Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T21:24:28.493Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 27 - Artificial Oocyte Activation for IVF

from Section 4 - Insemination/ICSI

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2023

By
Thomas Ebner
Edited by
Markus H. M. Montag  and
Dean E. Morbeck
Markus H. M. Montag
Affiliation:
ilabcomm GmbH, St Augustin, Germany
Dean E. Morbeck
Affiliation:
Kindbody Inc, New York City
Get access

Summary

The implementation of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the field of assisted reproduction has allowed fertilization in couples with previous fertilization failure. However, complete fertilization failure after ICSI shows a prevalence of up to 3%. Moreover, low or moderate fertilization (<30%) can be observed for some patients. In such cycles of bad prognosis, the underlying problem is most likely related to a failure of oocyte activation. In vivo, a sperm-derived enzyme mediates the physiological stimulus of the complex process of oocyte activation. In vitro, a complete fertilization failure can eventually be compensated by several artificial oocyte activation (AOA) techniques, all of which aim for an increase in internal Ca²⁺. AOA is only applied with the proper indication and not as a routine method. The lack of standardized AOA methodologies led to the development and launch of a ready-to-use AOA solution and the number of publications dealing with AOA is constantly increasing. This chapter describes a proven protocol for AOA that has been used in clinical practice for more than two decades.

Keywords

ICSIfertilizationoocyte activationcalcium ionophoresperm oocyte
Type
Chapter
Information
Principles of IVF Laboratory Practice
Laboratory Set-Up, Training and Daily Operation
 , pp. 201 - 206
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Saunders, C. M., Larman, M. G., Parrington, J., et al. PLC zeta: a sperm-specific trigger of Ca(2+) oscillations in eggs and embryo development. Development 2002; 129:3533–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berridge, M. J. Inositol trisphosphate and calcium signalling mechanisms. Biochim Biophys Acta 2009; 1793:933–40.Google ScholarPubMed
Ozil, J. P. and Huneau, D. Activation of rabbit oocytes: the impact of the Ca2+ signal regime on development. Development 2001; 128:917–28.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Montag, M., Köster, M., van der Ven, K., Bohlen, U. and van der Ven, H. The benefit of artificial oocyte activation is dependent on the fertilization rate in a previous treatment cycle. Reprod Biomed Online 2012; 24:521–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vanden Meerschaut, F., Nikiforaki, D., Heindryckx, B. and De Sutter, P. Assisted oocyte activation following ICSI fertilization failure. Reprod Biomed Online 2014; 28:560–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ebner, T., Köster, M., Shebl, O., et al. Application of a ready-to-use calcium ionophore increases rates of fertilization and pregnancy in severe male factor infertility. Fertil Steril 2012; 98:1432–7.Google Scholar
Ebner, T. and Montag, M. Oocyte Activation Study Group. Live birth after artificial oocyte activation using a ready-to use ionophore: a prospective multicentre study. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 30:359–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ebner, T., Oppelt, P., Wöber, M., et al. Treatment with Ca2+ ionophore improves embryo development and outcome in cases with previous developmental problems: a prospective multicenter study. Hum Reprod 2015; 30:97–102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ebner, T., Moser, M., Sommergruber, M., Jesacher, K. and Tews, G. Complete oocyte activation failure after ICSI can be overcome by a modified injection technique. Hum Reprod 2004; 19: 1837–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baltaci, V., Ayvaz, O. U., Unsal, E., et al. The effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection combined with piezoelectric stimulation in infertile couples with total fertilization failure. Fertil Steril 2010; 94: 900–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kashir, J., Heindryckx, B., Jones, C., et al. Oocyte activation, phospholipase C zeta and human infertility. Hum Reprod Update 2010; 16:690–703.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heindryckx, B., De Gheselle, S., Gerris, J., Dhont, M. and De Sutter, P. Efficiency of assisted oocyte activation as a solution for failed intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Reprod Biomed Online 2008; 17:662–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Markoulaki, S., Matson, S., Abbott, A. L. and Ducibella, T. Oscillatory CaMKII activity in mouse egg activation. Dev Biol 2003; 258:464–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ebner, T. and Montag, M. Artificial oocyte activation: evidence for clinical readiness. Reprod Biomed Online 2016; 32:271–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ebner, T., Shebl, O. and Parmegiani, L. Oldie but goldie or opening Pandora´s box? Curr Trends Clin Embryol 2015; 2:149–52.Google Scholar
Santella, L. and Dale, B. Assisted yes, but where do we draw the line? Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 31:476–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Blerkom, J., Cohen, J. and Johnson, M. A plea for caution and more research in the ‘experimental’ use of ionophores in ICSI. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 30:323–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kim, J. W., Yang, S. H., Yoon, S. H., et al. Successful pregnancy and delivery after ICSI with artificial oocyte activation by calcium ionophore in in-vitro matured oocytes: a case report. Reprod Biomed Online 2015; 30:373–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferrer-Buitrago, M., Dhaenens, D., Lu, Y., et al. Human oocyte calcium analysis predicts the response to assisted oocyte activation in patients experiencing fertilization failure after ICSI. Hum Reprod 2018; 33:416–25.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×