Abstract
Growing eggs in the laboratory: providing a safe alternative to fertility drugs
Kylie Dunning
PhD submitted June 2008, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
University of Adelaide
Current IVF procedures necessitate administration of high doses of hormones to promote maturation of eggs within a woman’s ovaries for retrieval and fertilisation in the laboratory. The injected hormones can cause discomfort and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can lead to a build up of fluid in the lungs and even result in death. Furthermore, these hormones are a major expense of IVF treatment, adding significantly to the cost burden of infertility on Australian society.
My project has demonstrated exciting improvements to an alternative treatment that matures eggs after collection using a technique called in vitro maturation (IVM). IVM does not require injection of hormones and circumvents dangerous side effects.
Important challenges that must be overcome before IVM can be introduced as a reliable treatment include improved quality of eggs and pregnancy success.
I showed that two proteins (Adamts1 and Versican) that normally accumulate around the developing egg can act as critical “filters” controlling the environment in which the egg develops. Furthermore, I showed that Adamts1 and Versican are absent from the layers of protective cells surrounding the egg matured by IVM and that these have poor molecular filtration function compared to eggs matured within the mother’s ovaries. This is the first time a mechanism for the reduced health of IVM eggs has been identified, thus my work provides critical novel information about what the egg requires for optimal health. By making IVM a viable option, we are closer to developing a safe alternative to hormonal stimulation for patients undergoing IVF.
