EFFECTS OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN THE FINAL STAGES OF NUCLEAR ANDCYTOPLASMIC OOCYTE MATURATION IN HUMANS

Evidence has accumulated in mammals suggesting a positive role for epi dermal growth factor (EGF) as an inducer of oocyte maturation. The pot ential use of EGF as inducer of cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation was tested in women with > 10 oocytes retrieved in in-vitro fertilization (IVF), since we have previously observed that such oocytes are immatu re. Oocytes from 17 high responders were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment groups upon retrieval: control receiving no EGF (n = 93), 1.0 ng/ml EGF (n = 92) and 10.0 ng/ml EGF (n = 77) for 6 h bef ore insemination. The rates of fertilization were respectively 54.6, 5 9.0, and 46.1%, suggesting that EGF is not effective at this maturatio nal stage after this length of exposure. Embryo development was furthe r analysed by the appearance of the embryos under the dissecting micro scope and the number of blastomeres developed 48 h after insemination. No difference between groups was observed considering the number of b lastomeres developed. However, embryos derived from oocytes treated wi th 10 ng/ml EGF displayed a worse appearance under the microscope. It is concluded that a 6 h incubation with EGF does not seem to affect cy toplasmic maturation in oocytes obtained after gonadotrophin treatment , as ascertained by the rate of fertilization following oocyte insemin ation.