Effect of micro-environment maintenance on embryo culture after in-vitro fertilization: comparison of top-load mini incubator and conventional front-load incubator
Mutsuko Fujiwara, Kentaro Takahashi, Mika Izuno, Ya Ru Duan, Maya Kazono, Fuminori Kimura, Yoichi Noda, Mutsuko Fujiwara, Kentaro Takahashi, Mika Izuno, Ya Ru Duan, Maya Kazono, Fuminori Kimura, Yoichi Noda
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of microenvironment maintenance on embryo culture and clinical results using two types of incubators.
Methods: Temperature and oxygen concentration in a mini-incubator and a conventional incubator were compared following a 5-s door opening/closing procedure. Embryos of 30 in-vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cases were randomly allocated to either one of the incubator, cultured, and the early-stage good embryo formation rate and the good blastocyst formation rate were compared, as indicators for micro-environment maintenance ability.
Results: Temperature recovery after a 5-s door opening/closing procedure was approximately 5 min for the mini-incubator and 30 min for the conventional incubator. The oxygen concentration return was significantly improved in the mini-incubator (3.0 +/- 0 min) compared with the conventional incubator (7.8 +/- 0.9 min). Both the early-stage good embryo formation rate and the good blastocyst formation rate were significantly higher in the mini-incubator (39.5% and 15.1%) than the conventional incubator (28.4% and 7.8%).
Conclusion: The microenvironment maintenance ability of incubators appears to significantly influence the formation of good embryos.
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Source: PubMed