Blog post about fertility
One in six couples worldwide struggle with infertility, and the number is rising. In Norway, the fertility rate has fallen by almost 30% in the past decade, and 6% of children are now born through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Yanjiao Li, researcher at Oslo University Hospital and Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development (CRESCO), has written a blog post for the Oslo University Hospital blog OUS Insight.
RNA modifications could improve IVF outcomes
New research at the University of Oslo suggests that RNA modifications, small chemical marks that regulate gene activity, may be crucial for improving IVF (in vitro fertilization) success. Although IVF has helped millions, success rates remain low: only about half of fertilized eggs develop into healthy blastocysts and many embryos fail after implantation. Repeated failed implants cause major emotional and social burdens.
Ultrasensitive methods
Yanjiao Li, a, has developed ultrasensitive methods to study these RNA modifications in human embryos. This enabled him and his team to map the m6A- modification dynamics across human oocytes and early embryos for the first time. They found that early embryonic development involves dynamic reprogramming of m6A marks that regulate the transition to totipotency. Because embryos cultured outside the body face very different conditions than in utero, altered RNA modifications may reduce embryo quality and implantation success.
Moving forward
The next steps include comparing naturally conceived embryos with IVF embryos to see how differences in RNA modifications affect development. Investigating how improved culture media and handling could preserve or correct RNA modification patterns could increase IVF success and give new hope to couples facing infertility.
Links:
OUS Innsikt blog (in Norwegian) Kan vi gjøre IVF mer vellykket? - Oslo universitetssykehus HF
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peter Fedorcsak : OUH - Reproductive Medicine Group
Arne Klungland OUH - Laboratory for Dynamic Gene regulation
Yanjiao Li OUH - Group members