Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
3939218 | Fertility and Sterility | 2008 | 14 Pages |
ObjectiveTo determine the permeability of human metaphase II oocytes to ethylene glycol and water in the presence of ethylene glycol, and to use this information to develop a method to vitrify human oocytes.DesignAn incomplete randomized block design.SettingA university-affiliated assisted reproductive center.Patient(s)Women undergoing assisted reproduction in the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Shandong University.Intervention(s)Oocytes were exposed to 1.0 molar ethylene glycol in a single step and photographed during subsequent volume excursions.Main Outcome Measure(s)A two-parameter model was employed to estimate the permeability to water and ethylene glycol.Result(s)Water permeability ranged from 0.15 to 1.17 μm/(min·atm), and ethylene glycol permeability ranged from 1.5 to 30 μm/min between 7°C at 36°C. The activation energies for water and ethylene glycol permeability were 14.42 Kcal/mol and 21.20 Kcal/mol, respectively.Conclusion(s)Despite the lower permeability of human metaphase II oocytes to ethylene glycol compared with previously published values for propylene glycol and dimethylsulfoxide, methods to add and remove human oocytes with a vitrifiable concentration of ethylene glycol can be designed that prevent excessive osmotic stress and minimize exposure to high concentrations of this compound.