Effect of Early Cumulus Cell Removal on the Fertilization and Clinical Outcome in Human in Vitro Fertilization

Jilong Liu^1*, Meiyan Chen^2*, Chunlian Lin¹, Xunjin Weng¹, Zhongming Meng¹, Weijun Tang¹

¹Assisted Reproduction Technology Center, Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Qinzhou, China.
²Department of Information Institute of Science and Technology, Qinzhou Science and Technology Bureau, Qinzhou, China.

DOI: 10.4236/arsci.2015.33006                

Abstract

The short-term insemination technique has been widely applied, although it is not clear whether the mechanical desorption of cumulus cells can affect normal fertilization and birth outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether early cumulus cell removal could affect in vitro fertilization outcomes. Based on a history of infertility and semen analysis, 61 patients were identified, and the cumulus cells were mechanically removed at either6 h post-insemination (Group A, 387 mature oocytes) or 18 - 20 h post-insemination as traditional in vitro fertilization (Group B, 424 mature oocytes). There were no significant differences in the rates of fertilization, available embryos, high quality embryos, birth, premature birth, pregnancy, or implantation when we compared the two groups. However, Group A exhibited a significantly higher polyspermy rate, and significantly lower rates of blastocyst formation and high-quality blastocyst formation, compared with Group B. Therefore, the results of present study indicate that early cumulus cell removal (at 6 h post-insemination) may negatively affect the rates of polyspermy, blastocyst formation, and high-quality blastocyst formation.

Keywords

Short-Term Insemination, Cumulus Cells, Embryo Quality, Clinical Outcomes

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Dirnfeld, M., Bider, D., Koifman, M., Calderon, I. and Abramovici, H. (1999) Shortened Exposure of Oocytes to Spermatozoa Improves In-Vitro Fertilization Outcome: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study. Human Reproduction, 14, 2562-2564. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/14.10.2562
[2]	Xiong, S., Han, W., Liu J.X., Zhang, X.D., Liu, W.W., Liu, H. and Huang, G.N. (2011) Effects of Cumulus Cells Removal after 6 h Co-Incubation of Gametes on the Outcomes of Human IVF. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 28, 1205-1211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9630-9
[3]	Chen, C. and Kattera, S. (2003) Rescue ICSI of Oocytes That Failed to Extrude the Second Polar Body 6 h Post-Insemination in Conventional IVF. Human Reproduction, 18, 2118-2121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deg3253
[4]	Wei, D., Zhang, C.L., Yin, B.L., Wang, P., Xie, J.K., Song, X.B., Liu, Q., Hu, L., Zhang, Y.X. and Hao, H.Y. (2011) Early Cumulus Cell Removal Could Reduce the Available Embryo Rate in Human IVF. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 28, 1213-1216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10815-011-9650-5
[5]	Xue, Y.M., Tong, X.M., Jiang, L.Y., Zhu, H.Y., Yang, L.Y. and Zhang, S.Y. (2013) Effect of Cumulus Cell Removal 4 h Post-Insemination on Fertilization and Embryo Quality: A Prospective Randomized Sibling-Oocyte Study. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 30, 1049-1053. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0049-3
[6]	Gardner, D.K., Lane, M., Stevens, J., Schlenker, T. and Schoolcraft, W.B. (2000) Blastocyst Score Affects Implantation and Pregnancy Outcome: Toward a Single Blastocyst Transfer. Fertility and Sterility, 3, 1155-1158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)00518-5
[7]	Morton, P.C., Yoder, C.S., Tucker, M.J., Wright, G., Brockman, W.D. and Kort, H.I. (1997) Reinsemination by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection of 1-Day-Old Oocytes after Complete Conventional Fertilization Failure. Fertility and Sterility, 68, 488-491. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(97)00223-9
[8]	Kattera, S. and Chen, C. (2003) Short Coincubation of Gametes in in Vitro Fertilization Improves Implantation and Pregnancy Rates: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study. Fertility and Sterility, 80, 1017-1021. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(03)01154-3
[9]	Pieters, M.H., Dumoulin, J.C., Ignoul-Vanvuchelen, R.C., Bras, M., Evers, J.L., Geraedts, J.P. (1992) Triploidy after in Vitro Fertilization: Cytogenetic Analysis of Human Zygotes and Embryos. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 9, 68-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01204118
[10]	Gianaroli, L., Cristing Magli, M., Ferraretti, A.P., Fiorentino, A., Tosti, E., Panzella, S. and Dale, B. (1996) Reducing the Time of Sperm-Oocyte Interaction in Human in-Vitro Fertilization Improves the Implantation Rate. Human Reproduction, 11, 166-171. http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/11/1/166.long
[11]	Fatechi, A.N., Zeinstra, E.C., Kooij, R.V., Colenbrander, B. and Bevers, M.M. (2002) Effect of Cumulus Cell Removal of in Vitro Matured Bovine Oocytes prior to in Vitro Fertilization on Subsequent Cleavage Rate. Theriogenology, 57, 1347-1355. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(01)00717-8
[12]	Suzuki, K., Eriksson, B., Shimizu, H., Nagai, T. and Rodriguez-Martinez, H. (2000) Effect of Hyaluronan on Monospermic Penetration of Porcine Oocytes Fertilized in Vitro. International Journal of Andrology, 23, 13-21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2605.2000.t01-1-00198.x
[13]	Balaban, B., Urman, B., Alatas, C., Mercan, R., Aksoy, S. and Isiklar, A. (2001) Blastocyst-Stage Transfer of Poor- Quality Cleavage-Stage Embryos Results in Higher Implantation Rates. Fertility and Sterility, 75, 514-518. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)01756-8
[14]	Braude, P., Bolton, V. and Moore, S. (1988) Human Gene Expression First Occurs between the Four- and Eight-Cell Stages of Preimplantation Development. Nature, 332, 459-461. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/332459a0