The aim of this study was to explore whether the morphology of polar bodies (PBs) estimated at 16-18 h after insemination can be used as an additional marker for predicting human embryo quality or pregnancy outcome. The data from 355 patients who received standard in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation were recruited. Normal fertilized 3048 zygotes from 382 cycles were divided into two groups, PBs intact or fragmented, according to the morphology of PBs assessed at 16-18 h after insemination. Embryo quality and pregnancy outcome were compared between the two groups. It was shown that the day 3 (D3) good embryo rate, good quality blastocyst rate and available embryo rate of the PBs intact group were all significantly higher than that of the corresponding fragmented groups. However, no significant differences in pregnancy rate (PR) or implantation rate (IR) were observed between the intact and fragmented groups. Although PBs morphology estimated at 16-18 h after insemination had little effect on PR or IR in fresh embryo transfer cycles, a better embryo quality can be achieved in the PB-intact group, which is valuable for embryo selection.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the effect of in vitro vitrification and maturation on the nuclear configuration, cytoplasmic maturation and global DNA methylation pattern of human germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes. Methods: Human oocytes from infertile women were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: (i) metaphase II (MII) oocytes matured in vivo (vivo-MII, n = 56) as controls; (ii) MII oocytes matured in vitro (vitro-MII, n = 106); and (iii) MII oocytes that were vitrified at the GV stage, warmed and matured in vitro (cryo-MII, n = 122). All MII oocytes were fixed and immunofluorescence staining for spindle, chromosome, mitochondrion and cortical granules (CGs) were performed; examination was done using immunofluorescence laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of 5-methycytosine in these MII oocytes was also assessed. Results: No significant difference was observed between vitro-MII and cryo-MII groups with respect to oocyte maturation rate (72.4 vs. 78.3%). No significant differences were observed in the distribution of mitochondria, migration of CG and global DNA methylation pattern among the 3 study groups. However, the abnormal configuration of spindle and chromosome was significantly higher in cryo-MII group (78.9 and 84.2%) as compared to that in the vitro-MII (45.0 and 50.0%, p < 0.05) and vivo-MII groups (27.3 and 36.4%, p < 0.05). Conclusion: GV oocytes appeared to resist vitrification and retain their potential for maturation to MII stage oocytes after thawing. However, GV oocytes vitrification combined with in vitro maturation could affect the organization of spindle and chromosome.

a b s t r a c tMiR-185 expression has been associated with many cancers. However, the roles of miR-185 in human breast cancer remain elusive. Here, we found that miR-185 expression was decreased in human breast cancer tissues compared with healthy tissue controls. Up-regulation of miR-185 inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion and vice versa. MiR-185 was shown to bind to the 3 0 -untranslated region (UTR) of vascular endothelial growth factor a (Vegfa), and a significant inverse correlation was found between miR-185 and Vegfa. Vegfa overexpression partially restored the inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion that was induced by miR-185, and vice versa. Additionally, Vegfa expression was found to be high in human breast cancer tissues. Thus, miR-185-mediated Vegfa targeting may be involved in breast cancer formation.