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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 1/2017

01-01-2017 | Gamete Biology

The combination of calcium ionophore A23187 and GM-CSF can safely salvage aged human unfertilized oocytes after ICSI

Authors: Konstantinos A. Economou, Dimitra Christopikou, Erika Tsorva, Stephen Davies, Minas Mastrominas, Haris Cazlaris, Michael Koutsilieris, Panagoula Angelogianni, Dimitris Loutradis

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Artificial oocyte activation using calcium ionophores and enhancement of embryonic developmental potential by the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) have already been reported. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of these two methods on aged human unfertilized oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Then, we cultured the resulting embryos to the blastocyst stage and screened them for chromosomal abnormalities, to assess the safety of this protocol.

Methods

Aged human oocytes deemed unfertilized after ICSI were activated, either by briefly applying the calcium ionophore A23187 alone (group A) or by briefly applying the ionophore and then supplementing the culture medium with recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF) (group B). Next, the development was monitored in a time-lapse incubator system, and ploidy was analyzed by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), after whole embryo biopsy and whole genome amplification. Differences between oocytes and resulting embryos in both groups were evaluated statistically.

Results

Oocytes unfertilized after ICSI can be activated with the calcium ionophore A23187 to show two pronuclei and two polar bodies. Addition of rhGM-CSF in the culture medium of A23187-activated oocytes enhances their cleaving and blastulation potential and results in more euploid blastocysts compared to the culture medium alone.

Conclusions

This study shows that activating post-ICSI aged human unfertilized oocytes with a combination of a calcium ionophore and a cytokine can produce good-morphology euploid blastocysts.
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Metadata
Title
The combination of calcium ionophore A23187 and GM-CSF can safely salvage aged human unfertilized oocytes after ICSI
Authors
Konstantinos A. Economou
Dimitra Christopikou
Erika Tsorva
Stephen Davies
Minas Mastrominas
Haris Cazlaris
Michael Koutsilieris
Panagoula Angelogianni
Dimitris Loutradis
Publication date
01-01-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0823-0

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