Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 1253-1258, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
ME Kervancioglu, E Saridogan, T Atasu, T Camlibel, A Demircan, B Sarikamis and O Djahanbakhch
In order to investigate the effect of human Fallopian tube epithelial cell
co-culture on fertilization and cleavage rates in tubal, male and
unexplained infertility, oocytes collected from 91 patients were randomized
to wells containing Fallopian tube epithelial cell monolayers or
conventional culture medium, and inseminated with spermatozoa.
Fertilization and cleavage were assessed at 18 and 52 h, respectively.
Co-culture significantly increased the fertilization rates over the control
values in male infertility (41.67 versus 23.43%, P = 0.00005), but not in
tubal infertility (69.33 versus 67.93%) or unexplained infertility (65.93
versus 54.36%). Cleavage rates were not different in co-culture and
conventional in-vitro fertilization systems in any of the infertility
subgroups. The number of blastomeres was significantly higher in the
co-culture group on the day of embryo transfer (3.63 +/- 1.12 versus 3.04
+/- 1.26, P < 0.001). Pregnancy rates were similar in all infertility
subgroups. There was no significant association between the number of
co-cultured embryos transferred and the pregnancy, abortion and multiple
pregnancy rates. It was concluded that human Fallopian tube epithelial cell
co-culture clearly improves fertilization rates in male infertility but not
in tubal or unexplained infertility. Improved fertilization rates in co-
culture may be due to positive effect of co-culture on impaired sperm
function.
ARTICLES
Human Fallopian tube epithelial cell co-culture increases fertilization rates in male factor infertility but not in tubal or unexplained infertility
In-Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer Centre, International Hospital, Yesilkoy, Istanbul, Turkey.
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