title: Zona pellucida birefringence and meiotic spindle visualisation of human oocytes are not influenced by IVM technology.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the presence of the meiotic spindle and zona pellucida (ZP) birefringence with morphology of in vivo- and in vitro-matured human oocytes. Germinal vesicles (n=47) and MI (n=38) oocytes obtained from stimulated ovaries of patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) underwent IVM. Using a PolScope (OCTAX PolarAID; Octax, Herbon, Germany), the presence of spindles and ZP birefringence was assessed in both in vivo-matured (n=56) and IVM (n=56) oocytes. In addition, the morphology of each matured oocyte was evaluated microscopically. There were insignificant differences for ZP birefringence and meiotic spindle between the in vivo-matured and IVM MII oocytes. Subanalysis revealed that the rates of morphologically abnormal oocytes did not differ significantly between the two groups, except in the case of irregular shape (P=0.001), refractile body (P=0.001) and fragmented polar body (P=0.03), which were higher in IVM oocytes. In the case of in vivo-matured oocytes, a significantly higher percentage of oocytes with intracytoplasmic and both intra- and extracytoplasmic abnormalities have a low birefringent ZP (P=0.007 and P=0.02, respectively). There was no relationship between morphological abnormalities and spindle detection. The findings suggest that clinical IVM is a safe technology that maintains the high maturation rate and integrity of oocytes. In addition, the use of the non-invasive PolScope is recommended for the detection of oocytes most suitable for ICSI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 8247679433, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 8247679433, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 8247679433, Iran.
authors.forename: Sareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashourzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 8247679433, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahimipour
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001718:Birefringence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000648:ultrastructure*