Mitochondrial DNA quantification as a tool for embryo viability assessment: retrospective analysis of data from single euploid blastocyst transfers

Abstract

This study was supported by funding provided by Reprogenetics. None of the authors have any competing interests.

No association of mitochondrial DNA levels in trophectodermal cells with the developmental competence of the blastocyst and pregnancy outcomes

“…Transfer of morphologically and developmentally competent blastocyst to the uterus does not always guarantee pregnancy. Fragouli and group showed euploid embryos with higher mtDNA levels failed to implant, whereas embryos with low mtDNA implanted successfully (Fragouli et al, 2015; 2017). Therefore, we checked if alterations in levels of mtDNA in trophectodermal cells of euploid blastocyst could impact its implantation potential.…”

“…Earlier studies on mtDNA levels were low in cumulus cells or the oocytes from in the trophectodermal cells women with advanced age (Boucret et al, 2015; Chan et al, 2005; Onigo et al, 2016). Fragouli and group reported high mtDNA levels in embryos from women with advanced maternal age at the time of oocyte retrieval (Fragouli et.al., 2015; 2017; Ravichandran et al, 2017). However, in this study we did not observe any correlation between maternal age (24-46 years) at the time of oocyte retrieval and mtDNA levels in trophectodermal cells of blastocyst.…”

“…These initial findings were subsequently confirmed in a large blinded retrospective study by same group. Large cohort studies have suggested, the quantity of mtDNA as a new biomarker to assist embryo selection (Fragouli et.al., 2017; Ravichandran et.al., 2017). The above studies were confirmed by two more groups independently (de Los Santos et al, 2018; Diez-Juan et al, 2015).…”

The mitochondrial DNA content can not predict the embryo viability

“…Ravichandran et al assessed that mtDNA quantification as a tool for embryo viability using 1505 embryos from 35 IVF clinics. (13). Recently, the mtDNA content was further indicated to be negatively related to embryo viability and proposed to be used as a biomarker in the prediction of implanation outcome (4, 12, 14, 15).…”

Renaissance, reinvention, or rhetoric: mitochondria in reproductive medicine 2017

“…Interested followers, and potential deployers of such technology clinically, are encouraged to follow the most recent work of Fragouli and her colleagues to obtain a balanced treatment of the subject at hand [7,8]. Importantly, their most recent publication segues into the arena of clinical utility [9] with outcome measures that are eagerly anticipated from this and other groups bearing the burden of proof necessary before clinical implementation.…”