Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Israel Maldonado Rosas, Christina Anagnostopoulou, Neha Singh, Nivita Gugnani, Keerti Singh, Dimple Desai, Mahsa Darbandi, Madhumita Manoharan, Sara Darbandi, Annapoorani Chockalingam, Sofia I. Leonardi Diaz, Sajal Gupta, Shinnosuke Kuroda, Renata Finelli, Hassan N. Sallam, Kelly A. Wirka, Florence Boitrelle, Ashok Agarwal
Summary: Oocyte retrieval, oocyte denudation, and embryo transfer are crucial steps in assisted reproduction technology (ART), and there are knowledge gaps and controversies surrounding the techniques and processes involved. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of these steps and techniques.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Pietro Bortoletto, Phillip A. Romanski, Brady I. Magaoay, Zev Rosenwaks, Steven D. Spandorfer
Summary: The timing from oocyte retrieval to frozen embryo transfer in the natural cycle did not significantly impact live birth rate or neonatal outcomes, with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) being the only factor associated with increased odds of live birth.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Chunxia Yang, Naijun Dong, Feng Li, Yurong Ji, Yu Pan, Hong She
Summary: The study found that rFSH-alfa group had higher number of retrieved oocytes, transferable embryos, fresh embryo transfer rate, and multiple birth rate compared to the uFSH group. However, both groups had similar pregnancy rates and LBR per transfer cycle, with rFSH-alfa group achieving higher CLBR per started cycle. This suggests that rFSH-alfa might produce more transferrable blastocysts and higher overall success rates compared to uFSH.
JOURNAL OF OVARIAN RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Peter J. Hansen
Summary: The embryo produced by in vitro techniques has significant potential for genetic improvement and is a crucial component in various technologies. Overcoming technical obstacles and optimizing culture conditions are necessary for fully utilizing the opportunities offered by in vitro-produced embryos.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lee D. Spate, Jie Yin, Lauren Sammel, Randall S. Prather, Bethany K. Redel
Summary: COVID-19 has had a significant impact on abattoirs worldwide, resulting in a critical loss of pig material for research. Commercial sources of pig oocytes are expensive and already operating at maximum capacity. This study presents an alternative source of oocytes that can produce live, healthy piglets.
REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Peter J. Hansen
Summary: The embryo produced through in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryonic development is a valuable resource for genetic improvement and has the potential to enhance female fertility and produce offspring with superior health and production ability. It is also essential in various technologies such as gene editing, somatic cell nuclear cloning, stem cell technologies, and in vitro gamete generation. However, implementation of an embryo transfer program faces technical obstacles that need to be overcome for cost-effective implementation. Therefore, research goals include increasing the supply of oocytes from genetically elite females, improving the proportion of transferrable embryos, enhancing pregnancy establishment after transfer, reducing pregnancy wastage, and optimizing postnatal phenotype through culture conditions.
Review
Cell Biology
Wjdan S. Bafleh, Haia M. R. Abdulsamad, Sally M. Al-Qaraghuli, Riwa Y. El Khatib, Rawdah Taha Elbahrawi, Azhar Mohamud Abdukadir, Shaima M. Alsawae, Zakia Dimassi, Hamdan Hamdan, Junaid Kashir
Summary: The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes in various fields, including society, law, economics, science, and medicine. The use of mRNA-based vaccines has been approved for the first time by drug regulatory authorities to combat the outbreak. While this represents a novel application of mRNA technology in vaccination medicine, the introduction of RNA into cells to produce molecules is not a new concept. It has been commonly practiced in research to manipulate oocytes and embryos and has potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications in combating infertility. This article describes the potential clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of mRNA-based platforms, and discusses how recent advances driven by the pandemic can benefit infertility treatment. Future directions for enhancing RNA therapeutics in reproductive biology, specifically in oocyte and embryo delivery, are also presented.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Longsen Han, Yujia Chen, Ling Li, Chao Ren, Haichao Wang, Xinghan Wu, Juan Ge, Wenjie Shu, Minjian Chen, Qiang Wang
Summary: This study reveals the important role of mtDNA mutation in oocytes in controlling epigenetic reprogramming and gene expression during embryogenesis. Fetal growth retardation and placental dysfunction were observed in post-implantation embryos derived from Polg(m) oocytes. The deficiency in DNA methylation and dysregulation of gene expression were found in Polg(m) oocytes, and cytoplasmic factors were responsible for this epigenetic remodeling deficiency. Additionally, a reduction in alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha KG) level was identified in oocytes from Polg(m) mice. Supplementation of alpha KG restored DNA methylation state and transcriptional activity in Polg(m) embryos, preventing developmental defects.
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rachel M. Whynott, Karen M. Summers, G. David Ball, Bradley J. Van Voorhis, Amy Sparks
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether transfer of fresh embryos derived from fresh or cryopreserved donor oocytes yields a higher live birth rate. The results showed that the live birth rate was higher in fresh embryo transfer cycles using fresh oocytes compared to cryopreserved oocytes. Negative predictors of live birth included recipient Black non-Hispanic or Asian race and increasing BMI.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Juan Ge, Congyang Li, Hongzheng Sun, Yongan Xin, Shuai Zhu, Yuan Liu, Shoubin Tang, Longsen Han, Zhenyue Huang, Qiang Wang
Summary: Maternal obesity leads to telomere shortening and defective telomeres in oocytes and early embryos, which in turn affects the development of embryos.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mara Simopoulou, Anna Rapani, Sokratis Grigoriadis, Agni Pantou, Petroula Tsioulou, Evangelos Maziotis, Despina Tzanakaki, Olga Triantafyllidou, Theodoros Kalampokas, Charalampos Siristatidis, Panagiotis Bakas, Nikolaos Vlahos
Summary: The article discusses the infertility associated with endometriosis, highlighting the various pathological mechanisms that contribute to impaired reproductive dynamics. Reactive oxygen species, immune system dysregulation, and cellular architectural disruption are key mechanisms affecting oocyte and embryo development potential in endometriosis patients.
Review
Cell Biology
Allison K. Tscherner, Angus D. Macaulay, Chyna S. Ortman, Jay M. Baltz
Summary: The period after ovulation is crucial for the healthy development of embryos, as they are sensitive to cell volume perturbations. Early embryos possess unique mechanisms of cell volume control using glycine and betaine, which undergo major changes post-ovulation. These mechanisms are critical for the normal development of embryos.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
James M. Kemper, Yanhe Liu, Masoud Afnan, Ben W. J. Mol, Dean E. Morbeck
Summary: There is a lack of evidence on embryos derived from oocytes without two pronuclei (2PN) or 'normal fertilization'. A significant difference exists between the development potential of oocytes with abnormal pronuclei and those with 2PN. Most recent studies focus on outcomes of blastocysts derived from non-2PN oocytes, suggesting that they have lower blastocyst rates and slightly reduced implantation potential compared to 2PN oocytes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE ONLINE
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Hassan N. Sallam, Tarek A. Gelbaya, Israel M. A. L. D. O. N. A. D. O. Rosas, Christina Anagnostopoulou, Nooman Sallam, Ashok Agarwal
Summary: Oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer are crucial steps in assisted reproductive technologies. Various measures have been proposed and implemented to enhance clinical outcomes and manage complications during these procedures.
Article
Fisheries
Robie Allan Bombardelli, Juliana Kasper Mewes, Alexandre Henrique Buzzi, Ahiana Cassia de Oliveira Pedreira, Mirna Adriane Syperreck, Anna Cristina Strieder Dalmaso, Tais Voelkl Chagas, Rogerio Jose Chiella, Fabio Meurer
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of feeding Nile tilapia broodstock with rations containing different levels of crude glycerin, finding that crude glycerin in the feed can have negative impacts on females by decreasing egg production and hatching rates.