and the main reproductive indexes such as fertilization, embryo implantation and women's pregnancy rate [14,15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of oocyte morphometry parameters with woman’s age

Valeri

Pappalardo

Felici

et al. 2011

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose Aim of this study was to evaluate morphometric parameters of metaphase II oocytes, including cytoplasm diameter (CD), zona pellucida thickness (ZPT) and width of the perivitelline space (PS), in relation with zona pellucida birefringence, spindle presence and age of the woman. Methods Oocytes were classified into groups according to zona birefringence (low or high zona birefringence, LZB and HZB, respectively) and presence or absence of a visible spindle (SP and aSP, respectively).Results HZB oocytes showed a thicker zona (17.7±0.3 μm) than LZB oocytes (16.7±0.3 μm, p<0.01). Moreover, PS was narrower in HZB and SP oocytes than in LZB (p< 0,001) and aSP (p<0,05) oocytes. Finally, we found that CD and ZPT linearly decrease with age of the woman (CD r= 0.028: p<0.01; ZPT r=0.050: p<0.0001). Conclusion Our results evidence an association in human oocytes between zona pellucida and spindle birefringence and defined morphometric parameters and a decrease of oocyte size and ZPT as a function of women's age.

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“…The human ZP has the properties of birefringence that can indicate the formation of the ordered bimolecular structures in the ZP, during oocyte maturation. The birefringence of ZP was proposed to identify competence of blastocyst formation (Madaschi et al, 2009), and implantation (Ebner et al, 2010). Madaschi et al (2009) reported higher implantation and pregnancy rates with higher ZP birefringence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of maternal ageing on ICSI outcomes and embryo development in relation to oocytes morphological characteristics of birefringent structures

Korkmaz¹,

Tekın

Sakıncı

et al. 2014

Zygote

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SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the morphological characteristics of the older reproductive aged women's oocytes and to reveal the influence of these characteristics on intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. The oocytes of women older than 35 years of age were evaluated retrospectively. Non-invasive polarization microscopy (PolScope) examinations of mature oocytes were performed by measurement of meiotic spindles' length, area and retardance and zona pellucida thickness and retardance. Fertilization and conception competence and the correlation with the birefringent structures were assessed. Two hundred and thirteen mature oocytes from 54 women were evaluated with a PolScope. Length of the meiotic spindle was shown to be related to fertilization success of women with advanced maternal age. In conclusion, the PolScope is a useful device used to identify the oocyte quality. Quantitative measurements of meiotic spindle parameters may be valuable for the selection of high-quality oocytes that have the potential for embryo development in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory of women older than 35 years of age who are mostly poor responders.

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Automatic user-independent zona pellucida imaging at the oocyte stage allows for the prediction of preimplantation development

Cited by 60 publications

References 26 publications

Polarized light microscopy-detectable structures of human oocytes and embryos are related to the likelihood of conception in IVF

Polarized light microscopy-detectable structures of human oocytes and embryos are related to the likelihood of conception in IVF

Correlation of oocyte morphometry parameters with woman’s age

Effects of maternal ageing on ICSI outcomes and embryo development in relation to oocytes morphological characteristics of birefringent structures

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