Prediction of embryo implantation potential by mass spectrometry fingerprinting of the culture medium

Abstract

This study has evaluated the performance of a multivariate statistical model to predict embryo implantation potential by processing data from the chemical fingerprinting of culture medium samples used for human embryo culture. The culture medium for 113 embryos from 55 patients undergoing ICSI was collected after embryo transfer. The samples were split into positive (nZ29) and negative (nZ84) implantation groups according their implantation outcomes (100% or 0% implantation). The samples were individually diluted and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The m/z ratios and relative abundances of the major ions in each spectrum were considered for partial least square discriminant analysis. Data were divided into two subsets (calibration and validation), and the models were evaluated and applied to the validation set. A total of 5987 ions were observed in the groups. The multivariate statistical model described more than 82% of the data variability. Samples of the positive group were correctly identified with 100% probability and negative samples with 70%. The culture media used for embryos that were positive or negative for successful implantation showed specific biochemical signatures that could be detected in a fast, simple, and noninvasive way by ESI-MS. To our knowledge, this is the first report that uses MS fingerprinting to predict human embryo implantation potential. This biochemical profile could help the selection of the most viable embryo, improving single-embryo transfer and thus eliminating the risk and undesirable outcomes of multiple pregnancies.

Non-Invasive Prediction of Blastocyst Formation by Day Three Embryo Culture Medium Mass Spectrometry Lipid Fingerprinting

“…Mass Spectrometry allied with PLS-DA model has been successfully employed in biomarker identification in other areas than reproduction (Duan et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012a;Wang et al, 2012b;Yang et al, 2012). Recently, our group also applied an embryo viability prediction (Cortezzi et al, 2013).…”

“…MS fingerprinting has been applied to evaluate embryo proteome and metabolome, with promising results (Katz-Jaffe et al, 2006;Cortezzi et al, 2011;D'Alessandro et al, 2012;Lagarrigue et al, 2012;Sanchez-Ribas et al, 2012;Cortezzi et al, 2013). Therefore, the goal for the present study is to utilise the analytical power of MS with minimal sample preparation and minute analysis to identify possible lipid markers of embryo developmental competence in the surrounding culture medium.…”

Rapid and noninvasive technique to assess the metabolomics profile of bovine embryos produced in vitro by Raman spectroscopy

“…Several technologies have been used to evaluate culture media, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) [14], Mass Spectrometry (MS) [15], Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) [1], Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) [16], Raman Spectroscopy [10], among others.…”

Zygote serine decreased uptake from the fertilization medium is associated with implantation and pregnancy

“…Applying the principles of metabolomics, the measurement of small molecules associated with the physiological or pathological functions of a system, the embryo and the culture medium are a system, and metabolites or molecules such as oxygen, glycolytic intermediates and amino acids are measured. Metabolomics can also be used for other biological environments in ART including follicles [7][8][9].…”