Exploration of the Cytoplasmic Function of Abnormally Fertilized Embryos via Novel Pronuclear-Stage Cytoplasmic Transfer

In regular IVF, a portion of oocytes exhibit abnormal numbers of pronuclei (PN) that is considered as abnormal fertilization, and they are routinely discarded. However, it is known that abnormal ploidy still does not completely abandon embryo development and implantation. To explore the potential of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2021-08, Vol.22 (16), p.8765
Main Authors: Fujimine-Sato, Ayako, Kuno, Takashi, Higashi, Keiko, Sugawara, Atsushi, Hiraga, Hiroaki, Takahashi, Aiko, Tanaka, Keiko, Yokoyama, Emi, Shiga, Naomi, Watanabe, Zen, Yaegashi, Nobuo, Tachibana, Masahito
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
abnormal fertilization
Adenosine triphosphate
Cytoplasm
cytoplasmic deficiency
cytoplasmic transfer
DNA methylation
Egg donations
Embryos
Epigenetics
Fertilization
Gametocytes
Genomes
In vitro fertilization
mitochondria
Mitochondrial DNA
Oocytes
Oxygen consumption
Ploidy
preimplantation
Sperm
Stem cells
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Summary:In regular IVF, a portion of oocytes exhibit abnormal numbers of pronuclei (PN) that is considered as abnormal fertilization, and they are routinely discarded. However, it is known that abnormal ploidy still does not completely abandon embryo development and implantation. To explore the potential of cytoplasm from those abnormally fertilized oocytes, we developed a novel technique for the transfer of large cytoplasm between pronuclear-stage mouse embryos, and assessed its impact. A large volume of cytoplast could be efficiently transferred in the PN stage using a novel two-step method of pronuclear-stage cytoplasmic transfer (PNCT). PNCT revealed the difference in the cytoplasmic function among abnormally fertilized embryos where the cytoplasm of 3PN was developmentally more competent than 1PN, and the supplementing of fresh 3PN cytoplasm restored the impaired developmental potential of postovulatory “aged” oocytes. PNCT-derived embryos harbored significantly higher mitochondrial DNA copies, ATP content, oxygen consumption rate, and total cells. The difference in cytoplasmic function between 3PN and 1PN mouse oocytes probably attributed to the proper activation via sperm and may impact subsequent epigenetic events. These results imply that PNCT may serve as a potential alternative treatment to whole egg donation for patients with age-related recurrent IVF failure.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms22168765