Decoding History

Adherence compounds in embryo transfer media for assisted reproductive technologies

“…It is present in the human endometrium (Salamonsen 2001), and its levels have been shown to increase dramatically on the day of implantation in mice (Carson 1987). Initial studies in mouse embryo transfers showed that inclusion of HA in transfer medium significantly increased implantation rates and enhanced fetal development when compared with no HA in the transfer medium (Gardner 1999).…”

“…In a human trial, Simon et al showed that HA can successfully replace albumin as the sole macromolecule in an embryo transfer medium, resulting in high pregnancy rates (Simon 2003). Although the risks associated with a biologically derived product have been overcome in part by the development of recombinant human serum albumin, HA is preferable to albumin because it is a polysaccharide and can be synthesised and isolated in a pure form (Gardner 1999).…”

“…Other macromolecules that have been investigated include bovine serum albumin (BSA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and dextran, but none of these has been shown to improve implantation rates compared with no macromolecule (Gardner 1999). Heparanase has been shown to increase implantation rates in mice (Revel 2005) but has never been studied in human embryo transfers.…”