Publicaties
ESNATS Conference — The Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Novel Toxicity Testing Approaches Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Mitotic spindle disruption in human preimplantation embryos activates the spindle assembly checkpoint but not apoptosis until Day 5 of development Vrije Universiteit Brussel
STUDY QUESTION: Is the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) active during human preimplantation development? SUMMARY ANSWER: Mitotic spindle disruption during mitosis activates the SAC from at least Day 3 of human preimplantation development, but this does not lead to apoptosis until Day 5. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Human preimplantation embryos frequently acquire chromosomal abnormalities, but the mechanisms behind this are poorly understood. It ...
An improved IVM method for cumulus-oocyte complexes from small follicles in polycystic ovary syndrome patients enhances oocyte competence and embryo yield Vrije Universiteit Brussel
STUDY QUESTION: Are meiotic and developmental competence of human oocytes from small (2-8 mm) antral follicles improved by applying an optimized IVM method involving a prematuration step in presence of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) followed by a maturation step in presence of FSH and Amphiregulin (AREG)? SUMMARY ANSWER: A strategy involving prematuration culture (PMC) in the presence of CNP followed by IVM using FSH + AREG increases oocyte ...
Randomized sibling-oocyte study using recombinant human hyaluronidase versus bovine-derived Sigma hyaluronidase in ICSI patients Vrije Universiteit Brussel Universiteit Gent
BACKGROUND: The enzyme hyaluronidase from bovine origin is commonly used for oocyte-cumulus cell removal in ICSI. A recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) has been introduced as a quality-controlled and safe alternative.
METHODS: In order to validate its effectiveness, a non-inferiority trial was started on sibling cumulus-oocyte complexes (135 ICSI patients). Oocyte denudation involved enzyme incubation under Pasteur pipetting, ...
Effect of the hematopoietic growth factors erythropoietin and kit ligand on bovine oocyte in vitro maturation and developmental competence Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The overall aim of this work was to study the influence of the hematopoietic growth factors erythropoietin (EPO) and kit ligand (KITL) during bovine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). The effect of adding different concentrations of EPO or KITL to maturation medium was evaluated analyzing oocyte nuclear maturation, cumulus cells apoptosis, embryo cleavage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in matured oocytes and cleaved embryos and the ...