Evaluation of the developmental competence and chromosomal compliment of mouse oocytes derived from in-vitro growth and maturation of preantral follicles

Purpose To evaluate the developmental potential and aneuploidy rates of in-vitro versus in-vivo grown and matured mouse oocytes. Methods Mice were superovulated to obtain in-vivo matured oocytes. Mouse preantral follicles were also mechanically isolated and cultured in-vitro. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed and fertilization, cleavage, and morula/blastocyst formation rates were compared between groups. Cytogenetic analysis was used to compare oocyte aneuploidy rates and aneuploidy characteristics in the developing embryos. Results In-vivo oocyte maturation resulted in higher IVF fertilization, cleavage, and morula/blastocyst formation rates versus in-vitro follicle culture (96.4% versus 78.5%, p < 0.001; 95.3% versus 77.4%, p < 0.001; 94.1% versus 76.9%, p < 0.001). Total aneuploidy rates were higher in embryos derived from in-vitro matured oocytes versus those grown in-vivo (4.0% versus 1.3%, p < 0.05). Conclusions Results indicate a reduced developmental competency of in-vitro matured oocytes. The data also highlight an increased susceptibility to meiotic errors in early stage follicles undergoing in vitro culture.