title: In vitro development of human oocytes after parthenogenetic activation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare directly in vitro developmental competence between parthenogenetically activated and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-fertilized oocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  For each patient, three metaphase II oocytes were randomized to the ICSI procedure, while n-3 were allocated to parthenogenetic activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital infertility unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients, aged 35.2 +/- 3.3 years (mean +/- SD) selected for ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  After 1 hour from denudation, oocytes were either fertilized by ICSI (n = 114) or chemically activated (n = 104). Fertilized and activated oocytes were cultured for up to 3 and 5 days, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Development rate, cell number, and morphological grade during culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups showed no significant differences between rates of fertilization and parthenogenetic activation, development, and blastomere number on days 2 and 3 of culture. However, parthenotes showed a lower morphological grade, and a significantly lower proportion went on cleaving to day 3, when only activated rather than total numbers of oocytes were considered. On day 5 after activation, nine oocytes (8.6%) reached the blastocyst stage, representing 12.9% of parthenotes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since most parameters examined in this study were similar between activated and fertilized oocytes, parthenogenetic activation may be a useful tool for the preclinical evaluation of experimental procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Neonatology, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli and Regina Elena, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paffoni
authors.forename: Tiziana A L
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brevini
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somigliana
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Restelli
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010312:Parthenogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*