Mitochondrial DNA content affects the fertilizability of human oocytes

Mitochondrial DNA content varies considerably in oocytes, even when collected from the same patient. In the present study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of 113 unfertilized oocytes obtained from 43 patients revealed an average of 193 000 (range: 20 000 to 598 000) mitocho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular human reproduction 2001-05, Vol.7 (5), p.425-429
Main Authors: Reynier, P., May-Panloup, P., Chrétien, M-F., Morgan, C.J., Jean, M., Savagner, F., Barrière, P., Malthièry, Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Extracts
cytoplasmic maturation
DNA, Mitochondrial - physiology
Female
Fertilization - genetics
Fertilization - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Male
Mammalian female genital system
mitochondrial biogenesis
Morphology. Physiology
mtDNA
oocyte
Oocytes - physiology
real-time PCR
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:Mitochondrial DNA content varies considerably in oocytes, even when collected from the same patient. In the present study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of 113 unfertilized oocytes obtained from 43 patients revealed an average of 193 000 (range: 20 000 to 598 000) mitochondrial genomes per cell. We compared several groups of oocytes to investigate the relationship between mitochondrial DNA content and fertilizability. The average mitochondrial DNA copy number was significantly lower in cohorts suffering from fertilization failure compared to cohorts with a normal rate of fertilization. In addition, the mitochondrial copy number of oocytes from patients with fertilization failure due to unknown causes was significantly lower than that of oocytes from patients in which IVF failure was due mainly to a severe sperm defect. The lower mtDNA copy number could be due to defective cytoplasmic maturation of oocytes. We conclude that low mitochondrial DNA content, due to inadequate mitochondrial biogenesis or cytoplasmic maturation, may adversely affect oocyte fertilizability.
ISSN:1360-9947
1460-2407
DOI:10.1093/molehr/7.5.425