Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 7, 1892-1894,
July 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
A human oocyte with two sets of MII/PB-structures: Case report
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Göteborg University, SU/Sahlgrenska, 13 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
This paper reports a case where a normal-sized human oocyte has been documented having two polar bodies and two metaphase spindles. This finding suggests that the chromosomal content in oocytes of normal size may occasionally be duplicated and offers an additional explanation for the origin of triploid zygotes in humans. We speculate that this duplication may be caused by oocyte fusion at an early stage.
Key words: digyny/oocyte/oocyte fusion/triploid
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: thorir.hardarson{at}obgyn.gu.se