Mitochondrial replacement therapy in reproductive medicine.

Mitochondrial replacement therapy in reproductive medicine.
Trends Mol Med. 2014 Dec 10;
Authors: Wolf DP, Mitalipov N, Mitalipov S
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in disease and age-related infertility. Mitochondrial replacement therapies (MRT) in oocytes or zygotes, such as pronuclear (PNT), spindle (ST), or polar body (PBT) transfer, could prevent second-generation transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) defects. PNT, associated with high levels of mtDNA carryover in mice but low levels in human embryos, carries ethical issues secondary to donor embryo destruction. ST, developed in primates, supports normal development to adults and low mtDNA carryover. PBT in mice, coupled with PN or ST, may increase the yield of reconstructed embryos with low mtDNA carryover. MRT also offers replacement of the deficient cytoplasm in oocytes from older patients, with the expectation of high pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization.
PMID: 25573721 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Trends in Molecular Medicine - December 10, 2014 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Wolf DP, Mitalipov N, Mitalipov S Tags: Trends Mol Med Source Type: research