Micromorphometry and spermatozoa binding patterns of fertilized and unfertilized human oocytes after in-vitro fertilization

Human oocytes (n = 380) from 71 in-vitro fertilization patientswere measured 18 h after insemination to find out if certainparameters of oocyte morphology could be related to fertilization.In addition, the number and distribution patterns of spermatozoabound to or within the zona pellucida of 534 oocytes were analysed.The mean diameter of the human oocyte was 167.7 ± 9.5µm and its mean volume was 2.5 x 10⁶ µm³. Therewere no significant differences in diameter between 112 fertilizedand 168 unfertilized oocytes, although they displayed differencesin the size of the perivitelline space and the zona pellucida.The age of the patients had no significant effect on the morphometryof the oocytes. Sperm binding patterns did not correlate withfertilization. The number and distribution of the spermatozoaon the surface of the zona pellucida was extremely heterogeneousand was not related to the occurrence of fertilization. Allpossible binding and distribution patterns were in the samerange in both fertilized and unfertilized oocytes. In conclusion,the micromorphometry of human oocytes and their sperm bindingpatterns were not related to the occurrence of fertilization.