Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40868259›Full record

ReviewBiomedicines2025

Rescuing Fertilization Failure in ICSI: A Narrative Review of Calcium Ionophore Activation, PLCζ Testing, and Embryo Morphokinetics.

Charalampos Voros, Despoina Mavrogianni, Diamantis Athanasiou, Ioakeim Sapantzoglou, Kyriakos Bananis, Antonia Athanasiou, Aikaterini Athanasiou, Georgios Papadimas, Charalampos Tsimpoukelis, Ioannis Papapanagiotou and 10 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biomedicines, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Charalampos VorosDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-9477-7619
Despoina MavrogianniDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-1220-6594
Diamantis AthanasiouIVF Athens Reproduction Center, 15123 Maroussi, Greece.
Ioakeim SapantzoglouDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-7760-0608
Kyriakos BananisKing's College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 9RS, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7563-4305
Antonia AthanasiouIVF Athens Reproduction Center, 15123 Maroussi, Greece.
Aikaterini AthanasiouIVF Athens Reproduction Center, 15123 Maroussi, Greece.
Georgios PapadimasAthens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.
Charalampos TsimpoukelisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Ioannis PapapanagiotouAthens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-9723-5054
Dimitrios VaitsisAthens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.
Aristotelis-Marios KoulakmanidisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Maria Anastasia DaskalakiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Vasileios TopalisAthens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos ThomakosDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.
Marianna TheodoraDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-8280-7796
Panagiotis AntsaklisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0003-2106-5922
Fotios ChatzinikolaouLaboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dimitrios LoutradisAthens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0002-8686-594X
Georgios DaskalakisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Alexandra' General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece.ORCID 0000-0001-7108-211X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fertilisation failure following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a significant challenge in assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly in the absence of an identifiable cause. Artificial oocyte activation (AOA), typically with calcium ionophores, has emerged as a potential solution in scenarios characterised by a deficiency of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). This narrative review consolidates the latest clinical and experimental data regarding the application of calcium ionophores for oocyte activation, the significance of PLCζ testing in instances of unexplained fertilisation failure, and the impact of AOA on the morphokinetics and developmental potential of embryos. AOA has demonstrated an enhancement in fertilisation, cleavage, and pregnancy outcomes in specific patient populations, including individuals with diminished ovarian reserve or those who have previously attempted conception unsuccessfully. Although AOA appears to have no impact on embryo morphokinetics, certain studies indicate slight alterations in early cleavage features. The available statistics indicate that there are no significant safety concerns about outcomes for babies. This finding underscores the significance of tailored ART methodologies that incorporate molecular diagnostics and targeted AOA therapies. It emphasises the necessity for additional prospective trials to enhance patient selection and long-term safety surveillance.

Indexed as

artificial oocyte activationassisted reproductive technologycalcium ionophorecalcium signallingembryo morphokineticsfertilisation failureintracytoplasmic sperm injectionoocyte activation deficiencyphospholipase C zetatime-lapse imaging

Identifiers

PMID40868259
PMCPMC12383768

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.