Blastocyst score affects implantation and pregnancy outcome: towards a single blastocyst transfer

Purpose Micro-vibration culture system was examined to determine the effects on mouse and human embryo development and possible improvement of clinical outcomes in poor responders. Materials and methods The embryonic development rates and cell numbers of blastocysts were compared between a static culture group (n=178) and a micro-vibration culture group (n=181) in mice. The embryonic development rates and clinical results were compared between a static culture group (n=159 cycles) and a micro-vibration culture group (n=166 cycles) in poor responders. A micro-vibrator was set at a frequency of 42 Hz, 5 s/60 min duration for mouse and human embryo development.Results The embryonic development rate was significantly improved in the micro-vibration culture group in mice (p<0.05). The cell numbers of mouse blastocysts were significantly higher in the micro-vibration group than in the static culture group (p<0.05). In the poor responders, the rate of high grade embryos was not significantly improved in the micro-vibration culture group on day 3. However, the optimal embryonic development rate on day 5 was improved in the micro-vibration group, and the total pregnancy rate and implantation rate were significantly higher in the micro-vibration group than in the static culture group (p<0.05). Conclusions Micro-vibration culture methods have a beneficial effect on embryonic development in mouse embryos. In poor responders, the embryo development rate was improved to a limited extent under the micro-vibration culture conditions, but the clinical results were significantly improved.

Section: Embryo Transfer and Clinical Results In The Poor Respondersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of micro-vibration culture system on embryo development

Hur

Park

Ryu

et al. 2013

“…Next, each embryo was assessed according to the conventional criteria, as described by Veeck [27], as follows: Grade 1: blastomeres of equal size and no fragmentation, Grade 2: blastomeres of equal size with minor fragmentation, Grade 3: blastomeres of distinctly unequal size with little to no fragmentation, Grade 4: blastomeres of equal or unequal size with significant fragmentation, Grade 5: few blastomeres of any size and severe or complete fragmentation. On day 5 (114-119 h after ICSI), the embryos were scored according to the expansion of the blastocele cavity and the number and integrity of both the inner cell masses and trophectoderm cells, as previously described [13]. The patients were given 200-600 mg of a vaginal progesterone suppository daily as luteal phase support.…”

Section: Patientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A proteomic analysis of human follicular fluid: comparison between fertilized oocytes and non-fertilized oocytes in the same patient

Bayasula

Iwase

Kobayashi

et al. 2013

Purpose Human follicular fluid constitutes the microenvironment of follicles and includes various biological active proteins that can affect follicle growth and oocyte fertilization. Conducting proteomic evaluations of human follicular fluid may be helpful for identifying potential biomarkers possibly possessing a predictive value for oocyte quality and the success of in vitro fertilization. Method We performed proteomic profiling of human follicular fluids containing oocytes that were fertilized and resulted in pregnancy and follicular fluids containing oocytes that were not fertilized in the same patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection using the LTQ Orbitrap coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analyses. ResultsWe identified a total of 503 proteins in human follicular fluids containing fertilized and non-fertilized oocytes obtained from 12 patients. We also found that 53 proteins exhibited significantly different spectral counts between the two groups, including heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan, which showed significant upregulation in the follicular fluids containing fertilized oocytes in comparison with that observed in the follicular fluids containing non-fertilized oocytes. Conclusion Our results suggest a possibility that proteins identified by LC/MS/MS in follicular fluid might not only be involved in folliculogenesis, but also function as biomarkers possessing predictive potential for oocyte maturation and the success of IVF when their expression levels are significantly different between fertilized and non-fertilized oocytes, although no distinctive biomarkers were identified in the current study.

“…Recent development of the in vitro culture system for human embryos [12,13] has resulted in effective production of expanded blastocysts. The expanded human blastocysts are probably more sensitive to cryopreservation than early blastocysts because detrimental ice crystal formation may occur in the blastocoelic cavity due to insufficient dehydration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vitro and in vivo viability of human blastocysts collapsed by laser pulse or osmotic shock prior to vitrification

Iwayama¹,

Hochi

Yamashita³

2010

Purpose This study was designed to investigate whether artificial shrinkage, induced by a laser pulse or hyperosmotic sucrose solutions, improves in vitro survival and/or implantation of vitrified-warmed human expanded blastocysts. Methods Before Cryotop vitrification, the blastocoelic cavity was collapsed either by a laser pulse or sucrose solutions. Non-treated blastocysts were used as control. Post-warm blastocyst survival and implantation after transfer were examined. Implantation rate outcome was retrospectively analyzed by morphological grading and developmental kinetics of post-warm blastocysts. Results Survival rates in the three groups were high. Implantation rates in the laser-pulse group (59.7%) were comparable with those in the sucrose group (49.3%), and were significantly higher than those in the control group (34.2%). The proportion of blastocysts showing fast development tended to be higher when the blastocysts underwent artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification. There was no clear correlation between morphology of post-warm blastocysts and implantation rate. Conclusion Artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification is associated with an increased probability of fast-developing embryos, resulting in higher implantation rates.