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Influence of Manipulation of Oocytes and Embryos in Low Oxygen Tension on Assisted Reproduction Technology Outcome

NCT04424784 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 1160

Last updated 2021-05-25

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Nowadays, most assisted reproduction laboratories attempt to maintain as much as possible ex vivo culture conditions comparable to those in vivo. Various culturing condition such as temperature and pH parameters have been adjusted according to in vivo values in order to improve in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Embryos of most mammals, including that of humans, are not exposed to oxygen concentration higher than 8%. Thus, embryos and gametes should be kept in a low oxygen environment during manipulation in assisted reproduction treatment.

Culturing embryos in low oxygen concentrations is now a general practice in IVF laboratories. However, there are still laboratory procedures when the oocytes/embryos are exposed to atmospheric oxygen. In most laboratories, oocytes retrieval is performed under atmospheric oxygen concentration. Oocyte is very sensitive to environmental changes, for instance, transient cooling to room temperature can cause irreversible disruption of the meiotic spindle in human oocytes and oocyte in vitro maturation can lead to the decline of energy metabolism in human oocytes. Whether oocyte exposed to atmospheric oxygen during oocyte retrieval has detrimental effect on embryo development and IVF outcomes is unknown.

Previous studies showed that low oxygen tension during embryo culture improved implantation rate and clinical outcomes, but embryo quality was not affected. In other studies, embryo quality was improved but overall pregnancy was not affected. The reason for the discrepancies could be because the oxygen tension during oocyte/embryo manipulation was not under well control. For instance, oocyte retrieval, fertilization check and embryo grading were performed under atmospheric oxygen. It is difficult to predict how these factors negatively impact the IVF outcomes.

In this project, the investigators hypothesize that lower oxygen tension during oocyte/embryo manipulation improves IVF outcomes.

Conditions

  • Embryo Hypoxia

Interventions

BIOLOGICAL

5% O2

5% oxygen will be used during oocyte retrieval, fertilization check and embryo grading

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Shubiu Yeung, PhD · The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-03-22
Primary Completion
2023-06-30
Completion
2023-06-30

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04424784 on ClinicalTrials.gov