Abstracts
Formulation of a new media composition to improve pregnancy rates after embryo culture
Kirsty Pringle
PhD student: University of Adelaide,
Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Supervised through Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide
ART may result in preterm birth, low birth weight or perinatal mortality. In addition, low birth weight is associated with adult onset diseases such as coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and hypertension. These complications may arise from the suboptimal culture environment to which the embryo is exposed during IVF. We aimed to determine whether treatment of the embryo with a combination of molecules during this sensitive period improves embryo development and subsequent pregnancy success. Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-II, Plasminogen and Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA) are normally produced by the embryo itself or the mother’s uterus but their production is reduced by embryo culture. These molecules are involved in embryo implantation and the formation of the placenta to ensure an adequate nutrient supply to the fetus. Mouse embryos were cultured with either media alone or with IGF-II, uPA and Plasminogen. Embryo development was assessed and healthy embryos transferred into recipient female mice to determine implantation rate and pregnancy success. The treatment significantly improved embryo development in culture compared to control embryos. In addition, only 50% of mice that had control embryos transferred were pregnant compared to 91% of mice that had treated embryos. The treatment also increased the total number of implantations. This combination treatment appears to overcome some of the problems associated with embryo culture and may be particularly useful in women who experience implantation failure after IVF to help establish a successful pregnancy.
