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Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 6/2011

01-06-2011 | Gamete Biology

Correlation of oocyte morphometry parameters with woman’s age

Authors: Claudia Valeri, Sebastiana Pappalardo, Massimo De Felici, Claudio Manna

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 6/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Aim of this study was to evaluate morphometric parameters of metaphase II oocytes, including cytoplasm diameter (CD), zona pellucida thickness (ZPT) and width of the perivitelline space (PS), in relation with zona pellucida birefringence, spindle presence and age of the woman.

Methods

Oocytes were classified into groups according to zona birefringence (low or high zona birefringence, LZB and HZB, respectively) and presence or absence of a visible spindle (SP and aSP, respectively).

Results

HZB oocytes showed a thicker zona (17.7 ± 0.3 μm) than LZB oocytes (16.7 ± 0.3 μm, p < 0.01). Moreover, PS was narrower in HZB and SP oocytes than in LZB (p < 0,001) and aSP (p < 0,05) oocytes. Finally, we found that CD and ZPT linearly decrease with age of the woman (CD r = 0.028: p < 0.01; ZPT r = 0.050: p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Our results evidence an association in human oocytes between zona pellucida and spindle birefringence and defined morphometric parameters and a decrease of oocyte size and ZPT as a function of women’s age.
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Metadata
Title
Correlation of oocyte morphometry parameters with woman’s age
Authors
Claudia Valeri
Sebastiana Pappalardo
Massimo De Felici
Claudio Manna
Publication date
01-06-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 6/2011
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9555-3

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