title: In-vitro culture of human embryos with mechanical micro-vibration increases implantation rates.
abstract: The in-vitro culture of human embryos in a medium subjected to regular short intervals of mechanical agitation leads to increased development rates. This type of treatment tries to mimic conditions in nature whereby oviductal fluid is mechanically agitated by the epithelial cilia. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that an embryo developing in vivo is naturally exposed to constant vibrations of around 6Hz with the periodically repeating increase to 20Hz. This review covers the history of this question and in this light offers an explanation through biological concept for one of the most recent developments in this area: in-vitro culture of human embryos with mechanical micro-vibration. The effect of mechanical micro-vibration on embryos during their in-vitro culture was examined. Pregnancy rates after the transfer of embryos in the group with in-vitro culture under mechanical vibration were increased.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, Ulm, Germany. v.isachenko@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Isachenko
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maettner
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sterzik
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strehler
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kreinberg
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hancke
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Evgenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isachenko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D014732:Vibration