Objective(s): Failed fertilization after intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is mainly attributed to failed oocyte activation and can be overcome by artificial oocyte activation (AOA). The present study aims to compare in vitro outcomes of ICSI following two different assisted oocyte activation chemical procedures (SrCl2 and Ionomycin) in sibling oocytes of ICSI candidates.Materials and Me...

Ovary is a dynamic organ and generates excess amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during follicular growth, development, maturation and ovulation [1]. The increased level of ROS is scavenged by antioxidant systems [2]. A moderate increase of ROS could be beneficial for oocyte meiotic maturation and reproductive outcome [3-5]. Overproduction of ROS or depletion of enzymatic antioxidant syste...

CONTEXT Our center's quality improvement optimization process on many occasions anecdotally suggested that oocyte assessments might enhance embryo assessment in predicting pregnancy chances with in vitro fertilization (IVF). OBJECTIVE To prospectively compare a morphologic oocyte grading system to standard day-3 morphologic embryo assessment. DESIGN, SETTING, PATIENTS We prospectively inves...

Over the last several decades, a number of therapies have been developed that manipulate ovarian follicle growth to improve oocyte quality and conception rates in cattle. Various strategies have been proposed to improve the responses to reproductive biotechnologies following timed artificial insemination (TAI), superovulation (SOV) or ovum pickup (OPU) programmes. During TAI protocols, final fo...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the oocyte quality in patients with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). DESIGN Self-controlled clinical study. SETTING University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S) Twenty-two patients from our assisted reproductive technology (ART) program who developed severe OHSS during their first controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm in...

We investigated the ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (OH), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to overcome the defensive capacity of cumulus cells, and elucidate the mechanism through which ROS differentially deteriorate oocyte quality. Metaphase II mouse oocytes with (n=1634) and without cumulus cells (n=1633) were treated with increasing co...