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Liu Z, Guo Y, Chen X, Lin C, Guo X, Jiang M, Liu Q. The effect of ionomycin-induced oocyte activation on multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2023; 69:245-254. [PMID: 36772853 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2023.2167621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is considered an effective method to improve clinical outcomes in patients with some forms of male factor infertility and does not increase the risk of birth defects. However, the effects of AOA on patients with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) caused by a DNAH1 mutation are still unknown. To explore the effects, our study analyzed a case with MMAF due to DNAH1 homozygous mutation that underwent testicular sperm extraction (TESE) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The case had 28 MII oocytes. The 28 oocytes were divided randomly and equally into AOA and non-AOA groups. Ionomycin was used for AOA. We compared the clinical outcomes of two groups and selected three blastulation failure embryos from each group for transcriptome analysis (Data can be accessed through GSE216618). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined with an adjusted p-value <0.05 and a |log2-fold change| ≥1. The comparison of clinical outcomes showed that the two pronuclei (2PN) rate and grade 1-2 embryo rate at day 3 were not significantly different between the two groups. Transcriptome analyses of blastulation failed embryos showed that the use of AOA had potential risks of chromosome structure defects, transcriptional regulation defects, and epigenetic defects. In conclusion, when the case with MMAF due to DNAH1 mutation underwent TESE-ICSI, ionomycin-induced oocyte activation could not improve the clinical outcomes and introduced the risks of chromosome structure defect, transcriptional regulation defect, and epigenetic defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiren Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, China
| | - Yujia Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingting Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Lin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinxin Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingting Jiang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qicai Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China
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2
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Artificial oocyte activation with ionomycin compared with A23187 among patients at risk of failed or impaired fertilization. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 46:35-45. [PMID: 36379856 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.08.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Do fertilization rates differ between intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles treated with artificial oocyte activation (AOA) using 10 µmol/l ionomycin or commercial A23187 in women at risk of failed or impaired fertilization? DESIGN This single-centre, 7-year retrospective cohort study included 157 couples with a history of total fertilization failure (TFF, 0%) or low fertilization (<30%) after ICSI, or with severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) in the male partner. Couples and underwent 171 ICSI-AOA cycles using either 10 µmol/l ionomycin or commercial A23187. The embryological and clinical outcomes were compared. RESULTS Fertilization rates in the ionomycin group were significantly higher than those in the A23187 group for all three subgroups (TFF, 46.9% versus 28.4%, P = 0.002; low fertilization, 67.7% versus 49.2%, P < 0.001; severe OAT, 66.4% versus 31.6%, P < 0.001). AOA with ionomycin significantly increased the day 3 cleavage rate (P = 0.009) when compared with A23187 in the low fertilization group, but not in the TFF or severe OAT group (both P > 0.05). The rates of day 3 good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy, implantation and live birth, and the cumulative live birth, did not differ between the two groups (all P > 0.05). A total of 64 live births resulted in 72 healthy babies born. CONCLUSIONS AOA with 10 µmol/l ionomycin may be more effective than commercial A23187 in improving oocyte activation in patients at risk of failed or impaired fertilization, especially in cases of sperm-related defects.
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Esbert M, Carmody A, Ballesteros A, Seli E, Scott RT. Calcium Ionophore A23187 treatment to rescue unfertilized oocytes: a prospective randomized analysis of sibling oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online 2022; 45:878-883. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Kashir J, Ganesh D, Jones C, Coward K. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Open 2022; 2022:hoac003. [PMID: 35261925 PMCID: PMC8894871 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oocyte activation deficiency (OAD) is attributed to the majority of cases underlying failure of ICSI cycles, the standard treatment for male factor infertility. Oocyte activation encompasses a series of concerted events, triggered by sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ), which elicits increases in free cytoplasmic calcium (Ca2+) in spatially and temporally specific oscillations. Defects in this specific pattern of Ca2+ release are directly attributable to most cases of OAD. Ca2+ release can be clinically mediated via assisted oocyte activation (AOA), a combination of mechanical, electrical and/or chemical stimuli which artificially promote an increase in the levels of intra-cytoplasmic Ca2+. However, concerns regarding safety and efficacy underlie potential risks that must be addressed before such methods can be safely widely used. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Recent advances in current AOA techniques warrant a review of the safety and efficacy of these practices, to determine the extent to which AOA may be implemented in the clinic. Importantly, the primary challenges to obtaining data on the safety and efficacy of AOA must be determined. Such questions require urgent attention before widespread clinical utilization of such protocols can be advocated. SEARCH METHODS A literature review was performed using databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, etc. using AOA, OAD, calcium ionophores, ICSI, PLCζ, oocyte activation, failed fertilization and fertilization failure as keywords. Relevant articles published until June 2019 were analysed and included in the review, with an emphasis on studies assessing large-scale efficacy and safety. OUTCOMES Contradictory studies on the safety and efficacy of AOA do not yet allow for the establishment of AOA as standard practice in the clinic. Heterogeneity in study methodology, inconsistent sample inclusion criteria, non-standardized outcome assessments, restricted sample size and animal model limitations render AOA strictly experimental. The main scientific concern impeding AOA utilization in the clinic is the non-physiological method of Ca2+ release mediated by most AOA agents, coupled with a lack of holistic understanding regarding the physiological mechanism(s) underlying Ca2+ release at oocyte activation. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The number of studies with clinical relevance using AOA remains significantly low. A much wider range of studies examining outcomes using multiple AOA agents are required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS In addition to addressing the five main challenges of studies assessing AOA safety and efficacy, more standardized, large-scale, multi-centre studies of AOA, as well as long-term follow-up studies of children born from AOA, would provide evidence for establishing AOA as a treatment for infertility. The delivery of an activating agent that can more accurately recapitulate physiological fertilization, such as recombinant PLCζ, is a promising prospect for the future of AOA. Further to PLCζ, many other avenues of physiological oocyte activation also require urgent investigation to assess other potential physiological avenues of AOA. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS D.G. was supported by Stanford University’s Bing Overseas Study Program. J.K. was supported by a Healthcare Research Fellowship Award (HF-14-16) made by Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW), alongside a National Science, Technology, and Innovation plan (NSTIP) project grant (15-MED4186-20) awarded by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The authors have no competing interests to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Celine Jones
- Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Coward
- Correspondence address. Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women’s Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OS3 9DU, UK. E-mail: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3577-4041
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Fazeli E, Hosseini A, Heidari MH, Farifteh-Nobijari F, Salehi M, Abbaszadeh HA, Nazarian H, Shams Mofarahe Z, Ayoubi S, Hosseini S, Shayeghpour M, Bandehpour M, Ghaffari Novin M. Meiosis Resumption of Immature Human Oocytes following Treatment with Calcium Ionophore In Vitro. CELL JOURNAL 2021; 23:109-118. [PMID: 33650827 PMCID: PMC7944122 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2021.7130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Objective: In vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocytes is used to induce meiosis progression in immature retrieved
oocytes. Calcium (Ca2+) has a central role in oocyte physiology. Passage through meiosis phase to another phase
is controlled by increasing intracellular Ca2+. Therefore, the current research was conducted to evaluate the role of
calcium ionophore (CI) on human oocyte IVM. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, immature human oocytes were obtained from 216 intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. After ovarian stimulation, germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes were collected and
categorized into two groups: with and without 10 µM CI treatment. Next, oocyte nuclear maturation was assessed after
24–28 hours of culture. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assess the
transcript profile of several oocyte maturation-related genes (MAPK3, CCNB1, CDK1, and cyclin D1 [CCND1]) and
apoptotic-related genes (BCL-2, BAX, and Caspase-3). Oocyte glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS)
levels were assessed using Cell Tracker Blue and 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) fluorescent
dye staining. Oocyte spindle configuration and chromosome alignment were analysed by immunocytochemistry. Results: The metaphase II (MII) oocyte rate was higher in CI‐treated oocytes (73.53%) compared to the control
(67.43%) group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.13). The mRNA expression profile of oocyte
maturation-related genes (MAPK3, CCNB1, CDK1, and CCND1) (P<0.05) and the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 gene was
remarkably up-regulated after treatment with CI (P=0.001). The pro-apoptotic BAX and Caspase-3 relative expression
levels did not change significantly. The CI‐treated oocyte cytoplasm had significantly higher GSH and lower ROS
(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in meiotic spindle assembly and chromosome alignment
between CI treatment and the control group oocytes. Conclusion: The finding of the current study supports the role of CI in meiosis resumption of human oocytes.
(Registration Number: IRCT20140707018381N4)
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Fazeli
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ahmad Hosseini
- Mehr Fertility Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Hasan Heidari
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fattaneh Farifteh-Nobijari
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Genetics and In Vitro Assisted Reproductive (GIVAR) Center, Erfan Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Salehi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran
| | - Hojjat-Allah Abbaszadeh
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Nazarian
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Shams Mofarahe
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saman Ayoubi
- Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Centre, Sara Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Hosseini
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Shayeghpour
- Genetics and In Vitro Assisted Reproductive (GIVAR) Center, Erfan Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Iran
| | - Marefat Ghaffari Novin
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Xu Z, Yao G, Niu W, Fan H, Ma X, Shi S, Jin H, Song W, Sun Y. Calcium Ionophore (A23187) Rescues the Activation of Unfertilized Oocytes After Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Chromosome Analysis of Blastocyst After Activation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:692082. [PMID: 34335469 PMCID: PMC8320372 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.692082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium is a crucial factor in regulating the biological behavior of cells. The imbalance of calcium homeostasis in cytoplasm will cause abnormal behavior of cells and the occurrence of diseases. In intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle, the dysfunction of oocyte activation caused by insufficient release of Ca2+ from endoplasmic reticulum is one of the main reasons for repeated fertilization failure. Calcium ionophore (A23187) is a highly selective calcium ionophore, which can form stable complex with Ca2+ and pass through the cell membrane at will, effectively increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels. It has been reported that calcium ionophore (A23187) can activate oocytes and obtain normal embryos. However, there are few studies on unfertilized oocytes after calcium ionophore (A23187) rescue activation in ICSI cycle. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of calcium ionophore (A23187) rescue activation on the activation of unfertilized oocytes, embryonic development potential, embryonic development timing and chromosomal aneuploidy, and to compare and analyze the clinical data of patients with calcium ionophore (A23187) activation in clinical application. The results showed that a certain proportion of high-quality blastocysts with normal karyotype could be obtained after calcium ionophore (A23187) rescue activation of unfertilized oocytes, and it did not have a significant effect on the timing of embryo development. In clinical practice, direct activation with calcium ionophore (A23187) after ICSI was better than rescue activation the next day. In conclusions, the studies on the effectiveness and safety of calcium ionophore (A23187) rescue activation for oocytes with ICSI fertilization failure can enable some patients to obtain usable, high-quality embryos during the first ICSI cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guidong Yao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guidong Yao, ; Yingpu Sun,
| | - Wenbin Niu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huiying Fan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xueshan Ma
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Senlin Shi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Haixia Jin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenyan Song
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yingpu Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guidong Yao, ; Yingpu Sun,
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Lu Y, Bonte D, Ferrer-Buitrago M, Popovic M, Neupane J, Van der Jeught M, Leybaert L, De Sutter P, Heindryckx B. Culture conditions affect Ca2+ release in artificially activated mouse and human oocytes. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 30:991-1001. [DOI: 10.1071/rd17145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Inconsistent fertilisation and pregnancy rates have been reported by different laboratories after application of ionomycin as a clinical method of assisted oocyte activation (AOA) to overcome fertilisation failure. Using both mouse and human oocytes, in the present study we investigated the effects of ionomycin and Ca2+ concentrations on the pattern of Ca2+ release and embryonic developmental potential. In the mouse, application of 5 μM ionomycin in potassium simplex optimisation medium (KSOM) or 10 µM ionomycin in Ca2+-free KSOM significantly reduced the Ca2+ flux and resulted in failure of blastocyst formation compared with 10 μM ionomycin in KSOM. Increasing the Ca2+ concentration up to three- or sixfold did not benefit mouse embryonic developmental potential. Similarly, 10 μM ionomycin-induced rise in Ca2+ in human oocytes increased with increasing total calcium concentrations in the commercial medium. Remarkably, we observed significantly reduced mouse embryo development when performing AOA over a period of 10 min in Quinn’s AdvantageTM Fertilisation medium (Cooper Surgical) and IVFTM medium (Vitrolife) compared with Sydney IVF COOK cleavage medium (Cook Ireland), using the same sequential culture system from the post-activation stage to blastocyst formation stage in different AOA groups. In conclusion, concentrations of both ionomycin and Ca2+ in culture media used during AOA can have significant effects on Ca2+ release and further embryonic developmental potential.
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Ferrer-Buitrago M, Bonte D, De Sutter P, Leybaert L, Heindryckx B. Single Ca 2+ transients vs oscillatory Ca 2+ signaling for assisted oocyte activation: limitations and benefits. Reproduction 2017; 155:R105-R119. [PMID: 29122969 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Oocyte activation is a calcium (Ca2+)-dependent process that has been investigated in depth, in particular, regarding its impact on assisted reproduction technology (ART). Following a standard model of signal transduction, Ca2+ drives the meiotic progression upon fertilization in all species studied to date. However, Ca2+ changes during oocyte activation are species specific, and they can be classified in two modalities based on the pattern defined by the Ca2+ signature: a single Ca2+ transient (e.g. amphibians) or repetitive Ca2+ transients called Ca2+ oscillations (e.g. mammals). Interestingly, assisted oocyte activation (AOA) methods have highlighted the ability of mammalian oocytes to respond to single Ca2+ transients with normal embryonic development. In this regard, there is evidence supporting that cellular events during the process of oocyte activation are initiated by different number of Ca2+ oscillations. Moreover, it was proposed that oocyte activation and subsequent embryonic development are dependent on the total summation of the Ca2+ peaks, rather than to a specific frequency pattern of Ca2+ oscillations. The present review aims to demonstrate the complexity of mammalian oocyte activation by describing the series of Ca2+-linked physiological events involved in mediating the egg-to-embryo transition. Furthermore, mechanisms of AOA and the limitations and benefits associated with the application of different activation agents are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Ferrer-Buitrago
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Davina Bonte
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Petra De Sutter
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Leybaert
- Physiology GroupDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Björn Heindryckx
- Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST)Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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9
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Murugesu S, Saso S, Jones BP, Bracewell-Milnes T, Athanasiou T, Mania A, Serhal P, Ben-Nagi J. Does the use of calcium ionophore during artificial oocyte activation demonstrate an effect on pregnancy rate? A meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 2017; 108:468-482.e3. [PMID: 28865547 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the effect, if any, of calcium ionophore as a method of artificial oocyte activation (AOA) on pregnancy outcomes and fertilization rates. DESIGN Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, prospective observational and retrospective trials, case reports, and a case-control trial. SETTING University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENT(S) Infertile couples undergoing fertilization treatment. INTERVENTION(S) Use of calcium ionophore during AOA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Odds ratio (OR) as the summary statistic for binary variables was used. Both a fixed and random effects model were applied. Subgroup analysis using quantitative methodology (risk of bias, metaregression) and graphical comparison (funnel plot) assessed statistical heterogeneity. RESULT(S) Fourteen studies were selected. AOA with calcium ionophore increased the overall clinical pregnancy rate (per ET; OR = 3.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65-7.37) and the live birth rate (OR = 3.33; 95% CI, 1.50-7.39). This effect of adding calcium ionophore was further demonstrated with fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst, and implantation rates. Subgroup analysis further supported our findings (studies where n > 10 in both arms; random and fixed effects models). A metaregression (beta = -.145) found that as the quality of the study increases, the effect of calcium ionophore is significantly more pronounced with regards to overall pregnancy rate. CONCLUSION(S) AOA with calcium ionophore treatment after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) results in a statistically significant improvement in fertilization, cleavage, blastulation, and implantation rates, as well as overall pregnancy and live-birth rates. The conclusion of this systematic review, demonstrating a strong effect of calcium ionophore use, is reassuring and promising, particularly for couples for whom ICSI alone yields poor fertilization rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sughashini Murugesu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Srdjan Saso
- Division of Surgery and Cancer, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Benjamin P Jones
- Division of Surgery and Cancer, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Bracewell-Milnes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thanos Athanasiou
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anastasia Mania
- Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Serhal
- Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jara Ben-Nagi
- Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, London, United Kingdom
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Yeste M, Jones C, Amdani SN, Coward K. Oocyte Activation and Fertilisation: Crucial Contributors from the Sperm and Oocyte. Results Probl Cell Differ 2017; 59:213-239. [PMID: 28247051 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44820-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This chapter intends to summarise the importance of sperm- and oocyte-derived factors in the processes of sperm-oocyte binding and oocyte activation. First, we describe the initial interaction between sperm and the zona pellucida, with particular regard to acrosome exocytosis. We then describe how sperm and oocyte membranes fuse, with special reference to the discovery of the sperm protein IZUMO1 and its interaction with the oocyte membrane receptor JUNO. We then focus specifically upon oocyte activation, the fundamental process by which the oocyte is alleviated from metaphase II arrest by a sperm-soluble factor. The identity of this sperm factor has been the source of much debate recently, although mounting evidence, from several different laboratories, provides strong support for phospholipase C ζ (PLCζ), a sperm-specific phospholipase. Herein, we discuss the evidence in support of PLCζ and evaluate the potential role of other candidate proteins, such as post-acrosomal WW-binding domain protein (PAWP/WBP2NL). Since the cascade of downstream events triggered by the sperm-borne oocyte activation factor heavily relies upon specialised cellular machinery within the oocyte, we also discuss the critical role of oocyte-borne factors, such as the inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), protein kinase C (PKC), store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), during the process of oocyte activation. In order to place the implications of these various factors and processes into a clinical context, we proceed to describe their potential association with oocyte activation failure and discuss how clinical techniques such as the in vitro maturation of oocytes may affect oocyte activation ability. Finally, we contemplate the role of artificial oocyte activating agents in the clinical rescue of oocyte activation deficiency and discuss options for more endogenous alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Yeste
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Campany, 69, Campus Montilivi, E-17071, Girona, Spain. .,Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
| | - Celine Jones
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Siti Nornadhirah Amdani
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
| | - Kevin Coward
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK
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Tosti E, Ménézo Y. Gamete activation: basic knowledge and clinical applications. Hum Reprod Update 2016; 22:420-39. [PMID: 27278231 PMCID: PMC4917743 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmw014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The first clues to the process of gamete activation date back to nearly 60 years ago. The mutual activation of gametes is a crucial event during fertilization. In the testis and ovaries, spermatozoa and oocytes are in a state of meiotic and metabolic quiescence and require reciprocal signals in order to undergo functional changes that lead to competence for fertilization. First, the oocyte activates sperm by triggering motility, chemoattraction, binding and the acrosome reaction, culminating with the fusion of the two plasma membranes. At the end of this cascade of events, collectively known as sperm capacitation, sperm-induced oocyte activation occurs, generating electrical, morphological and metabolic modifications in the oocyte. Objective and rationale The aim of this review is to provide the current state of knowledge regarding the entire process of gamete activation in selected specific animal models that have contributed to our understanding of fertilization in mammals, including humans. Here we describe in detail the reciprocal induction of the two activation processes, the molecules involved and the mechanisms of cell interaction and signal transduction that ultimately result in successful embryo development and creation of a new individual. Search methods We carried out a literature survey with no restrictions on publication date (from the early 1950s to March 2016) using PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar and Web of Knowledge by utilizing common keywords applied in the field of fertilization and embryo development. We also screened the complete list of references published in the most recent research articles and relevant reviews published in English (both animal and human studies) on the topics investigated. Outcomes Literature on the principal animal models demonstrates that gamete activation is a pre-requisite for successful fertilization, and is a process common to all species studied to date. We provide a detailed description of the dramatic changes in gamete morphology and behavior, the regulatory molecules triggering gamete activation and the intracellular ions and second messengers involved in active metabolic pathways in different species. Recent scientific advances suggest that artificial gamete activation may represent a novel technique to improve human IVF outcomes, but this approach requires caution. Wider implications Although controversial, manipulation of gamete activation represents a promising tool for ameliorating the fertilization rate in assisted reproductive technologies. A better knowledge of mechanisms that transform the quiescent oocyte into a pluripotent cell may also provide new insights for the clinical use of stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Tosti
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples 80121, Italy
| | - Yves Ménézo
- London Fertility Associates, 104 Harley Street, London WIG7JD, UK
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Nikiforaki D, Vanden Meerschaut F, de Roo C, Lu Y, Ferrer-Buitrago M, de Sutter P, Heindryckx B. Effect of two assisted oocyte activation protocols used to overcome fertilization failure on the activation potential and calcium releasing pattern. Fertil Steril 2016; 105:798-806.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Ebner T, Montag M. Artificial oocyte activation: evidence for clinical readiness. Reprod Biomed Online 2016; 32:271-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Rubino P, Viganò P, Luddi A, Piomboni P. The ICSI procedure from past to future: a systematic review of the more controversial aspects. Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:194-227. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Yeste M, Jones C, Amdani SN, Patel S, Coward K. Oocyte activation deficiency: a role for an oocyte contribution? Hum Reprod Update 2015; 22:23-47. [DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmv040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Phospholipase C-zeta deficiency as a cause for repetitive oocyte fertilization failure during ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization with ICSI: a case report. J Assist Reprod Genet 2015; 32:1415-9. [PMID: 26174123 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-015-0531-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to describe impaired oocyte fertilization from phospholipase C-zeta (PLC-ζ) deficiency in normal-appearing sperm that was successfully treated using calcium (Ca(2+)) ionophore with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of oocytes matured in vitro. METHODS An infertile couple undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) experienced failed oocyte fertilization following ICSI with normal-appearing sperm. A semen sample collected from the patient was used to assess the expression of sperm PLC- ζ protein by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence and PLC-ζ bioactivity by an in vitro model of Ca(2+) release. A second IVF cycle was performed using Ca(2+) ionophore with ICSI to enhance Ca(2+)-induced oocyte activation of oocytes matured in vitro. RESULTS Sperm PLC-ζ protein deficiency was demonstrated by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence and confirmed by reduced PLC-ζ bioactivity using an in vitro model of Ca(2+) release. Nevertheless, with this sperm and supplementation of Ca(2+) ionophore following ICSI, fertilization of four of six oocytes matured in vitro was obtained. In addition, four embryos underwent cleavage and two of them reached the blastocyst stage. Transfer of these blastocysts into the uterus led to a single pregnancy and live birth. CONCLUSIONS Deficiency of PLC-ζ in normal-appearing human sperm is associated with impaired Ca(2+)-dependent oocyte activation during ICSI. Under this condition, use of Ca(2+) ionophore following ICSI of oocytes matured in vitro improves embryo developmental competence, possibly through the activation of Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms governing fertilization and preimplantation embryogenesis.
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van Blerkom J, Cohen J, Johnson M. A plea for caution and more research in the ‘experimental’ use of ionophores in ICSI. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 30:323-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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