Comparison of Quinn's Advantage fertilization medium and tissue culture medium 199 for in vitro maturation of oocytes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to compare the Quinn's Advantage fertilization medium (Q1) and the tissue culture medium 199 (TCM199) for in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and ammonium production during IVM.


METHODS
The immature murine oocytes were randomly added into Q1 and TCM199. Ammonium concentrations were measured at the start and after 18 hours of IVM, and the mature oocytes were fertilized and cultured into blastocysts. The blastocysts were then stained for inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm.


RESULTS
The maturation rate was higher in Q1 than in TCM199 (85.7% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.024). The fertilization and blastocyst rates were slightly higher in Q1, but not significant. Differential staining of the blastocysts showed slightly higher ICM ratio in the blastocysts derived from Q1. Mean ammonium concentrations in Q1 and TCM199 at Time 0 were 184.9 and 339.2 μg/dL, respectively (p = 0.05), and after 18 hours of IVM were 268.7 and 443.6 μg/dL, respectively (p = 0.045). Addition of ammonium chloride into Q1 adversely affects IVM.


CONCLUSIONS
Q1 is superior to TCM199 in terms of oocyte maturation, which may be due to lower ammonium concentration.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Hung
YH
Lin
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jiann-Loung
JL
Hwang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee-Wen
LW
Huang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kok-Min
KM
Seow
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: M000682@ms.skh.org.tw.
Bih-Chwen
BC
Hsieh
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chii-Ruey
CR
Tzeng
D064751:Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology
D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D003470:Culture Media
ammonium; blastocyst; in vitro maturation