Relatively poor oocyte quality is an indication for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relation between the insemination method used and the quality of oocytes and embryos.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Assisted reproductive centers at Yamagata University Hospital and Kuramoto Women's Clinic in Yamagata, Japan.

PATIENT(S): Forty patients undergoing IVF and 40 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

INTERVENTION(S): To estimate oocyte quality, the granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte were fixed and stained with a commercial dye in both groups of patients. One thousand granulosa cells were examined under a fluorescence microscope.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The incidence of apoptotic granulosa cells surrounding each oocyte.

RESULT(S): The incidence of apoptosis in the granulosa cells enclosing the oocytes that were fertilized by IVF was significantly lower than that in the oocytes that were fertilized by ICSI. Moreover, the incidence of apoptosis in the granulosa cells enclosing the oocytes that grew into good-quality or fair-quality embryos was significantly lower after conventional IVF than after ICSI. With ICSI, the incidence of apoptosis was not significantly different among the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that were inseminated, were fertilized, or developed into good-quality or fair-quality embryos. With IVF, the incidence of apoptosis was highest in the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that were inseminated and lowest in the granulosa cells surrounding the oocytes that developed into good-quality and fair-quality embryos.

CONCLUSION(S): A good-quality oocyte is necessary for the development of a good-quality embryo with IVF but not with ICSI. Thus, relatively poor oocyte quality is a good indication for the use of ICSI.