Problem
Since there has been no reported use of the YAG laser to micromanipulate oocytes, our purpose was to study whether (1) a YAG laser could be used to open the zona pellucida of hamster oocytes; (2) human sperm could reach the ooplasm and (3) under sperm penetration assay conditions, sperm would bind and penetrate the ooplasm.
Results
A YAG 100 laser was used at 10 W and 0.4-sec pulse width to open eight of eight ooplasm oocytes. The opening in the zonae was 0.25 to 1.0 rad (10 to 40 µm). For the initial eight oocytes and two parallel controls, the coarse appearance of the ooplasm was unchanged after 3 days. Next, in 11 of 12 manipulated oocytes, the sperm clustered at the opening of the zona. When 16 more oocytes were opened and exposed to sperm in sperm penetration assay conditions, each ooplasm bound sperm. There was no penetration noted. Each manipulation time was <1 min. To clarify the laser effect, oocytes were exposed to laser energy then utilized as the interactive surface in the sperm penetration assay. It was found that only 20% bound sperm with no penetration.
Conclusion
While the time factor compares favorably with other methods of zona opening, further study needs to be performed to minimize effect to the exposed oocyte.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sulewski JM, Crucia FD, Brenitskey C: The treatment of endometriosis at laparoscopy for infertility. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1980;138:128–132
Fayez JA: An assessment of the role of operative laparoscopy in tuboplasty. Fertil Steril 1983;39:476–479
Daniell JF, Herbert CM: Laparoscopic salpingostomy utilizing the CO2 laser. Fertil Steril 1984;41:558–563
Lomano JM: Photocoagulation of early pelvic endometriosis with the Nd:YAG laser through the laparoscope. J Reprod Med 1985;30:77–81
Daniell JF, Miller W, Tosh R: Initial evaluation of the use of the potassium titonyl-phosphate (KTP-532) laser in gynecologic surgery. Fertil Steril 1986;46:373–377
Nezhat C, Crowgey SR, Garrison CP: Surgical treatment of endometriosis via laser laparoscopy. Fertil Steril 1986;45:778–783
Corson SL, Unger M, Kwa D, Batzer FR, Gocial B: Laparoscopic laser treatment of endometriosis with the Nd:YAG sapphire probe. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989;160:718–723
Keckstein G, Wolf AS, Hepp S, Lauritzen C, Steiner R: Tube preserving endoscopic surgical procedures in unruptured tubal pregnancy. What significance does laser use have? Geburt Shilf—Frauenheilkd 1090;50(3):207–211
Bellina JH, Hemmings R, Voras JI, Ross LF: CO2 and electrosurgical wound study with an animal model: A comparison of tissue damage and healing patterns in peritoneal tissue. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1984;148:327–334
Luciano AA, Whitman G, Maier DB, Randolph J, Maenza R: A comparison of thermal injury, healing patterns and postoperative adhesion formation following CO2 laser and electromicrosurgery. Fertil Steril 1987;48:1025–1029
Kojima E, Morita M, Otaka K, Yano Y: Nd:YAG laser laparoscopy for ovarian endometriomas. J Reprod Med 1990;35:592–596
Kojima E, Yanagibori A, Otaka K, Hirakawa S: Ovarian wedge resection with contract Nd:YAG laser irradiation used laparoscopically. J Reprod Med 1989;34:444–446
Reidel HH, Lehmann-Willenbrock E, Mecke H, Ahmels E: Histologic and enzyme histochemical studies of the rabbit uterine horn following the use of various methods of coagulation. Zentralbl-Gynakol 1990;112:189–205
Tadir Y, Wright WM, Vofa O, Ord T, Asch RH, Berns MW: Force generated by human sperm correlated to velocity and determined using a laser generated optical trap. Fertil Steril 1990;53:944–947
Ng SC, Bongso A, Sathananthon AH, Ratnam SS: Micromanipulation: Its relevance to human in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1990;53:203–219
Sathananthan AH, Ng SC, Trounson AO, Lows-King A, Bongso A, Ratnam SS: Human micro-insemination by injection of single or multiple sperm: Ultrastructure. Hum Reprod 1989;4:574–583
Lanzendorf SE, Maloney MK, Veeck LL, Slusser J, Hodgen GD, Rosenwaks Z: A preclinical evaluation of pronuclear formation by microinjection of human spermatozoa into human oocytes. Fertil Steril 1988;49:835–842
Lotze EC, Grunert GM: The use of lasers in infertility surgery. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1989;32(3):576–585
Rogers BJ, Von Compen H, Ueno M, Lambert H, Bronson R, Hale R: Analysis of human spermatozoal fertilizing ability using zona-free ova. Fertil Steril 1979;32:664–670
Veeck LL, Maloney M: Insemination and fertilization inin vitro fertilization.In In Vitro Fertilization, Norfolk, HW Jones, Jr, GS Jones, GD Hodgen, Z Rosenwaks (eds). Baltimore, Williams and Wilkins, 1986, pp 168–200
Yanagimachi R, Yanagimachi H, Rogers BJ: The use of zona-free animal ova as a test system for the assessment of the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 1976;15:471–476
Rogers BJ: The sperm penetration assay: Its usefulness reevaluated.In Modern Trends in Infertility and Contraception Control, Vol 4, EE Wallach, RD Kempers (eds). Chicago, Year Book Medical, 1988, pp 425–444
Pool R: Making light work of cell surgery. Science 1990;248:29–31
Austin CR, Braden AWH: Early reaction of the rodent egg to spermatozoa penetration. J Exp Biol 1956;33:358–365
Wolf DPL: The mammalian egg's block to polyspermy.In Fertilization and Embryonic Development in Vitro, L Mastroianni, BJ Biggers (eds). New York, Plenum Press, 1981, pp 183–197
Singer SL, Lambert H, Overstreet JW, Hanson F, Yanagimachi R: The kinetics of human sperm binding to the human zona pellucida and zona-free hamster oocyte in vitro. Gam Res 1985;12:29–39
Yanagamachi R: Mammalian fertilization.In Physiology of reproduction, E Knobil, JD Neil (eds). New York, Raven Press, 1988, pp 135–185
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coddington, C.C., Veeck, L.L., Swanson, R.J. et al. The YAG laser used in micromanipulation to transect the zona pellucida of hamster oocytes. J Assist Reprod Genet 9, 557–563 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01204254
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01204254