Korean J Fertil Steril.  1999 Aug;26(2):239-249.

Effects of Amino Acids in Simple Phosphate-Free Media on Pregnancy Rate in Human In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer(IVF-ET)

• Lee JS
• Hong JE
• Yoo SH
• Jung GS
• Hong KE
• Jeon ES
• Hur YM
• Lee JI

Abstract

The role of amino acids in culture media for IVF-ET was examined in a total of 76 cycles. Patients received clomiphene citrate (CC) followed by hMG or GnRH-a combined with gonadotropins (FSH/hMG) for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Severe male (<4 x10(6) motile sperm) or age factor (>39 y) patients were excluded in this study. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. No significant differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, the level of E2 on the day of hCG injection, the mean number of oocytes retrieved, total motile sperm count, fertilization rate and the mean number of embryos transferred between bHTF (without amino acids) and mHTF (with amino acids) groups. However, total ampules of gonadotropins were higher (p<0.01) in mHTF group than bHTF group. Significantly (p<0.05) more clinical pregnancies were recorded in mHTF group (13/30) compared with bHTF group (9/46). The multiple pregnancy rates were 11.1% in bHTF group and 77% in mHTF group. There were one ectopic pregnancy in mHTF group and one heterotopic pregnancy in bHTF group. Abortion rates were 22.2% in bHTF group and 7.7% in mHTF, respectively The ongoing pregnancy or livebirth .ate was significantly (p<0.05) higher in mHTF group (12/30) than bHTF group (7/46). These results suggest that the addition of amino acids in culture media is essential for culture of zygotes in vitro and adjustment of energy substrates in phosphate-free culture media appears to be beneficial for human IVF-ET procedure.

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Induced
Age Factors
Amino Acids*
Clomiphene
Culture Media
Embryonic Structures*
Female
Fertilization
Fertilization in Vitro*
Gestational Sac
Gonadotropins
Humans*
Infertility
Male
Oocytes
Pregnancy Rate*
Pregnancy*
Pregnancy, Ectopic
Pregnancy, Heterotopic
Pregnancy, Multiple
Sperm Count
Ultrasonography
Zygote
Amino Acids
Clomiphene
Culture Media
Gonadotropins