Effect of a novel copper chloride gel on endometrial growth and function in healthy volunteers.

Research Question: Does the application of a micro-dose of copper chloride gel increase endometrial production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) without compromising endometrial function or producing embryo toxicity?

Design: An estimate of optimal dose was made based on cell culture studies. Ten healthy participants received an initial uterine application of placebo gel, followed by copper chloride gel (37.5 μM, 75 μM, or 150 μM dose) in a later hormone replacement cycle.

The effect of vitrification on blastocyst mitochondrial DNA dynamics and gene expression profiles.

Purpose: Does vitrification/warming affect the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and the gene expression profile of blastocysts?

Methods: Prospective cohort study in which 89 blastocysts were obtained from 50 patients between July 2017 and August 2018. mtDNA was measured in a total of 71 aneuploid blastocysts by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in an additional 8 aneuploid blastocysts cultured for 0 h after warming, and 10 aneuploid blastocysts cultured for 4-5 h after warming.

Mitochondrial DNA content decreases during in vitro human embryo development: insights into mitochondrial DNA variation in preimplantation embryos donated for research.

Objective: To assess the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) load and variation in human oocytes and during preimplantation embryo development using specimens donated for research.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Not applicable.