Ultrastructural Evaluation of the Human Oocyte at the Germinal Vesicle Stage during the Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Maria Grazia Palmerini; Sevastiani Antonouli; Guido Macchiarelli; Sandra Cecconi; Serena Bianchi; Mohammad Ali Khalili; Stefania Annarita Nottola

doi:10.3390/cells11101636

Cells (May 2022)

Ultrastructural Evaluation of the Human Oocyte at the Germinal Vesicle Stage during the Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Maria Grazia Palmerini,
Sevastiani Antonouli,
Guido Macchiarelli,
Sandra Cecconi,
Serena Bianchi,
Mohammad Ali Khalili,
Stefania Annarita Nottola

Affiliations

Maria Grazia Palmerini: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Sevastiani Antonouli: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Guido Macchiarelli: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Sandra Cecconi: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Serena Bianchi: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Mohammad Ali Khalili: Department of Reproductive Biology, Yazd Institute for Reproductive Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 97514, Iran
Stefania Annarita Nottola: Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, La Sapienza University, 00161 Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11101636
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 10
p. 1636

Abstract

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After its discovery in 1825 by the physiologist J.E. Purkinje, the human germinal vesicle (GV) attracted the interest of scientists. Discarded after laparotomy or laparoscopic ovum pick up from the pool of retrieved mature oocytes, the leftover GV was mainly used for research purposes. After the discovery of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), its developing potential was explored, and recognized as an important source of germ cells, especially in the case of scarce availability of mature oocytes for pathological/clinical conditions or in the case of previous recurrent implantation failure. We here review the ultrastructural data available on GV-stage human oocytes and their application to ARTs.

Published in Cells

ISSN: 2073-4409 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Cytology
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cells

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