Role of total antioxidant capacity in the differential growth of human embryos in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the relationship of early human embryonic development parameters with day 1 culture media total antioxidant levels (day 1 TAC).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Patients undergoing assisted reproduction (ART) in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Patients undergoing conventional IVF (n = 153; 167 cycles) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; n = 105; 116 cycles) were included. Both fertilization and early cultures were performed in human tubal fluid (HTF) with 5% serum substitute supplement.


METHODS
Levels of total antioxidants in the central well (sample) and the outer well (control) of each embryo culture dish were measured.


METHODS
Fertilization rate and embryo quality at days 3 and 5 were recorded for each cycle. Age, parity, and demographic features were also compared.


RESULTS
After controlling for all demographic and clinical variables, day 1 TAC was related to fertilization rates in both groups of patients. Day 1 TAC was significantly related to high (>7) day 3 cell number, low (<10%) fragmentation rate, and blastocyst development rate in both conventional IVF and ICSI cycles. Day 1 TAC was related to pregnancy in ICSI but not conventional IVF cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
Day1 TAC appears to be an important biochemical marker for early embryonic growth. Decreased embryonic fragmentation, enhanced cleavage rate, and increased blastocyst development rate may be partially related to day 1 TAC in the culture media. Whether this relationship is a cause or effect needs further assessment.
Bedaiwy
Mohamed
M
Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Agarwal
Ashok
A
Said
Tamer M
TM
Goldberg
Jeffery M
JM
Sharma
Rakesh K
RK
Worley
Sarah
S
Falcone
Tommaso
T
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000975:Antioxidants; D003470:Culture Media