Ovarian activation and embryonic development and implantation continue to focus research activity at IVI. In this sense, there are 3 studies that have received a distinction at the 69th edition of the congress of the Society for Reproductive Research (also known as SRI for its acronym in English). In addition, these studies outline promising options for those patients with ovarian failure.
IVI and research activity
This current edition of the SRI is taking place since March 15, in Denver (Colorado). In total, 21 have been the awarded works of those presented by IVI. Specifically, as we said, 3 of them have been distinguished by the scientific committee of the SRI thanks to their contributions.
We have asked the Dr Garridodirector of the IVI Foundationto make a balance on how the importance of research for the development of our activity: “Our greatest motivation for research is to make discoveries that allow us to achieve the best results to offer patients the greatest guarantees in their assisted reproduction treatments. And that this is valued in the scientific congresses where we participate, that each year our work and contributions to clinical practice in our sector are recognized, is a real pride for us”.
Ovarian activation as a goal
Under the coordination of Dr. Sonia Herrera, an IVI Foundation researcher, one of the awarded studies was “Combination of Stem Cell Secreted and Platelet Enclosed Growth Factors Restores Ovarian Function in an Aging Mouse Model”. In it we see the comparison of the intraovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with the intraovarian injection of a plasma enriched both in the factors secreted by the bone marrow stem cells and those that are in the platelets (in other words, the basis of the 4-step ASCOT study).
“The main difference is that in this work we use a physiological aging model. For this, we have obtained animals that, in some way, would imitate what would be young patients, patients of advanced maternal age, and patients over 45 years of age to see if in these 3 groups of patients any of these 2 alternatives, that is, the intraovarian injection of PRP or of the combination of the factors of the stem cells and of the platelets, would be an option to improve their reproductive capacity”comments Dr. Herraiz.
With highly promising results, it has been shown that the injection of the combination of both cell and platelet factors is capable of improving the development of the follicles, since it regenerates the ovarian vascularization, thus allowing the recovery of more oocytes and embryos from higher quality after ovarian stimulation. This news is especially relevant since this happens both in groups of advanced maternal age, and in those who imitate women over 45 years of age.
“These findings have made us worthy of the ‘SRI President’s Plenary Awards’, an award that we are very proud to receive and that recognizes 4 of all the selected papers for their scientific interest, encouraging many young researchers to present high-quality studies ”, concludes Dr. Herraiz.
The role of progesterone in embryo implantation
The second of the works awarded by the SRI was “Deciphering the Role Of PGRMC2 In Decidualization and Trophoblast Invasion Using Primary In Vitro Models”. This study describes, for the first time in history, the behavior of a non-classical progesterone receptor (PGRMC2) in embryo implantation.
“One of the main causes of female infertility is implantation failure, the process of which is currently not well understood. For proper embryo implantation to occur, the human endometrium must create a receptive state in response to hormones such as progesterone. Analysis of this little-known hormone receptor (PGRMC2) will improve fertility rates in infertile women. And thus, develop new techniques to improve embryo implantation, leading to full-term pregnancies”dr. Francisco Dominguezcoordinator of the study and researcher of the IVI Foundation.
Early embryonic development and its viability
Finally, “Single cell transcriptome description of early development haploid androgenotes and parthenotes” is the latest of the studies led by IVI, which has been awarded. It analyzes, for the first time in humans, the early embryonic development at the transcriptomic level of haploid uniparental human embryos.
“Given that in many countries of the world (including Spain) research on the early development of the embryo with viable healthy human embryos is prohibited, single-parent embryos are a great solution to this problem”, clarifies Dr. Domínguez.
Given that a uniparental embryo is made up only of the maternal or paternal genetic part, its use in research is allowed, since in no case can it evolve into a viable embryo. In addition, these uniparental embryos also allow knowing with the highest precision the contribution of each gamete (maternal and paternal) separately during the first stages of embryonic development –from the fertilization of the oocyte to the formation of the blastocyst, which takes place between day 5- 7 development-.
Dr. Domínguez, hopeful and looking to the future, concludes by commenting that “To date, the early development of the embryo continues to be a field in which we do not know many processes and/or factors that determine the future viability of the embryo and that could be key to a better understanding of this initial embryonic stage. Studies like this allow us to move forward and shine light to ultimately optimize reproductive outcomes for patients”.
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