IMSI System
Within the Assisted Reproduction Unit we have a laboratory equipped with two micromanipulation and microinjection equipment that allows us to inject the sperm into the cytoplasmic cavity of the oocyte (ICSI), in order to carry out fertilization. The advantage that this equipment offers is that it allows us to perform in vitro fertilization without having to have a large number of sperm and oocytes. Furthermore, to be able to perform this technique with oocytes from different animal species, we have a piezoelectric device to perform this intracytoplasmic injection without damaging the oocyte of the specific animal species. Another possibility offered by this service is that in one of these microscopes we have a 6000x objective, which allows us to see the sperm in large sizes. In this way we can select the sperm that are morphologically of the best quality for intracytoplasmic injection (IMSI), which will subsequently allow us to obtain better quality embryos.
Customer benefits
Having these micromanipulation and microinjection equipment allows us to offer this service to embryologists who wish to train in this technique and acquire the necessary skills to be able to carry out this technique in the human clinic. In addition, the implementation of this ICSI and IMSI technique and the handling and use of micromanipulators and microinjectors allows for practical training for master’s students and specialized courses in human or animal assisted reproduction.
Because our laboratory is one of the few that researches assisted reproduction with animal models and has all this equipment, human reproduction clinics that want to perform tests with animal oocytes or embryos can perform their tests.
In our laboratory, since experiments can only be carried out with animal species, so our laboratory is suitable for it. In addition, the studies can also be carried out under regulatory requirements, since the institution that performs them is certified in Good Laboratory Practices.
In this way, preclinical studies can be carried out in animal models in compliance with the strict guidelines of the regulatory agencies, ensuring the reliability and traceability of all the results and tests carried out in its different services.
Target customer
This service can provide assistance to all those Human Reproduction companies and clinics that want to carry out in vitro fertilization studies using Micromanipulation and microinjection techniques of mouse embryos or other animal species, since we have a piezoelectric system that facilitates this process without damaging the oocyte.
Additional information
- Comparative pilot study of surgical activation vs application of platelet-rich plasma on ovarian function in an ovine animal model. P33. S Sánchez-Mateos, F Fabregues, E Párraga-Ros, I S Alvarez, J A Domínguez, M Méndez, J Ferreri, F M Sánchez Margallo.
British Journal of Surgery, Volume 111, Issue Supplement_1, February 2024, znae018.033, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znae018.033 - Optimizations of an ovum pick up protocol in Donkey.
Abstract publicado en la revista: Anim Reprod. 2022;19(2 spe):e22177
https://www.animal-reproduction.org/journal/animreprod/article/62fe8d1fa9539502764c9db4 - Supplementation of culture medium with quercetin improves mouse blastocyst quality and increases the expression of HIF-1α protein Hernández, Nuria; Sánchez-Mateos, Soledad; López-Morató, Marta; Sánchez-Margallo, Francisco; Álvarez, Ignacio.
Zygote, 2023 Feb 27:1-12. https://doi:10.1017/S0967199423000060 - Effect of the addition of 4OHE2 and quercetin in culture media on ROS levels and gene expression in mouse blastocysts
Hernández, Nuria; Sánchez-Mateos, Soledad; López-Morató, Marta; Sánchez-Margallo, Francisco; Álvarez, Ignacio.
Reproduction. Fertility and Development Sep;34(15):980-990
https://doi.org/10.1071/RD22041 - 4-Hydroxyestradiol improves mouse embryo quality, epidermal growth factor-binding capability in vitro, and implantation rates. Hernández N, López-Morató M, Perianes MJ, Sánchez-Mateos S, Casas-Rua V, Domínguez-Arroyo JA, Sánchez-Margallo FM, Álvarez IS.
Mol Hum Reprod. Vol 27 (2) 2021 Nov 25:gaaa075.
https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gaaa075 - Histological cut of a paraffin-embedded blastocyst: optimized protocol for murine blastocysts.
Alejandra Uson; Marta López-Morató; José Mijares; Soledad Sánchez-Mateos; Francisco Sánchez- Margallo; Ignacio Álvarez; Nuria Hernández, MSc
Methods X. vol 7, pp:1-9; 2020, 100767
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2019.12.008