"Scientists claim to have rejuvenated human eggs for the first time in an advance that they predict could revolutionise IVF success rates for older women. The groundbreaking research suggests that an age-related defect that causes genetic errors in embryos could be reversed by supplementing eggs with a crucial protein. When eggs donated by fertility patients were given microinjections of the protein, they were almost half as likely to show the defect compared with untreated eggs."
"Overall we can nearly halve the number of eggs with [abnormal] chromosomes. That's a very prominent improvement, said Prof Melina Schuh, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Gottingen and a co-founder of Ovo Labs, which is aiming to commercialise the technique. Most women in their early 40s do have eggs, but nearly all of the eggs have incorrect chromosome numbers, added Schuh, whose lab has been investigating egg biology for the past two decades."
Microinjection of a crucial protein into donated human eggs reduced age-related chromosomal errors by nearly half compared with untreated eggs. Age-related defects cause genetic errors in embryos and represent the primary cause of IVF failure and miscarriage in older women. Improving egg quality could markedly raise IVF birth rates for older patients, where per-embryo birthrates fall from about 35% for under-35s to about 5% for ages 43–44. Ovo Labs aims to commercialise the technique, but larger trials are required to confirm safety, efficacy and clinical applicability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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