Effects of growth hormone on in vitro maturation of germinal vesicle of human oocytes retrieved from small antral follicles

Purpose. Evaluation of the effect of GH, administered in vivo, on in vitro maturation of human GV oocytes obtained from small follicles, Methods: The study included 88 ICSI women stimulated with long agonist protocol. They were randomly allocated to two groups (Group 1, 44 women with 86 GV oocytes), were cotreated with GH (Group 2, no GH: 44 women with 67 GV oocytes). GV oocytes from small follicles were matured in vitro, injected, and their development observed. Results. Resumption of meiosis was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (60 and 37.3% respectively). Significantly more M2 oocytes were obtained in Group 1 than in Group 2 (45.5 and 23.9% respectively). Fertilization rates were also significantly higher (51.9 and 18.8% respectively). No embryos were obtained in Group 2, whereas 21.1% of fertilized oocytes in Group 1 cleaved into class A embryos. Conclusion: In vivo administration of GH enhanced in vitro maturation and fertilization of human GV oocytes retrieved from small antral follicles.