Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2019 Dec;46(4):166-172. 10.5653/cerm.2019.00402.

Growth differentiation factor 9 and cumulus cell supplementation in in vitro maturation culture media enhances the viability of human blastocysts

• Chatroudi
• Khalili MA
• Ashourzadeh S
• Anbari F
• Shahedi A
• Safari S

• KMID: 2469592
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2019.00402

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes can be useful for some infertile patients. In IVM programs, the rates of embryo formation and pregnancy are low. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the main factors involved in regulating oocyte maturation in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and cumulus cell (CC) supplementation in IVM medium on the rates of embryo formation and viability of human blastocysts.
METHODS
A total of 80 germinal vesicle oocytes from stimulated cycles underwent an IVM program. The oocytes were divided into four groups, where group I consisted of IVM media only and served as the control, group II consisted of IVM+CCs, group III consisted of IVM+GDF9 (200 ng/mL), and group IV consisted of IVM+CCs+GDF9 (200 ng/mL). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on the IVM oocytes, and the cleavage embryos that were generated were vitrified. Following thawing, the embryos were cultured for 3 additional days, and the viability rates of the developed blastocysts were determined.
RESULTS
The maturation rate of the oocytes did not differ significantly across the four groups. The fertilization rate in group II was significantly higher than that in the control group (76.5% vs. 46.2%). Embryo formation was significantly more frequent in all experimental groups than in the control group, while blastocyst formation did not show significant differences in the three experimental groups compared to the control. The mean viability rates in groups II, III, and IV were 58.16%, 55.91%, and 55.95%, respectively, versus 37.78% in the control group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Supplementation of IVM culture media with GDF9 and CCs enhanced the fertilization, embryo formation, and viability rates of blastocysts generated from vitrified cleavage embryos.

Keyword

Cumulus cells; Embryo formation; Growth differentiation factor 9; In vitro maturation

MeSH Terms

Blastocyst*
Culture Media*
Cumulus Cells*
Embryonic Structures
Fertilization
Growth Differentiation Factor 9*
Humans*
In Vitro Techniques*
Oocytes
Pregnancy
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Culture Media
Growth Differentiation Factor 9