Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 584-591, March 2006

Mitochondrial content reflects oocyte variability and fertilization outcome

  • Teresa Almeida Santos, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Serviço de Genética Médica do Departamento de Medicina Materno-fetal, Genética e Reprodução Humana dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
    • ,
  • Shahy El Shourbagy, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Mitochondrial and Reproductive Genetics Group, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Justin C. St. John, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Mitochondrial and Reproductive Genetics Group, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Justin C. St. John, Ph.D., University of Birmingham, Medical School, Mitochondrial and Reproductive Genetics Group, Birmingham B15 2TJ, United Kingdom (FAX: 44-121-414-6919).

Received 6 January 2005; received in revised form 25 August 2005; accepted 25 August 2005.

Objective

To determine the content of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in oocytes from a range of patients with fertilization success and failure.

Design

Analysis of mtDNA content in fertilized and unfertilized oocytes and embryos by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Setting

University hospital infertility and research center.

Patient(s)

Fifty-four women seeking treatment for infertility.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

A total of 142 fertilized and unfertilized oocytes were classified into three main groups. Group I consisted of 35 fertilized oocytes from 21 patients; group II, 65 unfertilized oocytes from 36 patients; and group III, 42 degenerate oocytes from 23 patients. Mitochondrial DNA content was determined by SYBR Green real-time PCR-based assay.

Result(s)

The mean mtDNA copy number for the fertilized oocytes was 250,454, whereas for the unfertilized group it was 163,698. There were significant differences for mtDNA copy number between the male factor and female factor infertility unfertilized oocytes and between the unexplained infertility and female factor infertility groups. The mean copy number for the degenerate oocyte group was 44,629, which was significantly different from the other subdivisions in this group.

Conclusion(s)

Mitochondrial DNA content is critical to fertilization outcome and serves as an important marker of oocyte quality, explaining some cases of fertilization failure.

Key Words:  Mitochondria , mitochondrial DNA , oocyte , embryo , fertilization , human

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 T.A.S. and S.E.L. contributed equally to this study.Supported by the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Embassy Training Fellowship.

PII: S0015-0282(05)03985-3

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.017

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 584-591, March 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution