A prospective randomized sibling-oocyte study of two media systems for culturing cleavage-stage embryos-impact on fertilization rate.
OBJECTIVE
Although several media systems have been developed, data from prospective randomised clinical studies are still lacking. In the present study we compared the effects of 2 different media systems on embryo morphology and development at days 2/3 using sibling oocytes.


METHODS
In this prospective sibling-split trial, 1206 oocytes from 110 women were divided via alternate allocation to fertilization and culture in media system A (G-IVF (TM) v5 PLUS/ G-1(TM) v5 PLUS) or for fertilization and culture in media system B (Universal IVF medium/EmbryoAssist (TM)).


RESULTS
The use of media system A significantly increased the normal fertilization rate (73.5% versus 67.2%; p = 0.030) and embryo utilization rate (55.5% versus 42.9%; p = 0.001), whereas polyploidy and embryo quality were similar in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The different impacts on fertilization and early embryo development between the two commercially available and commonly used media systems show the importance of evaluation of the efficacy of existing sequential culture media and the need to further improve media for in vitro development of human embryos.
Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
Fredwell
F
Hambiliki
Petra
P
Sandell
Fatma
F
Yaldir
Anneli
A
Stavreus-Evers
D000328:Adult; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
D003470:Culture Media