Oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum clusters originate blastocysts with impaired implantation potential

Abstract

Objective: To study whether embryos derived from oocytes presenting a smooth endoplasmic reticulum cluster (SERC) are less likely to develop into blastocysts and implant.

Design: Transversal study.

Setting: Private university-affiliated in vitro fertilization (IVF) center.

Patient(s): Total of 7,609 oocytes obtained from 743 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Intervention(s): Oocytes split between the SERC-positive cycles (with at least one SERC-positive oocyte) and the SERC-negative cycles (only oocytes free of SERC).

Main outcome measure(s): Embryo implantation.

Result(s): A statistically significantly higher mean number of follicles (24.0 ± 10.5 vs. 19.6 ± 10.5), retrieved oocytes (17.8 ± 8.3 vs. 14.3 ± 8.0), and mature oocytes (13.5 ± 6.2 vs. 10.6 ± 5.9) were observed in the SERC-positive cycles as compared with SERC-negative cycles. The implantation rate was statistically significantly lower in SERC-positive cycles as compared with SERC-negative cycles (14.8% vs. 25.6%; odds ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.86). When only cycles with in which none (0) or all the blastocysts transferred had implanted (100%) were analyzed, the mean implantation rate per transferred blastocyst in the SERC-negative group was 20.5%; no blastocysts derived from SERC-positive oocytes implanted.

Conclusion(s): The occurrence of SERC impairs embryo implantation. Careful oocyte observation that takes into account the presence of SERC should be part of embryo selection strategy before transfer.

Keywords: Blastocyst; ICSI; embryo implantation; oocyte morphology; smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

Copyright © 2016 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.