Mitochondrial activity and cytoskeleton organization in three pronuclei oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

SummaryDigyny, the presence of a third pronucleus due to the failure of second polar body extrusion, is problematic after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) practices. Mitochondria have critical roles such as production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis during oocyte maturation, fertilization and the following development, while the regulation of meiotic spindle formation, chromosome segregation, pronuclear apposition and cytokinesis is closely associated with the cytoskeleton. In this study, mitochondrial membrane potential, distribution of F-actin and γ-tubulin, and the ultrastructure of three pronuclear (3PN) oocytes were investigated. 3PN oocytes after ICSI procedure were taken from patients who were enrolled in assisted reproduction programmes. For mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, fresh oocytes stained with the mitochondrial membrane potential probe JC-1, were evaluated under fluorescence microscopy. The mitochondrial membrane potential of three pronuclear oocytes showed similar results to normal zygotes. γ-Tubulin was stained strongly at the subplasmalemmal domain and microfilaments were localized at the cortical, but not the perinuclear, area. Cytoplasmic halos were moderately or not detected by electron microscopy; lipofuscin granules, degenerated mitochondria, and multilamellated bodies were seen in the ooplasm. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic findings suggested that mitochondrial membrane potential has no direct effect on second polar body extrusion. This abnormality can be associated with an altered cytoskeleton due to poor oocyte quality.

First successful pregnancy in a globozoospermic patient having homozygous mutation in SPATA16.

OBJECTIVE: To report the first case of a successful pregnancy obtained with an infertile 29-year-old man with a homozygous mutation in the spermatogenesis-specific gene SPATA16 after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) center. PATIENT(S): A couple who suffered from infertility of whom the husband was globozoospermic and carrying a homozygous mutation in the spermatogenesis-specific gene SPATA16. INTERVENTION(S): Clinical and histopathological evaluation, transmission electron microscopy, stimulation with fixed antagonist protocol, ICSI, activation of fertilization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): In vitro fertilization and pregnancy. RESULT(S): Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia was revealed in semen analysis. Total globozoospermia was detected. Chromatin condensation pattern was detected abnormal in 88% of spermatozoa with aniline blue staining. During the ART cycle 12 oocytes were collected. Eleven oocytes were at the metaphase II and one was at the germinal vesicle stage. After the injection, one oocyte fertilized on the following day; the 4-cell stage embryo was transferred. Pregnancy occurred and a healthy boy was delivered after 42 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION(S): This is the first report of a pregnancy obtained in a man with homozygous SPATA16 mutated globozoospermia.