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. 2001 Aug;18(8):426–435. doi: 10.1023/A:1016634704469

Clinical Assisted Reproduction: Performing ICSI Using an Injection Pipette with the Smallest Possible Inner Diameter and a Long Taper Increases Normal Fertilization Rate, Decreases Incidence of Degeneration and Tripronuclear Zygotes, and Enhances Embryo Development

Yalcin Yavas 1, Sylvie Roberge 1, Firouz Khamsi 1, Parvin Shirazi 1, Maxine W Endman 1, Jeremy C Wong 1
PMCID: PMC3455505  PMID: 11599463

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of two types of injection pipette used for ICSI, one with a larger (5–7 μm) inner diameter and a shorter taper with that inner diameter, and another with the smallest (3–5 μm) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with that inner diameter.

Methods: Retrieved oocytes at metaphase II stage were injected using one of two types of injection pipette, in 33 and 94 cycles, respectively, in a total of 127 cycles in 108 patients.

Results: In comparison to the injection pipette with a larger (5–7 μm) inner diameter and a shorter taper with that inner diameter, the injection pipette with the smallest (3–5 μm) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with that inner diameter increased normal fertilization rate ((70 ± 3.6)% vs. (86 ± 2.2)%; P = .001; mean ± SEM); decreased the incidence of degeneration ((14 ± 2.4)% vs. (5 ± 1.4)%; P = .001) and tripronuclear zygotes ((1.0 ± 0.35)% vs. (0.1 ± 0.21)%; P = .03); increased Day-2 diploid embryos ((69 ± 3.7)% vs. (85 ± 2.2)%; P = .001) and good-quality Day-2 diploid embryos ((67 ± 4.0)% vs. (79 ± 2.4)%; P = .03), all per injected oocyte; and increased the number of blastomeres per good-quality Day-2 diploid embryo ((3.0 ± 0.21 vs. 3.8 ± 0.12; P = .0003).

Conclusions: Performing ICSI using an injection pipette with the smallest (3–5 μm) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with thatn inner diameter maximizes normal fertilization rate, minimizes the incidence of postinjection degeneration and tripronuclear zygotes, and enhances embryo development.

Keywords: degeneration, embryo, fertilization, ICSI, oocyte

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