A Correlative Study of Oocytes Morphology with Fertilization, Cleavage, Embryo Quality and Implantation Rates after Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

ntroduction: Non-invasive selection of developmentally human oocytes may increase the overall effi ciency of human assisted reproduction. Morphologic abnormalities in the oocyte are relevant for determining its developmental fate. Th e objective is to evaluate the infl uence of MII oocyte morphology on intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. Material and Methods: 132 patients undergoing ICSI cycles and having female factors of infertility and unexplained infertility. Couples having male factors of infertility were excluded. A total of 1200 oocytes were retrieved from 132 ICSI cycles, of which 1056 MII oocytes were evaluated. Th e criteria for morphological evaluations were: (i) Normal MII oocytes showing clear cytoplasm with uniform texture and homogenous fi ne granularity, a round or ovoid fi rst polar body with a smooth surface, and perivitelline space of normal size. (ii) MII oocytes with extra cytoplasmic abnormalities (fi rst polar body and perivitelline space abnormalities). (iii) MII oocytes with cytoplasmic abnormalities (dark cytoplasm, granular cytoplasm, inclusion body and presents of vacuoles). (iv) MII oocytes with combined abnormalities. Result: From 1056 MII oocytes, 180 (17.04%) had normal morphology while 876 (82.95%) had at least one demonstrable morphological abnormality. Cytoplasmic abnormalities were observed in 516 (58.9%) of the oocytes. Extra cytoplasmic abnormalities were observed in 104 (11.87%) while combined abnormalities were responsible for the remaining 256 (29.22%). Th ere were no signifi cant diff erences in fertilization, cleavage, and embryo quality between the groups but there was a highly signifi cant diff erence in implantation rate which was higher in the group of normal oocytes morphology than abnormal oocytes morphology, oocytes with cytoplasmic, extracytoplasmic and combined abnormality 11.11%, 7.33%, 9.03%, 2.3%, and 4.34% respectively. Conclusion: MII oocyte morphology did not aff ect fertilization, cleavage, and embryo quality, but aff ecting implantation rate.

Science of breeding and heredity from ancient Persia to modern Iran.

About 1700 years BC, the prophet Zoroaster declared equal right for women and men to choose their “own ways.” There is much evidence that ancient Persians believed in the equal contribution of women and men toward producing a child, and all its hereditary characteristics. Even more surprising are the phrases in Vandidad book, which were gathered by Mobedans in the Mad dynasty about egg extraction (gametes) from animal reproductive organs (gonads) and their storage for future conception. Centuries later, Western philosopher beliefs in regard to reproduction were contrary to Persian knowledge. The Greek philosophers believed that man's water (semen) contains all human characteristics, and the female uterus is only responsible for nurturing and development of fetus. After detection of the ovum (de Graaf 2nd half 17 century) Malpigy proposed the preformation theory (ovist) which means there is a miniature human inside ovum, that grows after Semen has entered the uterus and grow into a well-developed fetus. This hypothesis was later delegated to spermatozoa. These contradictory and inappropriate beliefs were subject to discussions and dispute, until C.E. Wolf demonstrated that the embryo is a product of the fertilization of ovum by spermatozoa. 800 years prior this the sage Ferdowsi “The Great Iranian Poet” explains nicely the equal participation of man and woman in the production of the fetus and transmission of characters. After the renaissance and especially in recent years, tremendous achievements have been made in unraveling biological secrets of reproduction. There was no work o n genetics in Iran until 1936, when a genetic course was added to the biology curriculum in related colleges and universities; Iranian Genetics Society was founded in 1966, initiating a steady movement in this field. Although there was an inevitable gap during the revolution and war in our country, now there is great effort by researchers to eliminate the gap and bring us into the mainstream of world science, and development in biomedical sciences in the third millennium.