Relationship between ATP content and the developmental potential of human oocytes

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between the ATP content in human oocytes and the developmental potential of human oocytes, unfertilized oocytes from clinical IVF and immature oocytes unsuitable for ICSI were collected. The ATP content of these unfertilized andin vitro matured eggs were determined quantitatively by measuring the luminescence using an ATP-dependent bioluminescence assay. The result showed that the ATP content of unfertilized oocytes was higher thanin vitro matured ones (2.20±0.67 pmol vs 1.72±0.49 pmol,P<0.05). In unfertilized oocytes, the ATP content of those whose fertilization rates (FR) was higher than 50% was 2.43±0.60 pmol, which was significantly different from those whose FR was less than 50% (1.72±0.56 pmol), while inin vitro matured oocytes, the ATP content of those whose FR more than 50% was 1.8±0.44 pmol, slightly higher than those less than 50% (1.55±0.40 pmol), without statistical significance. There was a tendency that the ATP content of oocytes of pregnant patients was higher than those of controls, but the sample number was too small to show any significance in statistics. Briefly, there was positive correlation between the ATP content in oocytes and developmental potential of oocytes.

Keywords

ATP content / developmental potential / human oocyte

References

[1] BarnettD K, BavisterB D. What is the relationship between the metabolism of preimplantation embryos and their developmental competence?. Mol Reprod Dev, 1996, 43: 105-105

[2] LeeseH J, BiggersJ D, MrozF A, et al.. Nucleotides in a single mammalian ovum or preimplantation embryo. Anal Biochem, 1984, 140: 443-443

[3] StojkovicM, MachadoS A, StojkovicP, et al.. Mitochondrial distribution and adenosine triphosphate content of bovine oocytes before and after in vitro maturation: correlation with morphological criteria and developmental capacity after in vitro fertilization and culture. Biol Reprod, 2001, 64: 904-904

[4] FreistedtP, StojkovicP, WolfE, et al.. Energy status of nonmatured and in vitro-matured domestic cat oocytes and of different stages of in vitro-produced embryos: enzymatic removal of the zona pellucida increases adenosine triphosphate content and total cell number of blastocysts. Biol Reprod, 2001, 65: 793-793

[5] Van BlerkomJ, DavisP, LeeJ. ATP content of human oocytes and developmental potential and outcome afterin vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Hum Reprod, 1995, 10: 415-415

[6] WildingM, DaleB, MarinoM, et al.. Mitochondrial aggregation patterns and activity in human oocytes and preimplantation embryos. Hum Reprod, 2001, 16: 909-909

[7] De VosA, Van de VeldeH, JorisH, et al.. In vitro matured metaphase-I oocytes have a lower fertilization rate but similar embryo quality as mature metaphase-I oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod, 1999, 14(7): 1859-1859

[8] LeeS H, HanJ H, ChoS W, et al.. Mitochondrial AT-Pase 6 gene expression in unfertilized oocytes and cleavage-stage embryos. Fertil Steril, 2000, 73(5): 1001-1001

[9] CohenJ, ScottR, SchimmelT, et al.. Birth of infant after transfer of anucleate donor oocyte cytoplasm into recipient eggs. Lancet, 1997, 350: 186-186

[10] Van BlerkomJ, SinclairJ, DavisP. Mitochondrial transfer between oocytes: potential applications of mitochondrial donation and the issue of heteroplasmy. Hum Reprod, 1998, 13(10): 2857-2857

[11] TarinJ J. Aetiology of age-associated aneuploidy: a mechanism based on the “free radical theory of ageing”. Hum Reprod, 1995, 10: 1563-1563

[12] KitagawaT, SuganumaN, NawaA, et al.. Rapid accumulation of deleted mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid in postmenopausal ovaries. Biol Reprod, 1993, 49: 730-730

[13] KeefeD L, Niven-FarchildT, PowellS, et al.. Mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid deletions in oocytes and reproductive aging in women. Fertil Steril, 1995, 64: 577-577

[14] BrennerC A, WolnyY M, BarrittJ A, et al.. Mitochondrial DNA deletion in human oocytes and embryos. Mol Hum Reprod, 1998, 14(9): 887-887

[15] HsiehR H, TsaiN M, AuH K, et al.. Multiple rearrangements of mitochondrial DNA in unfertilized human oocytes. Fertil Steril, 2002, 77(5): 1012-1012