MICROMANIPULATION OF
HUMAN GAMATES AND
EMBRYO
Submitted by:
Suman Mondal
Roll No.-18
3rd Semester
Dept. Of Human Physiology
With Community Health
INTRODUCTION
Human fertilization is a simple but complicated
process. It is the union of two haploid gametes usually
occurring in the ampulla of fallopian tube. The result
comes with the formation of a zygote, implanted in
the uterine endometrium and develops to a child.
But in cases of complication or infertility in male or
female or in both IVF is used. Micromanipulation the
part of IVF includes union of male and female
genome independent of action of structurally intact or
motile sperm. This method is mainly used in male
infertility.
Conventional In-Vitro Fertilization
In conventional IVF method first 1-30 mature
oocytes are collected from the ovary. The yields are
collected in a balanced salt solution at 37 until
they are ready for insemination. The destined
sperm are collected and put separately in culture.
Following a several hours in culture the gametes are
mixed and allowed to fertilize naturally depending
on quality and maturity of both egg and sperm.
Then the zygote is put in culture till blastocyst
formation before implantation.
What is Micromanipulation?
Micromanipulation technique include a micromanipulator,
with tiny glass tools connected to motor driven robot arms
linked to a specialized microscope able to penetrate single
cell membrane and transfer genome in cell.
Normally the oocyte accepts sperm genome and
eliminates other components as plasma membrane and
acrosomal contents. Sperm is
injected via microinjection. So
during manipulation all post-
meiotic modification of
spermatozoa can be used
devoid of maturity, motility
and viability to produce
normal offspring.
Male Infertility and IVF
Micromanipulation is clinically used in IVF for the
treatment of male factor infertility. If sperm is in low
quality like low in concentration, less viability, low
motility or deformed chromosomal content chances
of fertilization becomes very low.
The ultimate evolution of this approach has
developed the single sperm injection method
referred as Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection or
ICSI. This process only uses haploid male genome
from spermatozoa to fertilize.
Methods of Micromanipulation
ICSI (Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection):-
The achievement of this process comes along with
the use of post meiotic spermatozoa regardless of
sperm quality. In this case male factor infertility is out
of concern.
In azoospermia
(ejaculated semen has
no sperm) or in
necrozoospermia
(sperm do not survive
to the point of
ejaculation) are
collected from
epididymis. The
genome is extracted
Assisted Hatching:-
Viable embryos do not implant successfully because
they are unable to break free from sorrounding zona
pellucida until they reach the blastocyst stage.
Blastocyst absorbs water and ruptures zona pellucida;
ready to implant on endometrium.
In assisted hatching a
hole is made mechinally
or chemically. Now days
it is performed using
infrared LASER to create
a hole in zona pellucida
allowing the embryo an
easy escape when it is
ready for implantation.
Embryo Biopsy:-
In micromanipulation embryo biopsy is done for
both embryo and ovum. This is known as
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) or
Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) by
removing the first polar body ofCouples
6-12 cellwho
stage.
are at
high risk of
chromosomal
anomalies are
screened. Both
autosomal and sex
chromosomal linked
disorder can be
determined.
Cryopreservation:-
Embryo preservation
is an important part of
Assisted Reproductive
Technology (ART) for
successful IVF. Embryos
of any stage can be
preserved for this in a
special freezing solution
which is slowly freezed in
liquid Nitrogen at
-196. This allows a
second opportunity for
pregnancy without
undergoing ovarian
stimulation.
Effects of Micromanipulation
Now fertilization is not a hit and miss affair with
the advanced process of manipulation. Embryos can
be biopsed to determine the genetic status for the
welfare of the child.
ICSI has increased the chance of pregnancy in
couples whose chance in IVF is reduced. But the
success cant be always predicted.
These process require a high degree of ethical
responsibility for providing optimal environment for
these microscopic changes. Experiments are done
by experienced personnel under governmental
supervision to avoid illegal consequences.
