title: Human oocyte chromosome analysis: complicated cases and major pitfalls.
abstract: Human oocytes that remained unfertilized in programmes of assisted reproduction have been analysed cytogenetically for more than 20 years to assess the incidence of aneuploidy in female gametes. However, the results obtained so far are not indisputable as a consequence of difficulties in evaluating oocyte chromosome preparations. Because of the lack of guidelines, we decided to summarize for the first time, the possible pitfalls in human oocyte chromosome analysis. Therefore, we screened the material from our previous studies and compiled representative, complicated cases with recommendations for their cytogenetic classification. We point out that maturity and size of the oocyte are important parameters and that fixation artefacts, as well as the particular structure of oocyte chromosomes, may predispose one to misinterpretations. Moreover, phenomena related to oocyte activation and fertilization are illustrated and explained. This compilation may help to avoid major problems in future studies and contribute to a more precise, and uniform assessment of human oocyte chromosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, 89075 Ulm, Germany. bernd.rosenbusch@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosenbusch
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Hans Wilhelm
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Michelmann
mesh_terms: D002842:Chromatids / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011123:Polyploidy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016707:Tissue Fixation
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin
references.citation: J Obstet Gynaecol (Tokyo 1995). 1995 Dec;21(6):601-7
references.pmid: 8640472
references.citation: Hum Genet. 1993 Jan;90(5):533-41
references.pmid: 8428752
references.citation: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2007 Jan;130(1):73-83
references.pmid: 16650520
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 2002 Sep;17(9):2394-401
references.pmid: 12202430
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1986 Dec;1(8):547-51
references.pmid: 3818913
references.citation: J Genet. 2007 Aug;86(2):173-5
references.pmid: 17968146
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1988 Jul;3(5):645-9
references.pmid: 3139703
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 1991 Nov;56(5):874-80
references.pmid: 1936321
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1990 Aug;5(6):703-7
references.pmid: 2254403
references.citation: J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1990 Dec;7(6):341-6
references.pmid: 2077088
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1989 Jul;4(5):568-73
references.pmid: 2794016
references.citation: Hum Reprod Update. 2005 Jan-Feb;11(1):15-32
references.pmid: 15569701
references.citation: Cytogenet Cell Genet. 2000;89(3-4):189-91
references.pmid: 10965120
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1993 May;8(5):744-51
references.pmid: 8314971
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 2006 Nov;21(11):2739-42
references.pmid: 16982661
references.citation: Hum Genet. 1986 Dec;74(4):441-3
references.pmid: 3793107
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 2002 Sep;17(9):2388-93
references.pmid: 12202429
references.citation: Am J Hum Genet. 1997 Jul;61(1):23-32
references.pmid: 9245981
references.citation: J Assist Reprod Genet. 2000 May;17(5):253-9
references.pmid: 10976411
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 2006 Feb;85(2):302-7
references.pmid: 16595204