Biphasic CAPA-IVM Improves Equine Oocyte Quality and Subsequent Embryo Development Without Inducing Genetic Aberrations.

In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes retrieved from ovum pick-up (OPU) or ovarian tissue (OT) is a standard approach for patients with specific conditions where prior hormonal stimulation is contraindicated. However, the developmental competence of oocytes matured in vitro is still inferior to that of oocytes matured in vivo. Capacitation IVM (CAPA-IVM) includes an extra step of pre-maturation culture (PMC) with c-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) as a meiotic arrestor to better synchronize cytoplasmic and nuclear maturity in oocytes by allowing the cytoplasm additional time to acquire essential components critical for optimal competency.

Genetic and reproductive strategies to prevent mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases pose unique challenges for genetic counselling and require tailored approaches to address recurrence risks and reproductive options. The intricate dynamics of mtDNA segregation and heteroplasmy shift significantly impact the chances of having affected children. In addition to natural pregnancy, oocyte donation, and adoption, IVF-based approaches can reduce the risk of disease transmission.

Attitude of Belgian women towards enucleated egg donation for treatment of mitochondrial diseases and infertility.

Research Question: What is the attitude of Belgian women of reproductive age towards enucleated egg donation? Does the willingness of women to donate differ when they would donate enucleated or whole eggs?

Design: In 2022, an online survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1000 women in Belgium aged 18-50 years. The item on willingness to anonymously donate enucleated eggs was dichotomized into those willing to donate and those not willing to donate or uncertain.

Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the willingness to donate enucleated eggs and whole eggs (whether anonymously or identifiably).

Various repair events following CRISPR/Cas9-based mutational correction of an infertility-related mutation in mouse embryos.

Purpose: Unpredictable genetic modifications and chromosomal aberrations following CRISPR/Cas9 administration hamper the efficacy of germline editing. Repair events triggered by double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) besides non-homologous end joining and repair template-driven homology-directed repair have been insufficiently investigated in mouse. In this work, we are the first to investigate the precise repair mechanisms triggered by parental-specific DSB induction in mouse for paternal mutational correction in the context of an infertility-related mutation.