title: How to Achieve High-Quality Oocytes? The Key Role of Myo-Inositol and Melatonin.
abstract: Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have experienced growing interest from infertile patients seeking to become pregnant. The quality of oocytes plays a pivotal role in determining ART outcomes. Although many authors have studied how supplementation therapy may affect this important parameter for both in vivo and in vitro models, data are not yet robust enough to support firm conclusions. Regarding this last point, in this review our objective has been to evaluate the state of the art regarding supplementation with melatonin and myo-inositol in order to improve oocyte quality during ART. On the one hand, the antioxidant effect of melatonin is well known as being useful during ovulation and oocyte incubation, two occasions with a high level of oxidative stress. On the other hand, myo-inositol is important in cellular structure and in cellular signaling pathways. Our analysis suggests that the use of these two molecules may significantly improve the quality of oocytes and the quality of embryos: melatonin seems to raise the fertilization rate, and myo-inositol improves the pregnancy rate, although all published studies do not fully agree with these conclusions. However, previous studies have demonstrated that cotreatment improves these results compared with melatonin alone or myo-inositol alone. We recommend that further studies be performed in order to confirm these positive outcomes in routine ART treatment.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore Giovanni
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6871-6097
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Unit of Diabetology and Endocrino-Metabolic Diseases, Hospital for Emergency Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossetti
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Agnese Maria Chiara
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Research Centre of Motor Activity and Metabolic Rehabilitation in Diabetes (CRAMD), University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7113-2372
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Vignera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Research Centre of Motor Activity and Metabolic Rehabilitation in Diabetes (CRAMD), University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosita Angela
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Condorelli
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sapia
authors.affiliation: Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio Simone
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1543-2802
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.affiliation: Unit of Diabetology and Endocrino-Metabolic Diseases, Hospital for Emergency Cannizzaro, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buscema