Human parthenogenetic blastocysts derived from noninseminated cryopreserved human oocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the development of human parthenogenetic blastocysts and an in vitro attachment that was generated from noninseminated cryopreserved human oocytes for the first time. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of reproductive medicine in a medical institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina. PATIENT(S): Five healthy fertile donors. INTERVENTION(S): Artificial activation of noninseminated cryopreserved human oocytes after thawing, parthenote culture, and their in vitro attachment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Survival rate, activation rate, cleavage rate, and blastocyst formation. RESULT(S): Thirty-six of 38 cryopreserved noninseminated oocytes survived after thawing (survival rate, 94.7%). Thirty-one of 36 oocytes showed one pronucleus (activation rate, 86.1%). Thirty of 31 cleaved (cleavage rate, 96.8%). Five of 30 showed cavitation (blastocyst rate, 16.7%). CONCLUSION(S): Noninseminated cryopreserved human oocytes showed a high survival rate after thawing. They responded very satisfactorily to artificial activation, which was followed by a high rate of parthenogenetic embryos, which can develop into blastocysts. In the future, these could be a new source for development of human parthenogenetic stem cells.

Healthy girl born after cryopreservation of gametes and ICSI in a patient with seminoma.

This study reports birth in a case of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with cryopreserved oocytes and spermatozoa banked after radiotherapy and prior to chemotherapy due the occurrence of two non-synchronous seminomas. A 30-year-old male with a diagnosis of seminoma cryopreserved six vials of spermatozoa. After oncological treatment was completed, his partner, a 24-year-old woman, underwent ovarian stimulation. Seventeen oocytes were retrieved; one was at the germinal vesicle stage and two were injected, resulting in two embryos. Fourteen metaphase II oocytes were frozen. The woman presented moderated ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and embryo cryopreservation was indicated. After endometrial preparation, two embryos were transferred and a pregnancy was achieved. The woman suffered eclampsia during week 28 of gestation. Caesarean section was performed and a preterm girl weighing 1000 g was born, but died 2 weeks after delivery. A year later, a second procedure was begun. Frozen oocytes and one vial of semen were thawed. Eight of the 14 oocytes survived and were microinjected; two became fertilized and one good quality cleaved embryo was transferred. Pregnancy was achieved and a healthy girl was born with a birth weight of 2800 g. Oocyte cryopreservation associated with sperm banking in cancer patients is a useful tool for couples seeking deferred parenthood.