EMBRYO EUPLOIDY RATES ARE NOT INCREASED BY THE REPEATED ADDITION OF ANTIOXIDANTS TO THE CULTURE MEDIA WHEN COMPARED TO INITIAL ANTIOXIDANTS SUPPLEMENTATION

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-17-2023

Publication Title

Fertil Steril

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the euploidy rates and the mitochondrial DNA in human embryos after either repeated vs initial antioxidants supplementation to culture media. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at CITMER, Mexico from April 2020 to November 2022. A total of 217 patients (age 37.95 ± 4.04 years old) undergoing ICSI were included. Zygotes were cultured under either 20% or 5% oxygen tension in two groups: Group 1: (n=835 zygotes) supplementation with antioxidants every 12 hours to lower the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels to a physiological state in culture media. Group 2: (n=1232 zygotes) supplementation with antioxidants only at the beginning of the culture (from gametes handling until fertilization check). Euploidy rates and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by PGT-A were evaluated. A total of 2067 sibling zygotes were divided into two groups after fertilization check. Zygotes were cultured at 8% CO2, either 20% or 5% O2, 37°C to blastocyst stage. Trophectoderm biopsy was performed in 901 embryos. Group 1: 396 embryos were biopsied. Group 2: 505 embryos were biopsied. Biopsies were analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: There is a mild tendency of an increase of the euploidy rate when antioxidants were added to the culture media every 12 hours at 5% oxygen tension (5%: 44% vs 40.8%, p=0.55; 20% 41.3% vs 40.8%, p=0.99), however no significant differences were detected. There is no statistical evidence that there is a variation in the mitochondrial DNA among the groups for aneuploid embryos (5%: 1.64 ± 0.81 vs 1.47 ± 0.83 and 20%: 1.64 ± 0.82 vs 1.64 ± 0.87, p=0.36). However, in euploid embryos, there is a mild decrease in mitochondrial DNA in the group cultured with repeated antioxidants addition at 20% oxygen tension compared to initial addition (5%: 1.36 ± 0.72 vs 1.27 ± 0.8 and 20%: 1.36 ± 0.73 vs 1.54 ± 0.71, p=0.053) CONCLUSIONS: Repeated antioxidants supplementation in culture media did not differ from initial supplementation on euploidy rates nor mitochondrial DNA. IMPACT STATEMENT: The adjustment of ORP levels in culture media by the addition of antioxidants at 12 hours intervals does not increase euploidy rates and mtDNA of blastocysts. In addition, it is possible that elevated levels of ORP in culture media do not modify the chromosomal status of embryos. More studies are needed to confirm these findings. SUPPORT: No financial support was required for this studio. REFERENCES: Gardner, D.K.; Kuramoto, T.; Tanaka, M.; Mitzumoto, S.; Montag, M.; Yoshida, A. Prospective Randomized Multicentre Comparison on Sibling Oocytes Comparing G-Series Media System with Antioxidants versus Standard G-Series Media System. Reprod Biomed Online 2020, 40(5), 637-644,.

Volume

120

Issue

4

First Page

e283

Last Page

e284

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