Comparison of static culture, micro-vibration culture, and micro-vibration culture with co-culture in poor ovarian responders.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to compare the effects of static culture, dynamic culture, and the combination of dynamic culture with specialized surfaces involving co-culture on human embryonic development. Embryos cultured using conventional static culture (SC) techniques served as a control group. We compared dynamic culture using micro-vibration culture (MVC) and micro-vibration with co-culture (MCoC), in which autologous cumulus cells were used as a specialized surface.


METHODS
We conducted a chart review of patients who were treated between January 2011 and November 2014 in order to compare embryonic development rates and pregnancy rates among the groups. Zygotes were cultured in micro-droplets, and embryos were subsequently selected for transfer. Some surplus embryos were cryopreserved, and the others were cultured for blastocyst development. A micro-vibrator was set at the frequency of 42 Hz for duration of 5 seconds per 60 minutes to facilitate embryo development.


RESULTS
No significant differences among the groups were present in patient's characteristics. However, the clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the MVC group and the MCoC group than in the SC group. No significant differences were found in the blastocyst development rate between the SC group and the MVC group, but the blastocyst development rate in the MCoC group was significantly higher than in the SC and MVC groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly increased by the application of micro-vibration to the embryonic cultures of poor responders. The blastocyst development rate was significantly increased by the application of MCoC to surplus embryos.
Maria Fertility Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Yong Soo
YS
Hur
Maria Fertility Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Eun Kyung
EK
Ryu
Maria Fertility Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
San Hyun
SH
Yoon
Maria Fertility Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung Sil
KS
Lim
Maria Fertility Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Won Don
WD
Lee
Maria Fertility Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Jin Ho
JH
Lim
Blastocyst; Coculture techniques; Embryo culture techniques
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