Oocytes with impaired meiotic maturation contain increased mtDNA deletions

• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-025-03393-w
• Publication Date: 2025-01-25T17:51:17Z
• Authors: Jason D. Kofinas; Michelle L. Seth-...; Yael Kramer; Jessie Van Daele; David McCulloh; Fang Wang; Jamie Grifo; David Keefe
• Keywords: Human genetics

Induction of meiotic competence is a major goal the controlled ovarian stimulation used in ART. Do factors intrinsic to oocyte contribute maturation? Deletions mtDNA accumulate long-lived post mitotic tissues and are found human oocytes. If oogenesis cleanses germline deleterious deletions mtDNA, meiotically competent oocytes should contain lower levels vs. arrested We tested this hypothesis using novel PCR assay for deletion ratio derived from IVF. A real-time was developed measure total copy number (mtDNACN) harboring 5 Kb "common deletion" enable calculation (mtDNADR) 143 cultured Kruskal-Wallis test carried out compare mtDNACN mtDNADR among which matured metaphase II (MII) at GV or I (MI). 51.75% reached MII, 17% remained MI. Mean GV, MI MII were 27.87%, 31.88% 20.05%, respectively. The difference ratios between stages statistically significant p < 0.001 = 0.034, Additionally, patient age be positively correlated with time Polar body extrusion (− 0.278 Pearson correlation). Oocytes impaired maturation an increased load deletions. This first report association vitro.