Abstract
Objective: Immature mammalian oocytes cultured in vitro undergo inadequate cytoplasmic maturation and hence have a limited potential for fertilization. Our primary objective was to determine if the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the in vitro culture system would have a positive effect on oocyte cytoplasmic maturation. Design: We studied the effect of different EGF concentrations on both denuded and cumulus-enclosed mouse oocytes cultured in vitro. Main Outcome Measures: The percentage of oocytes undergoing germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body one formation over time as a function of EGF concentration was determined. Results: A dose-related positive effect of EGF on both GVBD and polar body one formation over time was observed for mouse oocytes. As well, a similar effect of EGF was seen on immature human oocytes that had not been stimulated with exogenous gonadotropins. Conclusions: The use of EGF may allow for the performance of successful in vitro fertilization procedures using immature human oocytes retrieved during unstimulated cycles.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1000-1004 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Fertility and Sterility |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1991 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Received August 28, 1990; revised and accepted January 18, 1991. * Supported in part by the research grant R01 AA07733 (awarded to B.S.L.) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland. t International Fellow of the American Association of University Women, Washington, D.C. :j: Reprint requests: Kamalini Das, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minnesota, UMHC Box 395, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455.