Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2015 Sep;42(3):111-117. 10.5653/cerm.2015.42.3.111.

The potential role of granulosa cells in the maturation rate of immature human oocytes and embryo development: A co-culture study

• Jahromi BN
• Mosallanezhad Z
• Matloob N
• Davari M
• Ghobadifar MA

• KMID: 2069036
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2015.42.3.111

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In order to increase the number of mature oocytes usable for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), we aimed to investigate the effect of co-culturing granulosa cells (GCs) on human oocyte maturation in vitro, the fertilization rate, and embryo development.
METHODS
A total of 133 immature oocytes were retrieved and were randomly divided into two groups; oocytes that were cultured with GCs (group A) and oocytes that were cultured without GCs (group B). After in vitro maturation, only oocytes that displayed metaphase II (MII) underwent the ICSI procedure. The maturation and fertilization rates were analyzed, as well as the frequency of embryo development.
RESULTS
The mean age of the patients, their basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, and the number of oocytes recovered from the patients were all comparable between the two study groups. The number of oocytes that reached MII (mature oocytes) was 59 out of 70 (84.28%) in group A, compared to 41 out of 63 (65.07%) in group B (p=0.011). No significant difference between fertilization rates was found between the two study groups (p=0.702). The embryo development rate was higher in group A (33/59, 75%) than in group B (12/41, 42.85%; p=0.006). The proportion of highest-quality embryos and the blastocyst formation rate were significantly lower in group B than in group A (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The findings of the current study demonstrate that culturing immature human oocytes with GCs prior to ICSI improves the maturation rate and the likelihood of embryo development.

Keyword

Fertilization; Granulosa cells; Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; In vitro oocyte maturation techniques; Oocytes

MeSH Terms

Blastocyst
Coculture Techniques*
Embryonic Development*
Embryonic Structures*
Female
Fertilization
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Granulosa Cells*
Humans*
In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques
Metaphase
Oocytes*
Pregnancy
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Follicle Stimulating Hormone