In vitro maturation and development of porcine oocytes cultured in a straw or dish using a portable incubator with a CO2 chamber

Oocyte collection and in vitro maturation after train transportation of human follicular fluid aspirated from resected non-stimulated ovaries of patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Immature human oocytes from resected ovaries can be used for research and fertility preservation, though it is unknown whether it is feasible to transport oocytes for these purposes. This study examined in vitro maturation (IVM) outcomes after the transportation of human follicular fluid (HFF) containing oocytes.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Oocytes obtained from the resected ovaries of seven patients were transported with HFF by railway (transportation group). Samples of HFF from the other seven patients were not transported, and IVM was performed promptly (non-transportation group). The results of oocyte retrieval and IVM were compared.

RESULTS

The average ages in the transportation and non-transportation groups were 40.1 ± 2.0 and 39.6 ± 1.8 years, respectively, and the average numbers of collected oocytes were 8.1 ± 8.4 and 5.1 ± 5.1, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the number of collected oocytes and age. The proportions of oocytes that reached meiosis II (maturation rate) after IVM were 38.6% and 69.2% in the transportation and non-transportation groups, respectively (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

In this preliminary study, the usefulness of the transportation of HFF was limited. Further studies on maintaining oocyte normality during transportation are necessary for becoming the effective method for research and clinical use.