title: Effects of maternal ageing on ICSI outcomes and embryo development in relation to oocytes morphological characteristics of birefringent structures.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the morphological characteristics of the older reproductive aged women's oocytes and to reveal the influence of these characteristics on intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. The oocytes of women older than 35 years of age were evaluated retrospectively. Non-invasive polarization microscopy (PolScope) examinations of mature oocytes were performed by measurement of meiotic spindles' length, area and retardance and zona pellucida thickness and retardance. Fertilization and conception competence and the correlation with the birefringent structures were assessed. Two hundred and thirteen mature oocytes from 54 women were evaluated with a PolScope. Length of the meiotic spindle was shown to be related to fertilization success of women with advanced maternal age. In conclusion, the PolScope is a useful device used to identify the oocyte quality. Quantitative measurements of meiotic spindle parameters may be valuable for the selection of high-quality oocytes that have the potential for embryo development in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory of women older than 35 years of age who are mostly poor responders.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Hospital IVF Center,Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.affiliation: Mermerdelen Mahallesi,Katibi Adil sitesi 40/A No. 12 53200 Merkez,Rize,Turkey.
authors.forename: Yesim Bayoglu
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.affiliation: Akdeniz University,Faculty of Medicine,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics,Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakinci
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Hospital IVF Center,Turkey.
authors.forename: Cihangir Mutlu
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ercan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008540:Meiosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000648:ultrastructure