The use of morphokinetic as a predictor of implantation.

In recent years the increased efforts intended for improving future outcomes in the laboratory have focused mostly on the search of additional markers of embryo quality to add up present embryo selection criteria. Time-lapse system involves an alternative tool in assisted reproduction techniques, being able to improve the embryo selection from a dynamic and interactive approach while standard embryo assessment implies a subjective and static morphology evaluation and consequently reducing the information gained for embryo selection, time-lapse technology adds several morphokinetic parameters, providing additional input for embryo evaluation. This further information represents a challenge f…

A time to look back: analysis of morphokinetic characteristics of human embryo development.

Objective To describe the times associated with the morphological changes that occur in the embryo during preimplantation development based on the largest sample size described with time lapse. Design Cohort study. Setting University-affiliated private center. Patient(s) A total of 9,530 embryos from 1,806 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Using a time-lapse system, embryo images were acquired for at least 68 hours, in some cases reaching 120–130 hours. Embryo cleavage time points up to 8-cell-stage (t2–t8) as well as morulae (tM) and blastocyst formation (tB) were registered in hours after ICSI. Additionally, duration of the cell …

Defining new morphokinetic variables for embryo selection by time-lapse

Combination of metabolism measurement and a time-lapse system provides an embryo selection method based on oxygen uptake and chronology of cytokinesis timing.

Objective To evaluate correlations between oxygen consumption (OC) measurements before and after embryo cytokinesis, observing OC during embryo cleavages and combining that information with morphokinetics to relate to implantation potential. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting University-affiliated private IVF unit. Patient(s) A total of 1,150 injected oocytes in 86 first oocyte donation cycles with embryo transfer on day 3. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measurement(s) We analyzed the embryo OC and combined this data with the cytokinesis event, exact timing (in hours) of blastomeric cleavages, with the use of an incubator equipped with time-lapse videography, gathering a total of …

Defining poor prognosis markers of implantation for embryo selection by time-lapse

Single-cell RNA sequencing of oocytes from ovarian endometriosis patients reveals a differential transcriptomic profile associated with lower quality

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Do oocytes from women with ovarian endometriosis (OE) have a different transcriptomic profile than those from healthy women? SUMMARY ANSWER Oocytes from endometriosis patients, independently of whether they came from the affected ovary, exhibited a differential transcriptomic profile compared to oocytes from healthy egg donors. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies of endometriosis have sought to determine whether OE affects oocyte quality. While many reports indicate that oocytes recovered from endometriotic ovaries may be affected by the disease, other studies have found no significant differences among oocyte/embryo quality and fertilization, implantation and pregnancy ra…

Successful pregnancy and childbirth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with calcium ionophore oocyte activation in a globozoospermic patient

Objective To check the effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with assisted oocyte activation (AOA) in a globozoospermic patient. Design Case report. Setting Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain. Patient(s) A patient with globozoospermia. Intervention(s) ICSI was administered in 14 oocytes. ICSI combined with AOA, in which a small amount of calcium was injected followed by calcium ionophore exposure, was done in 9 oocytes. Main Outcome Measure(s) Fertilization rate and embryo quality was assessed in both groups. Result(s) Chemical activation increased fertilization rate (55.6% vs. 35.7%) and the number of embryos with less multinucleation on day 2…

The use of morphokinetics as a predictor of embryo implantation.

Background Time-lapse observation presents an opportunity for optimizing embryo selection based on morphological grading as well as providing novel kinetic parameters, which may further improve accurate selection of viable embryos. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the morphokinetic parameters specific to embryos that were capable of implanting. In order to compare a large number of embryos, with minimal variation in culture conditions, we have used an automatic embryo monitoring system. Methods Using a tri-gas IVF incubator with a built-in camera designed to automatically acquire images at defined time points, we have simultaneously monitored up to 72 individual emb…

Time-dependent O2 consumption patterns determined optimal time ranges for selecting viable human embryos.

Objective To evaluate correlations between metabolic activity and implantation potential of transferred embryos in a study based on oxygen (O 2 ) consumption (OC) measurements, because O 2 uptake is directly related to the capacity of an embryo to produce energy via adenosine triphosphate. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Infertility institute. Patient(s) Five hundred seventy-five injected oocytes in 56 first oocyte donation cycles with embryo transfer on day 3. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) We analyzed embryo destination viability and implantation depending on the embryo OC rate obtained from 47,741 measurements (up to 85 measurements per embryo, 2–3 measurements …