View clinical trials related to Embryo Culture.
Filter by:In mammals, uterine environment is at low oxygen concentration (2-8% O2). Thus, human embryo culture under low O2 tension (5%) is now recommended by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) revised guidelines for good practices in in vitro fertilization (IVF) labs. Indeed, hypoxia seems to improve embryo quality at cleavage and blastocyst stages, presumably by reducing damages of oxidative stress (OS). Nevertheless, recent meta-analyses concluded only with a low evidence to a superiority of hypoxia on IVF/ICSI outcomes. Furthermore, a study on mouse embryos suggested a negative impact of OS only at cleavage stage. The aim of the present prospective randomized study was to investigate this hypothesis for the first time in human embryos.
Myriads of elements affect human embryo culture in vitro. These include, but not limited to, air quality, culture media, culture temperature, incubator humidity, pH, and O2 levels. O2 tension has been thoroughly investigated and, to date, 5% O2 level is superior to 20%. Reports showed that lowering the O2 from Day 3 of embryo culture seems to be physiological.
The aim of this study is to analyze whether there is difference in the effect of single embryo culture and group culture in preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) cycle, and provide reference for the feasibility of the clinical application of medium-based noninvasive PGD. This prospective study prepares for more than 1,000 normal fertilized zygotes in each group over one year period. For the recruited patients, all normal fertilized zygotes were randomly allocated into two groups: cultured individually in 25 ul media or 2-3 embryos cultured together in 50 ul media. The blastocyst formation rates, aneuploid rates, clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates and miscarriage rates will be compared between the two groups.
Previous studies in human and different mammals have proved that the embryo group culture (in the same culture medium drop) using a reduced volume is associated with a better embryo development. This is due to the effect of different autocrine and paracrine factors secreted by the embryos. Besides, previous studies with embryos from human and other mammals have shown that a high oxygen concentration may have a negative effect on embryo quality due to the generation of reactive oxygen species, which cause oxidative stress. The embryo culture at low oxygen tension is correlated to better success rates in IVF/ICSI treatments. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the combined effect of the embryo group culture and the low oxygen tension on the embryo development and the results of the IVF/ICSI treatments. The specific goal is to compare the embryo group culture in a reduced volume of medium at a low oxygen tension (5%) with the standard individual culture at an atmospheric oxygen tension (20%). The first culture condition will be applied in a K-MINC incubator (COOK Medical®), whereas the second condition will be applied using a Heracell incubator (Heraeus®).
Incubator temperature is one of the most precious variables in IVF labs. When the IVF started, almost all incubator temperatures were set at 37 degrees which mimic in vivo conditions. Some authors speculated that gametes and early embryos might need low temperatures that provide quieter metabolism. We decide to compare Embryo culture at 37 degree or slightly lower 36.5 degree and extensively investigate to find which is better to crucially introduce a solid evidence through this RCT.