Effect of micro-environment maintenance on embryo culture after in-vitro fertilization: comparison of top-load mini incubator and conventional front-load incubator.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of microenvironment maintenance on embryo culture and clinical results using two types of incubators.


METHODS
Temperature and oxygen concentration in a mini-incubator and a conventional incubator were compared following a 5-s door opening/closing procedure. Embryos of 30 in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cases were randomly allocated to either one of the incubator, cultured, and the early-stage good embryo formation rate and the good blastocyst formation rate were compared, as indicators for micro-environment maintenance ability.


RESULTS
Temperature recovery after a 5-s door opening/closing procedure was approximately 5 min for the mini-incubator and 30 min for the conventional incubator. The oxygen concentration return was significantly improved in the mini-incubator (3.0 +/- 0 min) compared with the conventional incubator (7.8 +/- 0.9 min). Both the early-stage good embryo formation rate and the good blastocyst formation rate were significantly higher in the mini-incubator (39.5% and 15.1%) than the conventional incubator (28.4% and 7.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
The microenvironment maintenance ability of incubators appears to significantly influence the formation of good embryos.
Fujiwara
Mutsuko
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta-Tsukinowa-cho, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan.
Takahashi
Kentaro
K
Izuno
Mika
M
Duan
Ya Ru
YR
Kazono
Maya
M
Kimura
Fuminori
F
Noda
Yoichi
Y
D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007185:Incubators; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen