Fertilization

In classical IVF, several hours after the oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development. pick-up (OPUFrom English "Oocyte Pick-Up".  Oocyte retrieval in ovarian follicles in women for in vitro fertilization. The vaginal oocyte retrieval is generally performed under a light general anesthesia, and is carried out by puncturing each mature follicle under ultrasound guidance.), 50,000 spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. are placed in contact with each cumulus-oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development. complexe. This process of fertilizationFusion of an egg and a spermatozoon, fertilization occurs naturally in the fallopian tubes. is performed in a culture dish with 4 cups (see photo). Each box is identified with the names of the patients and incubated at 37 ° C in the presence of 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2 in a special incubator.

Incubator with CO2 and O2 controls on the left, a cumulus-ovocyte complex on the right.

Intracytoplasmic spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. injection (ICSIFrom English "Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection." Assisted fertilization by microscope, where a single sperm is injected directly into the oocyte. ICSI is indicated in cases of male fertility problems, so if there are only very few normal sperm in the sperm or the fertilization capacity of sperm is extremely small.) is carried out when the conventional in vitroLatin for "in glass" for example in a test tube, as opposed to processes taking place inside the body. fertilizationFusion of an egg and a spermatozoon, fertilization occurs naturally in the fallopian tubes. presents a risk of failure, for instance due to a lack of spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. mobility or spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. count, or because of criteria linked to the patients' histories.

L'ICSI

Microscope et micromanipulateurs pour l’ICSI

Intracytoplasmic spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. injection (ICSIFrom English "Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection." Assisted fertilization by microscope, where a single sperm is injected directly into the oocyte. ICSI is indicated in cases of male fertility problems, so if there are only very few normal sperm in the sperm or the fertilization capacity of sperm is extremely small.) was developed at the Brussels Free University in the department of Professor A. C. Van Steirteghem. Used in humans for the first time in 1991-1992, it is now applied by all ART centers worldwide. It improves the rates of fertilizationFusion of an egg and a spermatozoon, fertilization occurs naturally in the fallopian tubes. and pregnancy in patients with subfertilityReduced fertility. linked to the spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm..

Performed with micromanipulators under microscopic control, ICSIFrom English "Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection." Assisted fertilization by microscope, where a single sperm is injected directly into the oocyte. ICSI is indicated in cases of male fertility problems, so if there are only very few normal sperm in the sperm or the fertilization capacity of sperm is extremely small. requires a long expertise. A mobile spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. with normal morphologyShape, conformation. is selected and immobilized by fracturing its flagellum. The oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development. previously cleared of the surrounding feeder cells is in turn attached to a holding micropipette. The injection pipette containing the spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. is then introduced into the oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development., and after ensuring that the membraneEnvelope of a cell, surface of separation. of the egg is pierced, the spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm. is deposited gently in the cytoplasm and the pipette is removed.

A video of ICSI

This short film shows the main steps of ICSIFrom English "Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection." Assisted fertilization by microscope, where a single sperm is injected directly into the oocyte. ICSI is indicated in cases of male fertility problems, so if there are only very few normal sperm in the sperm or the fertilization capacity of sperm is extremely small.:

1. search for a mobile spermatozoonReproductive cell produced by the male genitalia (testes). (the movement is slowed by the viscous solution of PVP),
2. the tip of the pipette is used to break the flagellum,
3. the immobilized spermatozoonReproductive cell produced by the male genitalia (testes). is drawn into the pipette (the flagellum first)
4. the pipette is moved close to an oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development., which is attached to a suction pipette (the polar body is positioned at 12 or 6 h),
5. the injection pipette is introduced into the oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development. at the equator,
6. through aspiration the membraneEnvelope of a cell, surface of separation. of the oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development. is broken,
7. the spermatozoonReproductive cell produced by the male genitalia (testes). is deposited in the egg gently with a minimum of liquid.

The sequence of ICSIFrom English "Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection." Assisted fertilization by microscope, where a single sperm is injected directly into the oocyte. ICSI is indicated in cases of male fertility problems, so if there are only very few normal sperm in the sperm or the fertilization capacity of sperm is extremely small.: A. Identification of the spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm., B. Breaking of the flagellum, C. Aspiration into the pipette, D. Approaching the oocyteA female reproductive cell. At birth, the ovaries contain 1 to 2 million oocytes. At puberty, there are no more than 400'000 to 500'000 left. Only 400 to 500 will reach maturity and ovulation at a rate of  one per month until menopause. All the others will finally degenerate at various stages of development., E. Insertion of the pipette and rupture of the oolemma, F. Insertion of spermEjaculated spermatozoa and secretions during the male orgasm.