The invention relates to processes for mitochondrial microinjection in oocytes. The processes involve isolating mammalian mitochondria for microinjection in oocytes to increase their mitochondrial activity. Microinjected mitochondria may be isolated from mammalian platelets and incubated in a favorable medium prior to microinjection. Oocytes that are microinjected with mitochondria obtained from the processes of the invention are shown to have a higher rate of fertilization and blastocyst formation when the processes disclosed herein are used concurrently with in vitro fertilization procedures. The invention relates generally to a process for treating deficiencies in mitochondrial activity in oocytes, a process for isolating mitochondria from mammalian platelets, and/or a process for preparing mitochondria for microinjection in oocytes.
