Abstract
Vol.40 No.2
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Oocyte mitochondria and reproductive medicine
JMOR, 40(2) 35-41, 2023
Mitochondria exist in most of the cells in our body, and they appear in various morphologies. The main role of mitochondria is to provide energy to maintain the homeostasis of cells, and it is called a "Powerhouse." In human oocytes, mitochondria are oval-shaped without rich cristae and are distributed in line with their functions. In recent years, the causes of poor oocyte quality have been considered to mainly come from mitochondrial dysfunction. Several methods, such as the cell engineering method, enhancement of NAD+, and adjuvant therapy using a holistic approach, have been applied to improve mitochondrial competence. We have conducted autologous mitochondrial transfer to mature oocytes in patients with repeated failures due to very low-quality oocytes, and 13 healthy babies were born using this technique. Now, we are developing a more effective and inexpensive technology using autologous mitochondria from adipose stem cells.
