Publications by authors named "Kalliopi Chatzovoulou"
In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes represents an assisted reproductive technique that involves the minimal or absence of ovarian stimulation and is beneficial to specific groups of patients. It is based on the collection of immature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) from antral follicles, which are cultured in vitro until they reach the metaphase II (MII) stage. Once maturation is completed, IVM oocytes are normally fertilized, as during a conventional IVF protocol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmaturation of oocytes (IVM) represents an assisted reproductive technique that involves the minimal or absence of ovarian stimulation and is beneficial to specific groups of patients. These may include women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and/or patients who need a fertility preservation option before undergoing gonadotoxic treatment. However, when IVM is applied in cases where it is not recommended, it can be considered as an add-on technique, as described by the ESHRE Guideline Group on Female Fertility Preservation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch Question: How do carriers of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) respond to ovarian stimulation?
Design: A single-centre, retrospective study conducted between January 2006 and July 2021 in France. Ovarian reserve markers and ovarian stimulation cycle outcomes were compared for couples undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for maternally inherited mtDNA disease (n = 18) (mtDNA-PGT group) with a matched-control group of patients undergoing PGT for male indications (n = 96). The PGT outcomes for the mtDNA-PGT group and the follow-up of these patients in case of unsuccessful PGT was also reported.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how mitochondrial deficiencies affect the early development of human embryos, specifically during preimplantation.
- It finds that pathogenic mitochondrial variants lead to significant changes in gene expression, hindering development, cell differentiation, and overall survival.
- Although the study's sample size was small due to the rarity of affected embryos, the results indicate a clear relationship between mitochondrial DNA variations and impaired embryonic development.
Objective: To study the cyclic fertilin peptide effects on preimplantation human embryogenesis. Cyclic fertilin peptide reproduces the structure of the binding site of the sperm Fertilin β (also named A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 2: ADAM2) disintegrin domain. It binds to the oocyte membrane and increases sperm-oocyte fusion index in human and fertilization rate in mouse, providing healthy pups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - Researchers studied how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations affect embryonic development by comparing 165 normal human embryos to 16 embryos with mtDNA mutations at the cleavage stage.
- - They assessed the morphology, viability, and mtDNA content of the embryos using real-time PCR to measure mtDNA copy number.
- - The findings revealed that mtDNA mutations did not influence embryonic quality, viability, or mtDNA copy number, indicating that these mutations do not alter mtDNA metabolism during early development.