Influence of zona pellucida thickness on fertilization, embryo implantation and birth

Marco‐Jiménez, Francisco; Naturil-Alfonso, C; Jiménez-Trigos, E.; Lavara, R.; Vicente, J.S.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.04.008

Cited by 31 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Follicle growth was estimated to be to approximately 7 mm in width and the obtained oocyte measured 150 μm. The zona pellucida (ZP) was thin (14,6 μm), but did not significantly vary from ZP witnessed in mature oocytes obtained from stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles ([21]). This result complements reports on the potential of frozen-thawed prepubertal tissue to successfully establish follicular activity [9,10] and indicates for the first time that prepubertal tissue can produce mature oocytes after xenotransplantation, even without gonadotropin stimulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant

Lotz

Liebenthron

Nichols-Burns

et al. 2014

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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BackgroundCurrent strategies in cancer treatment have markedly increased the rates of remission and survival for cancer patients, but are often associated with subsequent sterility. While there are various options available to an adult female depending on the patient’s particular situation, the only realistic option for preserving fertility in prepubertal females is to cryopreserve ovarian tissue. This is the first report of a morphologically mature oocyte collected from non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplants.MethodsOvarian tissue from a 6 year old patient suffering from nephroblastoma was removed and cryopreserved for fertility preservation. The frozen-thawed ovarian tissue fragments were xenotransplanted to bilaterally oophorectomized severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice to assess follicle development.ResultsAntral follicle formation occurred post-xenotransplantation in a single ovarian fragment without exogenous hormone stimulation. A morphologically maturing oocyte was harvested from these follicles.ConclusionsPrepubertal human ovarian follicles and oocytes can be matured after xenotransplantation even without exogenous hormone stimulation. These results indicate that tissue collected from prepubertal patients can support fertility in cancer survivors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant

Lotz

Liebenthron

Nichols-Burns

et al. 2014

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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“…The ZP plays an important role during fertilization, early embryo development, and implantation [42]. The ZP first appears in the unilaminar primary follicle and is secreted by both the oocyte and the follicular cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Mouse Germinal Vesicle Stage Oocyte Quality by Evaluating the Cumulus Layer, Zona Pellucida, and Perivitelline Space

Zhou

Liu

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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To improve the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART) for patients with ovulation problems, it is necessary to retrieve and select germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes with high developmental potential. Oocytes with high developmental potential are characterized by their ability to undergo proper maturation, fertilization, and embryo development. In this study, we analyzed morphological traits of GV stage mouse oocytes, including cumulus cell layer thickness, zona pellucida thickness, and perivitelline space width. Then, we assessed the corresponding developmental potential of each of these oocytes and found that it varies across the range measured for each morphological trait. Furthermore, by manipulating these morphological traits in vitro, we were able to determine the influence of morphological variation on oocyte developmental potential. Manually altering the thickness of the cumulus layer showed strong effects on the fertilization and embryo development potentials of oocytes, whereas manipulation of zona pellucida thickness effected the oocyte maturation potential. Our results provide a systematic detailed method for selecting GV stage oocytes based on a morphological assessment approach that would benefit for several downstream ART applications.

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“…Taken together, these findings are correlated with the expression of specific genes in the cumulus-oophorous- complex (COC) [2], which in infertile mice with defective ZP, are dependent upon the lack of genes for ZP2 and ZP3 [16], [17]. In addition, variation in the thickness of the zona pellucida has been found to correlate with fertilization [18], [19], embryo quality and implantation rates [20], [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Oocytes with a Dark Zona Pellucida Demonstrate Lower Fertilization, Implantation and Clinical Pregnancy Rates in IVF/ICSI Cycles

Shi

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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The morphological assessment of oocytes is important for embryologists to identify and select MII oocytes in IVF/ICSI cycles. Dysmorphism of oocytes decreases viability and the developmental potential of oocytes as well as the clinical pregnancy rate. Several reports have suggested that oocytes with a dark zona pellucida (DZP) correlate with the outcome of IVF treatment. However, the effect of DZP on oocyte quality, fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy outcome were not investigated in detail. In this study, a retrospective analysis was performed in 268 infertile patients with fallopian tube obstruction and/or male factor infertility. In 204 of these patients, all oocytes were surrounded by a normal zona pellucida (NZP, control group), whereas 46 patients were found to have part of their retrieved oocytes enclosed by NZP and the other by DZP (Group A). In addition, all oocytes enclosed by DZP were retrieved from 18 patients (Group B). No differences were detected between the control and group A. Compared to the control group, the rates of fertilization, good quality embryos, implantation and clinical pregnancy were significantly decreased in group B. Furthermore, mitochondria in oocytes with a DZP in both of the two study groups (A and B) were severely damaged with several ultrastructural alterations, which were associated with an increased density of the zona pellucida and vacuolization. Briefly, oocytes with a DZP affected the clinical outcome in IVF/ICSI cycles and appeared to contain more ultrastructural alterations. Thus, DZP could be used as a potential selective marker for embryologists during daily laboratory work.

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Influence of zona pellucida thickness on fertilization, embryo implantation and birth

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant

Spontaneous antral follicle formation and metaphase II oocyte from a non-stimulated prepubertal ovarian tissue xenotransplant

Assessment of Mouse Germinal Vesicle Stage Oocyte Quality by Evaluating the Cumulus Layer, Zona Pellucida, and Perivitelline Space

Oocytes with a Dark Zona Pellucida Demonstrate Lower Fertilization, Implantation and Clinical Pregnancy Rates in IVF/ICSI Cycles

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