Maternal age affects the relationship of basal FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations with post-ICSI/IVF live birth.

Research Question: Does the association of basal FSH and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations with post-IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) live birth change with maternal age?

Design: A total of 2003 IVF/ICSI patients were stratified according to basal FSH/AMH in concordant favourable (CF; AMH >1 ng/ml and FSH ≤10 IU/l), concordant unfavourable (CU; AMH ≤1 ng/ml and FSH >10 IU/l), discordant with favourable AMH (DFA) and discordant with favourable FSH (DFF) groups, as well as according to age in pre-advanced maternal age (pre-AMA; <35), AMA-1 (≥35, ≤37), AMA-2 (>37, ≤40) and AMA-3 (>40). IVF/ICSI outcomes were compared among CF, CU, DFA and DFF groups, and the association of basal FSH and AMH concentrations with live birth was tested by univariate and multivariate analysis in total, pre-AMA and AMA groups, separately.

Results: Different outcome patterns were observed in discordant AMH/FSH groups from different age categories; favourable basal FSH concentrations were associated with higher delivery rates in pre-AMA patients, but with lower delivery rates in AMA groups.

The first report of pregnancies following blastocyst automated vitrification in Europe.

Embryo cryopreservation is a valuable technique in assisted reproductive technology (ART) that increases cumulative pregnancy rates and allows postponement of embryo transfer in patients with undesirable uterine or clinical conditions. Although vitrification has been considered the most efficient method to freeze oocytes and embryos, it is time-consuming and highly operator-dependent. Gavi® is the first semi-automated machine for vitrification capable of controlling crucial variables such as temperature, volume, concentration and exposure time during the vitrification process.

Maternal body mass index affects embryo morphokinetics: a time-lapse study.

Purpose: To assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on morphokinetic parameters of human embryos evaluated with time-lapse technology during in vitro culture.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of ART cycles utilizing time-lapse technology was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal BMI on morphokinetic and static morphological parameters of embryo development. The cohort of patients was divided into four groups: 593 embryos from 128 underweight women in group A; 5248 embryos from 1107 normal weight women in group B; 1053 embryos from 226 overweight women in group C; and 286 embryos from 67 obese women in group D.

Differential regulation of cumulus cell transcription during oocyte maturation in vivo and in vitro.

Differences in cumulus cell gene expression after oocyte maturation in vitro (IVM) or in vivo have been described in previous studies. However, the possible impact of follicle stage on gene expression deregulation during human oocyte IVM remains unknown. Expression of selected genes of interest was compared in cumulus cell of three classes of human cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs): a) COCs derived from human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-triggered IVM cycles, collected at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage from mid-sized follicles (4-12 mm) and matured in vitro (IVM-GV); b) COCs derived from hCG-triggered IVM cycles, collected from mid-sized follicles (4-12 mm) and matured in vivo (IVM-MII); c) COCs derived from controlled ovarian stimulation in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, collected from large/preovulatory follicles and matured in vivo (IVF-MII).

Morphokinetics of embryos developed from oocytes matured in vitro.

Purpose: In in vitro maturation (IVM) cycles primed with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), both immature and mature oocytes are retrieved from antral follicles sized 8-12 mm. Using time-lapse microscopy, we compared the morphokinetic behavior of embryos developed from oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro, testing the hypothesis that IVM affects preimplantation development. Furthermore, we extended the morphokinetic analysis of these embryos by a comparison with embryos obtained in stimulated assisted reproduction technology (ART) cycles.

Oocyte maturation: gamete-somatic cells interactions, meiotic resumption, cytoskeletal dynamics and cytoplasmic reorganization.

Background: In a growth phase occurring during most of folliculogenesis, the oocyte produces and accumulates molecules and organelles that are fundamental for the development of the preimplantation embryo. At ovulation, growth is followed by a phase of maturation that, although confined within a short temporal window, encompasses modifications of the oocyte chromosome complement and rearrangements of cytoplasmic components that are crucial for the achievement of developmental competence. Cumulus cells (CCs) are central to the process of maturation, providing the oocyte with metabolic support and regulatory cues.

Clinical outcomes from mature oocytes derived from preovulatory and antral follicles: reflections on follicle physiology and oocyte competence.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the competence of oocytes obtained from preovulatory and antral follicles.

Methods: Mature oocytes from preovulatory follicles were retrieved from women selected for standard IVF treatment (Group A). Mature oocytes from antral follicles were recovered from women undergoing hCG-primed in vitro maturation (IVM) treatment (Group B).

Mechanistic foundations of the metaphase II spindle of human oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro.

Study Question: Are morphometric and morphological parameters of the metaphase II (MII) spindle of human oocytes matured in vivo or in vitro predictive of chromosome alignment on the metaphase plate?

Summary Answer: Morphometric spindle parameters were very comparable between oocytes matured in vivo and in vitro and were unable to predict chromosome alignment, while a flattened shape of both poles was positively associated with chromosome displacement from the metaphase plate.

What Is Known Already: The relationship between MII spindle morphometry and chromosome alignment has only been sporadically investigated in human oocytes. The possible implications of spindle pole morphology are totally unrecognized.

The current challenges to efficient immature oocyte cryopreservation.

Oocyte cryopreservation represents an important tool for assisted reproductive technology. It offers the opportunity to preserve fertility in women at risk of loss of the ovarian function for various pathologies. It also represents a treatment alternative for couples that cannot benefit from embryo cryopreservation because of moral, religious, or legal constrains.

Cleavage kinetics analysis of human embryos predicts development to blastocyst and implantation.

Cleavage kinetics of human embryos is indicative of ability to develop to blastocyst and implant. Recent advances in time-lapse microscopy have opened new and important research opportunities. In this study involving infertile couples requiring standard IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, zygotes were cultured by integrated embryo-culture time-lapse microscopy to analyse cleavage times from the 2- to the 8-cell stages in relation to the ability to develop to blastocyst, expand and implant.

Cumulus cell-oocyte complexes retrieved from antral follicles in IVM cycles: relationship between COCs morphology, gonadotropin priming and clinical outcome.

Purpose: To assess retrospectively the developmental potential of different types of cumulus cell-oocyte complexes (COCs) derived from IVM cycles.

Methods: IVM cycles were performed in natural cycles or after HCG, FSH, or FSH/HCG priming. COCs recovered were morphologically characterized in different types: compact (CC) or expanded (EC) cumulus mass but including an immature oocyte, and expanded cumulus mass enclosing a mature oocyte (EC-MII).