Basic research in my lab has continued to focus on two areas of early mammalian development that have clinical implications: (i) understanding the molecular dynamics of the mammalian oocyte and early preimplantation plasma membrane as related to functional polarizations involved in determining fertilization permissive regions in the oocyte and how focal zones permissive for intercellular communication between blastomeres are established and initially transient but subsequently become more permanent. (ii) improving the simplified in vitro fertilization culture system we developed to encompass in vitro maturation of the oocyte and use of a high-resolution time-lapse recording and remote viewing functions that can be assembled inexpensively. The time-lapse capacity allows expert embryologists to monitor quality control and normality of embryogenesis in collaborating infertility programs in real time from distant locations with contemporaneous verbal communication using Skype.
keywords
basic and clinical embryology, infertility, early mammalian development
