Application of human oocyte morphometric parameters in assessment of fertilization and embryo development

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of human oocyte morphometric parameters with fertilization and embryo development in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS: The morphometric parameters of oocytes collected and submitted to evaluation using OCTAX Eye-ware software just before ICSI. Oocyte diameter (OD), perivitelline space width (PSW), zonapellucida thickness (ZPT) and the shape of first polar body (FPB) (intact or fragmented) were analyzed. A stepwise multivariate Logistic regression was used to test the association between the morphometric parameters and fertilization and embryo development. RESULTS: In the study, 436 oocytes were measured and 370 were fertilized (84.9%), 225 fertilized oocytes were developed to high-quality embryos (60.8%). ZPT and PSW were associated with fertilization. The oocytes fertilized had thicker ZPT [(18.0±2.3) μm vs. (16.9±2.7) μm] and wider PSW [(14.4±3.3) μm vs. (13.2±3.9) μm]. The OD and shape of FPB were associated with embryos development. The oocytes developed to high-quality embryos had larger OD [(116.6±3.7) μm vs. (114.7±3.6) μm] and more intact FPB (86.2% vs. 66.7%). CONCLUSION: The morphometric parameters of oocytes can indicate fertilization and embryo development.