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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

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01-05-2020 | Review

Need for choosing the ideal pH value for IVF culture media

Authors: Nicolas Gatimel, Jessika Moreau, Jean Parinaud, Roger D. Léandri

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 5/2020

Abstract

Purpose

Monitoring the pH of IVF culture media is a good practice, but the required pH levels have been “arbitrarily” set. Assisted reproductive technology centers around the world are spending time and money on pH monitoring without any consensus to date. The objective of this narrative review was to evaluate the importance of pH monitoring during IVF, discover how the oocyte and embryo regulate their intracellular pH and try to determine the optimal pH to be applied.

Methods

A narrative literature review was performed on publications in the PubMed database reporting on the impact of pH on cellular function, oocyte and embryo development, IVF outcomes and pathophysiology, or on physiological pH in the female reproductive tract.

Results

Intracellular pH regulates many cellular processes such as meiotic spindle stability of the oocyte, cell division and differentiation, embryo enzymatic activities, and blastocoel formation. The internal pH of the human embryo is maintained by regulatory mechanisms (mainly Na⁺/H⁺ and HCO₃⁻/Cl⁻ exchangers) that can be exceeded, particularly in the oocyte and early-stage embryos. The opinion that the optimal pH for embryo culture is physiological pH is not correct since several physicochemical parameters specific to IVF culture conditions (temperature, medium composition, duration of culture, or implication of CO₂) can modify the intracellular pH of the embryo and change its needs and adaptability.

Conclusions

Because correct and stable extracellular pH is essential to embryo health and development, monitoring pH is imperative. However, there is a lack of clinical data on choosing the ideal pH for human IVF culture media.

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Title: Need for choosing the ideal pH value for IVF culture media
Authors: Nicolas Gatimel
Jessika Moreau
Jean Parinaud
Roger D. Léandri
Publication date: 01-05-2020
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01726-5

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Need for choosing the ideal pH value for IVF culture media

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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