The mitochondrial DNA mutation (deltamtDNA5286) in human oocytes: correlation with age and IVF outcome.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the presence of a newly described mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation (deltamtDNA5286), patients' age, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

METHODS

The presence of deltamtDNA5286 was analyzed by nested-primer PCR in 224 unfertilized oocytes of 81 women undergoing IVF for various reasons. Age, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization and embryo cleavage, number of embryos transferred, and pregnancy rates were compared between patients with and without a mtDNA mutation in their oocytes.

RESULTS

The 23 patients in which deltamtDNA5286 was detected in at least one oocyte were significantly younger than the other 58 with no mutations (30.9 years vs. 33.8 years, respectively, P = 0.03), and had a significantly lower fertilization rate (28.9% vs. 42.1%, respectively, P = 0.01). No other outcome variable was significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION(S): The mtDNA mutation deltamtDNA5286 may serve as a marker of decreased oocyte quality in IVF.