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

Limited implantation success of direct-cleaved human zygotes: a time-lapse study.

Objective To evaluate embryos with direct cleavage (≤5 hours) from two to three cells (DC2–3) and correlate this morphokinetic parameter to implantation and ongoing pregnancy. Design Clinical multicenter retrospective study. Setting Private in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers. Patient(s) From three clinics, a total of 979 treatments including 5,225 embryos using autologous or donated oocytes, of which 1,659 embryos were transferred. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Clinical pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound in week 7. Result(s) Of the total embryo cohort, 715 (13.7%) underwent direct cleavage from two to three cells, 1,659 embryos were transferred to recipients, and 109 of the…

Clinical validation of embryo culture and selection by morphokinetic analysis: a randomized, controlled trial of the EmbryoScope.

Objective To determine whether incubation in the integrated EmbryoScope time-lapse monitoring system (TMS) and selection supported by the use of a multivariable morphokinetic model improve reproductive outcomes in comparison with incubation in a standard incubator (SI) embryo culture and selection based exclusively on morphology. Design Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study. Setting University-affiliated private in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic. Patient(s) Eight hundred forty-three infertile couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Intervention(s) No patient intervention; embryos cultured in SI with development evaluated only by morphology (control …

Effect of histamine on the longitudinal and circular muscle of the oestrogen dominated rat uterus.

The response of the longitudinal and circular myometrial strips to histamine was studied in oestrogen-treated rats. Histamine produced a dose-related inhibitory response in KCl-contracted longitudinal and circular uterine strips. Histamine was equipotent in producing the relaxant response but the maximal effect achieved in the longitudinal muscle was higher than the circular one. Ranitidine antagonized the histamine-induced relaxation with a similar dose ratio in both longitudinal and circular strips. Clemizole and reserpine treatment did not produce any modification of the dose-response curve to histamine. In the longitudinal and circular strips which were not preconstricted by KCl, neithe…

Selection of high potential embryos using time-lapse imaging: the era of morphokinetics.

Incorporation of time-lapse imaging in the field of IVF has provided much information about embryo development. The combination of the embryo appearance (morphology) and the importance of when and how the cellular processes that lead to this appearance occur (kinetics) are now integrated into the unique concept of morphokinetics. At present, efforts are focused on using this information to improve embryo selection and existing success rates without losing sight of the ever-present objective of implementing a single ET strategy to avoid multiple gestations. Several investigative groups have identified predictive morphokinetic variables for embryo viability and implantation potential. Promisi…

Timing of cell division in human cleavage-stage embryos is linked with blastocyst formation and quality

Noninvasive markers of embryo quality are being sought to improve IVF success. The present study aimed to discover possible associations between embryo division kinetics in the cleavage stage, the subsequent ability of human embryos to reach the blastocyst stage and the resulting blastocyst morphology. A retrospective cohort study analysed 834 embryos from 165 oocyte donation couples using a time-lapse monitoring system that allowed the recording of the exact timings for key events related to embryo development. Timing parameters were categorized into four quartiles. The probability of an embryo developing to a blastocyst was linked to a strict chronology of development. To further evaluate…

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

Oxygen consumption is a quality marker for human oocyte competence conditioned by ovarian stimulation regimens.

Objective To evaluate the effect of different ovarian stimulation protocols on oocyte respiration and to investigate the relationship between oocyte oxygen consumption and reproductive outcome. Design Prospective observational cohort study. Setting Infertility clinic in a university hospital. Patient(s) A total of 349 oocytes from 56 IVF treatment cycles in our oocyte donation program. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Average oocyte oxygen consumption rate in fmol/s. We correlated oxygen consumption values with ovarian stimulation features, fertilization, embryo quality on days 2 and 3, and implantation. Result(s) Differences in the measured oxygen consumption rates were found …

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 …