Y Kimura

Publications (14)52.4 Total impact

• Article: Sonication per se is not as deleterious to sperm chromosomes as previously inferred.

  H Tateno, Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: Although sonication is a simple way to immobilize ("kill") spermatozoa prior to injection into oocytes, this has been thought to be destructive to sperm chromosomes. Mouse and human spermatozoa were immobilized by sonication and kept in various media for up to 2 h, then their nuclei were individually injected into mouse oocytes for the analysis of chromosomes at the first cleavage metaphase. In both the mouse and human, incidence of structural chromosome aberrations was much higher in the spermatozoa sonicated and stored in Biggers-Whitten-Whittingham medium for 2 h at 37.5 degrees C than in those stored for 5 min in the same medium. We concluded, therefore, that it is not sonication per se but a prolonged exposure of sperm nuclei to extracellular milieu that is detrimental to sperm chromosomes. The incidence of structural chromosome aberrations of mouse and human spermatozoa was significantly reduced when the spermatozoa were sonicated and stored in K(+)-rich nucleus isolation medium containing EDTA. This suggests that sperm chromosome degradation following sperm immobilization by sonication is partly due to detrimental effects of a Na(+)-rich medium and of DNase on sperm chromatin. Ideally, it should be possible to prepare artificial media that maintain the integrity of sperm chromosomes for many hours after immobilization.
  Biology of Reproduction 08/2000; 63(1):341-6. · 4.01 Impact Factor
• Article: Oocyte activation induced by spermatids and the spermatozoa.

  K Yanagida, H Yazawa, H Katayose, Y Kimura, S Hayashi, A Sato
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  ABSTRACT: It has been reported that a sperm factor (SF) found in spermatozoa plays a critical role in fertilization. However, particulars of the oocyte-activating and Ca2+ oscillation (Ca-Os)-inducing abilities of this SF remain unknown. We examined these abilities of spermatids in mouse, hamster and human by a mouse test (injection of spermatids into mouse oocytes). In mice, the round spermatids (ROS), elongated spermatids (ELS) and spermatozoa activated 0%, 93% and 92% of the oocytes, respectively. ROS injection resulted in no Ca-Os (type C). ELS induced a normal oscillation (type A) at 0% and an abnormal oscillation (type B) at 94%. Mouse spermatozoa induced type A Ca-Os at 90%. For mice, oocyte-activating and Ca2+ oscillation-inducing ability arose in different phases of spermiogenesis. We also observed this differential timing for hamster spermatids. Hamster ROS activated 74% of oocyte (ELS: 90%, sperm: 86%). Human ROS activated 64% of oocytes (sperm: 100%), but only 35% of the oocytes showed type A Ca-Os. These results indicate that oocyte activation generally occurs between the ROS and ELS phases, although these phases differ among species. They also indicate that oocyte activation is not necessarily accompanied by Ca-Os. These findings suggest the existence of different thresholds at which the SF induces oocyte activation and Ca2+ oscillation, or of different factors that induce oocyte activation and Ca-Os. We found SF to be clinically impaired in 0.9% of ICSI patients. A combination of artificial oocyte activation and ICSI proved effective with such patients.
  International Journal of Andrology 02/2000; 23 Suppl 2:63-5. · 3.59 Impact Factor
• Article: Successful fertilization and pregnancy following ICSI and electrical oocyte activation.

  K Yanagida, H Katayose, H Yazawa, Y Kimura, A Sato, H Yanagimachi, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: In a total of 1048 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles, motile spermatozoa from four out of 424 patients (0.9%) failed to fertilize oocytes, despite an apparently successful ICSI procedure. No activation was observed in these injected oocytes. The spermatozoa from three of the four patients were injected into unfertilized mouse oocytes by ICSI (mouse test) to evaluate their oocyte activating ability. The oocyte activation rate of the spermatozoa of patients A, B, and C in the mouse test was 46, 100, and 86% respectively (control: 100%). Simultaneous injection of two spermatozoa from patient A into the mouse oocytes increased the oocyte activating rate to 89% (sham control: 29%). 100% fertilization rates were obtained for patients A and B by combining ICSI and electrical stimulation, and this resulted in pregnancy and the birth of healthy twins for the partner of patient A. Thus, it is considered that the spermatozoa of these patients are not lacking sperm factors but that the activity of these factors is depressed. The combination of ICSI and electrical stimulation is effective in these cases.
  Human Reproduction 06/1999; 14(5):1307-11. · 4.47 Impact Factor
• Article: The usefulness of a piezo-micromanipulator in intracytoplasmic sperm injection in humans.

  K Yanagida, H Katayose, H Yazawa, Y Kimura, K Konnai, A Sato
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  ABSTRACT: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has wide clinical application. In order to achieve good results with this method, it is important to restrict the possibility of oocyte injury as much as possible, and securely inject spermatozoa into the ooplasm. For this purpose, we clinically applied piezo-ICSI, which employs a micromanipulator with piezoelectric elements, to humans, and compared the results with those obtained by conventional ICSI. Conventional ICSI and piezo-ICSI were used in 279 cycles and 335 cycles respectively. Piezo-ICSI showed significantly more favourable results, with a survival rate of 88.1% (conventional ICSI: 81.4, P < 0.001), a fertilization rate of 79.4% (conventional ICSI: 66.4%, P < 0.001), and a pregnancy rate of 23.1% (conventional ICSI: 14.9%, P < 0.05). In piezo-ICSI, the needle used is not sharpened and has a flat tip. However, deformation of the oocyte during insertion of the needle is restrained by vibration of the piezo, and the oolemma is punctured readily and securely by the piezo pulse, at the site where the spermatozoon is injected. Piezo-ICSI is a promising new technique for human ICSI that should improve the survival, fertilization and pregnancy rates after ICSI.
  Human Reproduction 03/1999; 14(2):448-53. · 4.47 Impact Factor
• Article: Factors affecting meiotic and developmental competence of primary spermatocyte nuclei injected into mouse oocytes.

  Y Kimura, H Tateno, M A Handel, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: Mature mouse oocytes that have received the nuclei of pachytene primary spermatocytes (or metaphase I chromosomes of primary spermatocytes) can develop into fertile offspring. However, success rate in this study was low. No more than 3.8% of transferred 2-cell embryos arising from spermatocyte-injected oocytes developed to full term. Nevertheless, the birth of normal offspring seems to suggest that at least in some primary spermatocytes the functional genomic imprinting is complete before transfer and/or consolidated after the transfer. Although injected spermatocyte nuclei could undergo two successive meiotic divisions within oocytes, abnormalities of both divisions were commonly observed, and sister chromatids often separated prematurely during the second meiotic division. Chromosome breakage/rearrangements were also frequently seen before the first cleavage. Such abnormalities of chromosome behavior are probably the major causes of the poor preimplantation development of zygotes arising from primary spermatocyte-injected oocytes. Thus, clinical use of primary spermatocytes as substitutes for spermatozoa in assisted fertilization is not advisable until the causes of chromosomal abnormalities are better understood through extensive animal studies.
  Biology of Reproduction 11/1998; 59(4):871-7. · 4.01 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: biolreprod.org

  Article: Analysis of mouse oocyte activation suggests the involvement of sperm perinuclear material.

  Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi, S Kuretake, H Bortkiewicz, A C Perry, H Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: The mouse oocyte can be activated by injection of a single, intact mouse spermatozoon or its isolated head. Isolated tails are unable to activate the oocyte. Active sperm-borne oocyte-activating factor(s) (SOAF) appears during transformation of the round spermatid into the spermatozoon. The action of SOAF is not highly species-specific: mouse oocytes are activated by injection of spermatozoa from foreign species, such as the hamster, rabbit, pig, human, and even fish. Some SOAF can be extracted by simple freeze-thawing of (hamster) spermatozoa; additional SOAF is obtained by sequential treatment of spermatozoa with Triton X-100 and SDS. Electron microscopic examination of sperm heads during SOAF extraction suggests that the relatively insoluble SOAF is associated with perinuclear material. When microsurgically injected into oocytes, Triton X-100-treated sperm heads (with perinuclear material, but without any membranes) can activate the oocytes, leading to normal embryonic development. Whereas perinuclear components have been believed to play a purely structural role, these data suggest an additional function for them in oocyte activation.
  Biology of Reproduction 07/1998; 58(6):1407-15. · 4.01 Impact Factor
• Article: Fertilization using male germ line-cells.

  K Yanagida, Y Kimura, H Katayose, H Yazawa, K Konnai, A Sato
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  ABSTRACT: In recent years, favorable results have been achieved in patients suffering from azoospermia by microinsemination of spermatozoa taken from their testes. Microinsemination is being introduced in the treatment of patients who have no spermatozoa in their testes via their spermatid and spermatocyte. There are still doubts relating to immature male germ line-cells, such as whether they have, oocyte activating factors, the level of stability of DNA of cell nuclei, and the differences in chromosome numbers. The relatively few cases of gestation using the human spermatid treatment may be due to embryological problems resulting from the instability of nuclear DNA and the insufficiency of oocyte activating factors, which are the result of imperfect microinjection techniques. Improvements in techniques for the clinical application of spermatid and secondary spermatocyte, as well as the collection of basic data to confirm embryological safety are therefore necessary.
  Human Cell 12/1997; 10(4):255-62. · 1.27 Impact Factor
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  Available from: biolreprod.org

  Article: Fertilization and development of mouse oocytes injected with isolated sperm heads.

  S Kuretake, Y Kimura, K Hoshi, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: To determine whether spermatozoa must be structurally intact before microsurgical injection into oocytes for normal fertilization, intact spermatozoa, as well as sperm heads separated from tails by sonication, were individually injected into oocytes. When whole spermatozoa were injected immediately after their immobilization, the majority of the oocytes were fertilized and developed normally. Sonication in the presence or absence of Triton X-100 decapitated more than 95% of spermatozoa. Although all decapitated spermatozoa were diagnosed as "dead" by live/dead sperm staining, separated sperm heads (nuclei) could participate in normal embryo development when injected into the oocytes. The ability of isolated sperm heads (nuclei) to participate in normal embryo development was maintained under cryopreservation conditions that were not suitable for the survival of plasma membrane-intact spermatozoa. These results indicate that 1) spermatozoa do not need to be structurally intact for intracytoplasmic injection, 2) the plasma and acrosomal membranes and all tail components are not essential for normal embryo development, at least in the mouse, and 3) the cryopreservation conditions required for maintenance of the genetic integrity of sperm nuclei are less stringent than those necessary for keeping plasma membrane-intact spermatozoa alive.
  Biology of Reproduction 11/1996; 55(4):789-95. · 4.01 Impact Factor
• Article: The relationship between acridine orange fluorescence of sperm nuclei and the fertilizing ability of human sperm.

  K Hoshi, H Katayose, K Yanagida, Y Kimura, A Sato
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  ABSTRACT: To determine whether the outcome of IVF can be predicted by acridine orange (AO) nuclear fluorescence of sperm. Based on the fact that AO nuclear fluorescence color after acid treatment reflects maturity (green fluorescence) or immaturity (yellow to red fluorescence) of spermatozoa, the relationships between sperm maturity and the outcome of IVF, subzonal insemination, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were investigated. The IVF program at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fukushima Medical College. Sixty-eight patients undergoing 68 IVF treatment cycles. Acridine orange fluorescence of sperm nuclei and successful oocyte fertilization. conventional semen parameters (sperm concentration and percentages of motile or morphologically normal spermatozoa in semen) did not correlate with the incidence of spermatozoa with green AO fluorescent (mature) nuclei. When > or = 50% of spermatozoa in semen samples exhibited green AO nuclear fluorescence, IVF was always successful. When green AO nuclear fluorescence was < 50%, only 39% of IVF treatment cycles (13/33) were successful. Only green AO fluorescent spermatozoa were able to bind efficiently human zona pellucida. When the incidence of green AO fluorescent spermatozoa was < 50%, no pregnancy resulted even though an average of 26% of the oocytes could be fertilized by ICSI. The spermatozoa which fertilized oocytes in vivo and in IVF were limited to those whose nuclei exhibited green AO fluorescence. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection may be the method of choice when the incidence of green AO nuclear fluorescence is low regardless of the results of semen analysis.
  Fertility and Sterility 10/1996; 66(4):634-9. · 3.56 Impact Factor
• Article: Sperm membrane incorporation into oolemma contributes to the oolemma block to sperm penetration: evidence based on intracytoplasmic sperm injection experiments in the mouse.

  M Maleszewski, Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: Mouse oocytes were fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and reinseminated after the removal of zonae pellucidae at pronuclear stage or at the 2-cell stage. Although these oocytes were activated normally by ICSI, as evidenced by resumption of meiosis and cortical granule exocytosis, they did not develop oolemma block to sperm penetration. They could be penetrated by spermatozoa at pronuclear stage and even at the 2-cell stage. This supports the notion that incorporation of sperm plasma membrane into oolemma contributes to the changes in oolemma that block sperm penetration.
  Molecular Reproduction and Development 07/1996; 44(2):256-9. · 2.53 Impact Factor
• Article: The use of piezo micromanipulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection of human oocytes.

  T Huang, Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: This paper describes the use of piezo actuator technology for intracytoplasmic sperm injection of human eggs. Piezo micromanipulation involves a simple and easily made injection pipette of very thin diameter and wall thickness, and it has recently been developed using a mouse model. No bevel or spike is required on the pipettes used. The piezo actuator attaches to conventional micromanipulators and acts to mechanically advance the pipette tip through the zona pellucida using a piezoelectric effect. The oolemma could, in some cases, also be broken using piezo. This technique was applied to 39 patients presenting for in vitro fertilization due to male-factor infertility. The fertilization rate of eggs injected (60.5%), damage rate (7.6%), abnormality rate (3%), and ongoing pregnancy rate beyond 8 weeks (28.2%) are comparable to those for other techniques that have been successfully reported.
  Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 05/1996; 13(4):320-8. · 1.84 Impact Factor
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  Available from: biolreprod.org

  Article: Development of normal mice from oocytes injected with secondary spermatocyte nuclei.

  Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: This study shows that the nucleus of the secondary spermatocyte can participate in syngamy and normal embryonic development. Spermatogenic cells were released from the seminiferous tubules of adult mice, and the secondary spermatocytes were selected according to the size of the whole cell and nucleus. The accuracy of this selection, evaluated by chromosome analysis, was 86%. Nuclei of presumptive secondary spermatocytes were freed from the cytoplasm and then injected individually into mature oocytes. This process itself did not activate the oocytes. The oocytes were electroactivated about 2 h after injection, at which time prematurely condensed chromosomes of the spermatocyte had become associated with the microtubules of a spindle. Following activation, the chromosomes of both the oocyte and spermatocyte completed their second meiotic division, culminating in the extrusion of two separate polar bodies and the formation of one male and one female pronucleus in about 75% of the oocytes into which spermatocyte nuclei had been injected. Two- or four-cell embryos arising from such oocytes were randomly selected and transplanted to foster mothers. Twenty-four percent developed into normal fertile offspring. The young born later to these offspring were all normal. The results of this study indicate that gametic imprinting of mouse spermatogenic cells is completed either in the testis before the second meiotic division or within the cytoplasm of a mature oocyte after artificial nuclear transfer.
  Biology of Reproduction 11/1995; 53(4):855-62. · 4.01 Impact Factor
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  Available from: biologists.org

  Article: Mouse oocytes injected with testicular spermatozoa or round spermatids can develop into normal offspring.

  Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: Genomic imprinting occurs in both male and female gametes during gametogenesis, but the exact time when imprinting begins and ends is unknown. In the present study we injected nuclei of testicular spermatozoa and round spermatids into mature mouse oocytes to see whether these nuclei are able to participate in syngamy and normal embryonic development. If the injected oocytes develop into normal fertile offspring, imprinting in the male germ cells used must have been completed by the time of injection. Ninety-two percent of mouse oocytes injected with testicular spermatozoa survived and 94% of these were fertilized normally (extrusion of the second polar body and formation of male and female pronuclei). When 44 two-cell embryos so created were transferred to 5 foster mothers, 24 (54.5%) developed into normal offspring. Unlike testicular spermatozoa, round spermatids could not activate the oocytes, and therefore the oocytes had to be activated artificially either before or after spermatid injection. The highest rate (77%) of normal fertilization was obtained when the oocytes were first activated by electric current, then injected individually with a single spermatid nucleus. When 131 two-cell embryos were transferred to 15 foster mothers, 37 (28.2%) reached full term. All but two grew into healthy adults. Thus, it would appear that gametic imprinting in mouse spermatogenic cells is completed before spermiogenesis begins. Under the experimental conditions employed, spermatid nuclei were less efficient than testicular sperm nuclei in producing normal offspring, but perhaps this was due to technical rather than inherent problems.
  Development 09/1995; 121(8):2397-405. · 6.60 Impact Factor
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  Available from: biolreprod.org

  Article: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the mouse.

  Y Kimura, R Yanagimachi
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  ABSTRACT: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was successful in the mouse when a piezo-driven micropipette was used instead of a mechanically driven conventional pipette. Eighty percent of sperm-injected oocytes survived, and approximately 70% of them developed into blastocysts in vitro. When 106 embryos at the 2- to 4-cell stage were transferred to eight naturally mated foster mothers, 30% of the embryos (25-43%, depending on the host) reached the full term. Except for two that were cannibalized soon after birth, all of the young (30 pups) grew into normal adults. Studies of this type on the mouse may increase understanding of the fertilization process and of how ICSI works.
  Biology of Reproduction 05/1995; 52(4):709-20. · 4.01 Impact Factor