REPEATED ANTIOXIDANT SUPPLEMENTATION OF CULTURE MEDIA IMPROVES BLASTOCYST FORMATION IN HOMOLOGOUS SIBLING ZYGOTES FROM INFERTILE PATIENTS UNDER DIFFERENT O2 CONCENTRATIONS

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-17-2023

Publication Title

Fertil Steril

Abstract

TITLE: Repeated antioxidant supplementation of culture media improves blastocyst formation in homologous sibling zygotes from infertile patients under different O2 concentrations. STUDY QUESTION: Do the repeated vs initial antioxidants (AOXs) supplementation to culture media of homologous sibling zygotes strategies increase blastocyst utilization and expansion rates in IVF/ICSI cycles under two different O2 concentrations? OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of repeated and initial AOXs supplementation of sibling zygotes in the blastocyst utilization and expansion rates in IVF/ICSI cycles under two different O2 concentrations MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at CITMER, Mexico from April 2020 to November 2022. We included a total of 293 patients younger than 37 years old (mean age 32.1 ± 3.4 years old) and normal ovarian response (more than 6 retrieved oocytes) undergoing IVF/ICSI. A total of 3603 zygotes were divided into 4 groups and cultured in the following conditions until blastocyst stage: Group 1A: 793 zygotes 20% O2 with antioxidants every 12 hours to stabilize the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) levels at physiological state during the entire culture period, Group 1B: 1286 zygotes 20% O2 with antioxidants at the beginning of the culture (from gametes handling until fertilization check), Group 2A: 695 zygotes 5% O2 with antioxidants every 12 hours, Group 2B: 829 zygotes 5% O2 with antioxidants at the beginning. Embryo development was assessed. Odds ratio and Fisher test were performed. p<0.05=significant. RESULTS: Overall, the group supplemented with AOXs every 12 hours had a significantly higher blastocyst expansion rate on days 5 (1A: 31.3% vs 1B: 28%, p=0.11; 2A: 28.8% vs 2B: 23%, p=0.01*) and 6 (1A: 5.9% vs 3.7%, p=0.02*; 2A: 5.5% vs 4.9%, p=0.65), usable blastocyst formation rate on day 5 (1A: 45.3% vs 1B: 44.2%, p=0.65; 2A: 45.2% vs 2B: 39.6%, p=0.03*), as well as usable blastocyst formation rate on day 6 (1A: 7.9% vs 1B: 4.7%, p<0.01*; 2A: 7.1% vs 6.8%, p=0.84) compared to the group with only initial AOXs supplementation. The results of the embryo culture with AOXs during the entire incubation at 20% O2 tension are similar to the culture with antioxidants only at the beginning of the culture at 5% O2 tension. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant supplementation every 12 hours compared to initial AOXs supplementation improved the rates of blastocyst expansion and formation of usable blastocysts on day 5 and day 6 in patients younger than 37 years old and normal ovarian response undergoing IVF/ICSI. When comparing both O2 tensions (5% vs 20%), in both antioxidant-supplemented culture strategies, usable and expanded blastocysts rates were similar. IMPACT STATEMENT: Repeated antioxidant supplementation in culture media could potentially support embryo development in both 5% and 20% O2 tension compared to only baseline antioxidants supplementation. However, more studies need to focus on pregnancy and live birth rates, as well as the safety of using this method for antioxidant supplementation. SUPPORT: No financial support was required for this studio. REFERENCE: 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

e213

Last Page

e213

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