The effect of extended culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes in follicular fluid during in vitro fertilisation cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical and biological effect of the preincubation of oocytes in follicular fluid prior to IVF and ICSI cycles.


METHODS
A series of patients were treated by the preincubation of oocytes in the patients' follicular fluid for 3 h after oocyte retrieval followed by processing with standard protocols. Control oocytes were preincubated in normal IVF culture medium. Fluorescence techniques were used to examine oocyte mitochondrial membrane potential.


RESULTS
Fertilisation, pregnancy, and implantation rates were all significantly improved after the preincubation of oocytes in follicular fluid. Further tests suggested that differences in pH between follicular fluid and artificial culture medium may be critical to these differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Preincubation of human oocytes in follicular fluid improves the results after IVF. This may be partly due to the use of a non-"physiological" pH in artificial culture media during in vitro fertilisation procedures.
Wilding
Martin
M
Centre for Reproductive Biology, Clinica Villa del Sole, Via Manzoni 15, 80126 Naples, Italy. martinwilding@hotmail.com
Singer
Michael
M
Fehr
Peter
P
Haeberlin
Felix
F
Roth
Felix
F
Lachat
Remo
R
Di Matteo
Loredana
L
Capobianco
Clemente
C
Dale
Brian
B
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome