Fertilization and Embryo Culture

Trounson, Alan

doi:10.1007/978-1-4471-1664-6_4

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Glycosidases such as a-amylase and hyaluronidase have been reported to be present in the environment of the spermatozoa, and a-amylase is present in cervical mucus (Schumacher, 1975). a-Amylase can be used to accelerate spontaneous semen liquefaction, and hyaluronidase has been used to dissociate corona radiata follicular cells from the oocyte in in-vitro fertilization (TVF) procedures (Trounson, 1989;Vermeiden et al, 1989). We used an enzyme cocktail containing bromelin, a-amylase and hyaluronidase to liquefy cervical mucus in PCT and compared the sperm concentrations obtained to the sperm counts obtained in the Aspiglaire before liquefaction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative post-coital test: sperm counts in cervical mucus after enzymatic liquefaction

1996

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The post-coital test involves direct microscopic examination of sperm number and motility in cervical mucus. The results depend on the quality of the mucus and the distribution of spermatozoa within the sample. To progress from such qualitative data to quantitative measurements of the spermatozoa present in post-coital mucus, we have developed methods to measure sperm concentrations in enzymatically liquefied post-coital cervical mucus. The mucus score and sperm motility were measured prior to mucus liquefaction, and, together with sperm concentration, they allowed the calculation of the total number of motile spermatozoa present A combination of bromelin and glycosidases proved to be more efficient in achieving reliable mucus liquefaction than treatment with bromelin alone, and was used to liquefy a series of 36 post-coital test samples. Total sperm numbers ranged between 19X10 3 and 16.8 X10 6 . Of the samples, 75% contained OxlO 6 spermatozoa, and 39% contained <1X1O* spermatozoa. Sperm motility was very high in these samples, except for a distinct subset of samples (19%) in which the total sperm motility was markedly decreased (<20%). The measurement of sperm concentration in liquefied cervical mucus will help to determine normal values for the post-coital test, and to estimate the number of motile spermatozoa reaching the upper female genital tract.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative post-coital test: sperm counts in cervical mucus after enzymatic liquefaction

1996

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“…microdroplets) culture system (Trounson, 1988), a number which may far exceed that likely to reach the ampulla of Fallopian tubes in vivo during the time window for fertilization ( Figure 5 ) . There could be differences in patient selection, or improvements or optimization of IVF conditions may increasingly mask the natural dysfunction in vitro.…”

Section: The Use Of Human In Vitro Fertilization (Ivf) Procedures To mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, IVF utilizes a population of 50 000 to 500 000 motile sperm for insemination of oocytes in a 1 ml or less (e.g. microdroplets) culture system (Trounson, 1988), a number which may far exceed that likely to reach the ampulla of Fallopian tubes in vivo during the time window for fertilization ( Figure 5 ) . Moreover, the IVF system may relieve human gametes of substances found in the female reproductive tract which might actively interfere with normal fertilization in some cases of idiopathic infertility.…”

Section: The Use Of Non-living Human Oocytes To Evaluate the Human Spmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fertilization failure and dysfunctions as possible causes for human idiopathic infertility

Chan

Tucker

2009

Andrologia

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Summary. Consideration of the most common currently practiced laboratory assays, for human spermatozoal fertility are discussed, with reference to the relevance of such assays to success or failure in human in vitro fertilization (IVF). Such IVF therapy should be the definitive challenge for human spermatozoal fertilization ability. However, when fertilization fails, is polyspermic, or is suboptimal, then questions concerning the step or steps in the process of fertilization which are dysfunctional remain unanswered. Quite possibly new assays need to be devised to address these problems, while in the meantime our present laboratory assay systems need to be improved to discern those defects in fertilization which operate in many cases of human idiopathic infertility.

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“…Occasionally IVF and GIFT may be combined, as when early embryos resulting from fertilization in the laboratory are transferred to the fallopian tubes. Newer techniques of fertilization for treating infertility due to sperm abnormalities include microinjection of sperm directly into the oocyte or insemination after breaking the zona pellucida, the oocyte's outer layer (37). Other modifications of the treatment cycle have been introduced in an effort to improve the relatively low IVF pregnancy rates.…”

Section: Treatment Of Infertility By Assisted Conceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%