HSA (4 g/L) |
Hyaluronidase in FertiCult Flushing medium contains 4 g/Liter Human Serum Albumin (HSA) to optimize medium performances. HSA is universally added to most ART media because it is widely considered to be of benefit.
The role of albumin in ART media is extensive, including:
- Stabilization of the cell membrane of the embryo in the medium (Malda, et al. 2008).
- Inhibition of lipid peroxidation that can be damaging to sperm (Alvarez and Storey 1995).
- Carrier and source of essential molecules needed by the embryo (Malda, et al. 2008).
- Detoxification by binding waste products from cell metabolism (Blake, et al. 2004).
- Facilitating gamete/embryo manipulation by preventing adsorption to the surface through saturation of potential binding sites (Blake, et al. 2004). |
Hyaluronidase (80IU/ml) |
Hyaluronidase in FertiCult Flushing medium contains bovine derived hyaluronidase (80IU/ml). Hyaluronidase is an enzyme derived from bovine testes and is capable of hydrolyzing hyaluronic acid (Tranchepain, et al. 2006), the latter being one of the most abundant constituents of the extracellular matrix (Laurent and Fraser 1992).
When collected, each oocyte is surrounded by a matrix of cells called the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC). The COC is composed of cumulus granulosa cells embedded in a matrix of long hyaluronan oligosaccharide chains cross-linked by a complex of hyaluronan binding cell surface and extracellular matrix proteins and proteoglycans (Richards 2005). In vivo, enzymes like hyaluronidase are released by the acrosome reaction of the sperm cells and dissolve the intracellular matrix between the cumulus cells. Also in vitro during ART, COC around oocytes are removed (i.e. “oocyte denudation”). For that purpose, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) recommends to use an enzymatic procedure with hyaluronidase, which facilitates the subsequent mechanical denudation process using a pipette (Magli et al. 2008).
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