P-254 Optimizing clinical outcomes in failed ICSI Donor cycles: evaluating the efficacy of Assisted Oocyte Activation
Authors: Parrella A , Ramos B , Rubio N , Soler N , Rogel S , Herrera I , Medrano L , Aizpurua J 
Published: July 2024

Study question

Does Assisted Oocyte Activation (AOA) confer benefits to couples undergoing donor ICSI cycles with a history of poor clinical outcomes and poor sperm quality?

Summary answer

AOA demonstrates efficacy in enhancing reproductive outcomes in donor ICSI cycles, in cases where oocyte activation deficiency (OAD) is attributed to a sperm factor.

What is known already

Oocyte activation is a spatial-temporal process caused by a series of intracellular calcium oscillations (Ca2+)triggered by the entry of sperm into the oocyte. Insufficient Ca2+ oscillations, primarily attributed to the absence of sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) can result in OAD that leads to unsuccessful fertilization and poor embryo growth. Ionomycin and calcimycin, are the most common activating agents used to restart meiosis by raising intercellular Ca2+. As far as our knowledge extends, there aren’t studies reporting clinical outcomes on the use of AOA in patients who undergo cycles both without and with this treatment in donor oocytes.

Study design, size, duration

This study includes 38 couples undergoing ICSI cycles with donor oocytes from January 2020 to December 2023. After a previous cycle with a fertilization rate of &lt; 50% and poor clinical outcomes, these couples underwent a subsequent attempt with AOA. Maternal age of recipients was 42±4.7 and 42±5 years in cycles without and with AOA (P=NS). Fertilization, blastocyst quality, implantation, clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) and pregnancy loss were compared between the cycles with and without AOA.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Oocytes were exposed to a ready-to-use solution of Ca2+-ionophore A23187 (GM508 Cult-Active, Gynemed, Germany) for 15 min after sperm injection. Embryos were cultured in a time-lapse technology (Geri®) andevaluated according to the Gardner blastocyst grading system. Embryo transfer was performed on Day 5 or Day 6. Vitrified and fresh ejaculated sperm samples were used. T-test and Fisher’s Exact test were used for statistical analysis. P-value was considered statistically significant at a threshold of &lt; 0.05.

Main results and the role of chance

A total of 38 men underwent ICSI cycles alongside their female partners, utilizing donor oocytes. The men’s average semen parameters were as follows: concentration of 15.3±25 x 106/mL, motility of 20.1±15%, and 2.0±1% morphology. In the initial 41 cycles without the AOA procedure, an average and standard deviation of 5.8±3 donor oocytes were injected, resulting in a fertilization rate of 33.9% (81/239) and a blastocyst rate of 30.8% (25/81). Among these cryopreserved embryos, 72% (18/25) were identified as top-quality, characterized by A and/or B quality of both inner cell mass and trophectoderm. Couples (N = 13) who underwent a transfer had an implantation rate of 19% (4/21), with CPR of 28.5% (4/14), which resulted in a pregnancy loss of 75% (3/4). Subsequently, these couples underwent 47 ICSI cycles with AOA, injecting an average of 5±1.7 donor oocytes (P=NS). This led to a significantly higher fertilization rate of 74.2% (176/237, P &lt; 0.0001) and a blastocyst rate of 51.7% (91/176, P &lt; 0.01), with 61% (56/91) identified as top-quality embryos (P=NS). Couples (N = 31) who underwent a transfer had a notable increase in implantation rate to 52% (25/48, P &lt; 0.05), accompanied by a significant rise in CPR, reaching 71.4% (25/35, P &lt; 0.01). Importantly, pregnancy loss decreased to 26% (6/23, P=NS).

Limitations, reasons for caution

The number of patients included in this study is limited. Although we excluded that OAD could be oocyte-related by using donor gamete, PLCζ or mouse oocyte activation tests were not performed to confirm sperm-related OAD. All patients, diagnosed with teratozoospermia, likely exhibit abnormalities causing PLCζlocalization issues or its absence.

Wider implications of the findings

In our study, sperm’s inability to generate accurate calcium signaling pathways correlates with poor clinical outcomes, even with donor oocytes. Consequently, for couples facing Oocyte Activation Deficiency attributed to sperm factors, implementing the AOA procedure significantly improves fertilization, blastocyst formation, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates.

Trial registration number

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