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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on February 25, 2005
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh811
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Human Reproduction © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2005; all rights reserved
Received September 9, 2004
Revised January 14, 2005
Accepted January 21, 2005

Article

High magnitude of light retardation by the zona pellucida is associated with conception cycles

Y. Shen 1, T. Stalf 2, C. Mehnert 2, U. Eichenlaub-Ritter 3*, and H.-R. Tinneberg 1

1 Centre of In-Vitro-Fertilisation (CIF) in the Justus-Liebig-University, Germany, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Women's Hospital, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
2 Centre of In-Vitro-Fertilisation (CIF) in the Justus-Liebig-University, Germany
3 University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Biology IX, Gene Technology/Microbiology, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
U. Eichenlaub-Ritter, E-mail: EiRi{at}uni-bielefeld.de


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Failures in expression of zona proteins correlate to subfertility in animals. Low expression of the zona proteins by the growing human oocyte may indicate reduced developmental potential. Therefore, we non-invasively analysed the thickness and the structure of the zona pellucida (ZP) of human oocytes with respect to embryo fate after ICSI. METHODS: Retardance magnitude and thickness of the inner, middle and outer layers of the ZP were quantitatively analysed by a Polscope in 166 oocytes selected for transfer after ICSI (63 patients; 32.8±4.4 years) on the basis of pronuclear score at day 1. Blastomere number was determined at day 2. Data were compared between conception cycles (CC; 65 oocytes/23 patients) and non-conception cycles (NCC; 101 oocytes/40 patients) and with respect to maternal age. RESULTS: The thickness was slightly elevated (P<0.001), and the mean magnitude of light retardance was nearly 30% higher (P<0.001) in the inner layer of the zona pellucida of oocytes contributing to CC compared to NCC. Embryos in the CC group tended to develop faster. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of light retardance by the zona pellucida inner layer appears to present a unique non-invasive marker for oocyte developmental potential.

Keywords: conception; human oocyte; ICSI; Polscope; zona pellucida.
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