title: Fertilization of human oocytes following cryopreservation; normal karyotypes and absence of stray chromosomes.
abstract: Survival following cryopreservation of fresh and aged human oocytes by the propanediol (PROH) procedure was observed in 51 and 73% of oocytes respectively, immediately after thawing. This survival was reduced in both types of oocytes at the time of insemination (3-4 h) to 41% in fresh and 61% in aged oocytes. Insemination of the cryopreserved and control oocytes with spermatozoa from one donor resulted in total fertilization rates similar to our in-vitro fertilization (IVF) rate for non-male factor patients. The normal fertilization rate for fresh cryopreserved oocytes was slightly lower (46%) than the rate for IVF oocytes (59%) (P < 0.05), while the abnormal fertilization rates were not significantly different (16 and 15% respectively). In contrast, a reduction in the normal fertilization rate was observed for the aged cryopreserved oocytes (13%) compared to the IVF rate (P < 0.001). Associated with this was an increase in the abnormal fertilization rate for the aged cryopreserved oocytes, which was significantly higher (47%) than the IVF rate (15%) (P < 0.001). Significant differences in the total and normal fertilization rates were observed between cryopreserved oocytes obtained from cohorts with < or = 27 (total: 84%, normal: 68%) and > 27 oocytes (total: 55%, normal: 33%) (P < 0.05). Fertilized oocytes and oocytes with abnormal or absent spindles were examined for chromosomal loss and no stray chromosomes were observed in any of these cryopreserved oocytes (n = 137). In the cryopreserved oocytes which had undergone normal fertilization, four scorable karyotypes were achieved and in all of these two sets of 23 chromosomes were observed.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biology Unit, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gook
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013997:Time Factors