Could Human Embryo Transfer Be Intrinsically Immoral?

2007 ◽  
pp. 85-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher O. Tollefsen
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Human Embryo

HUMAN EMBRYO TRANSFER TECHNIQUE

The Lancet ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 318 (8255) ◽  
pp. 1104-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Craft ◽  
Fraser Mcleod ◽  
Keith Edmonds
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Human Embryo ◽  
Embryo Transfer Technique

Dignitas personae and the Question of Heterologous Embryo Transfer

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Oleson
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Human Embryo ◽  
Practical Reasoning ◽  
Embryo Rescue ◽  
Moral Claims

Contrary to the claims of many Catholic ethicists that the teaching of Dignitas personae leaves the question of human embryo rescue completely open and unresolved, this article argues that the only natural and reasonable reading of what is plainly taught in that document compels one to the conclusion that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has implicitly and de facto committed itself to the rejection of heterologous embryo rescue. In other words, if one accepts the moral premises which the text clearly lays down, sound practical reasoning leaves one no alternative but to conclude that heterologous embryo transfer rescue is ethically unacceptable. Accordingly, if the CDF were now subsequently to say that embryo rescue is morally licit, it would have to reverse itself on certain moral claims that it committed itself to in Dignitas personae.

scholarly journals The effects of hyaluronate-containing medium on human embryo attachment to endometrial epithelial cells in vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter T Ruane ◽  
Chelsea J Buck ◽  
Phoebe A Babbington ◽  
Wedad Aboussahoud ◽  
Stéphane C Berneau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Human Embryo ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
Ishikawa Cell ◽  
Practitioner Training ◽  
Cell Layers ◽  
Endometrial Epithelial Cells

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Does embryo transfer medium containing hyaluronate (HA) promote the attachment phase of human embryo implantation? SUMMARY ANSWER HA-containing medium does not promote human blastocyst attachment to endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Embryo transfer media containing high concentrations of HA are being used to increase implantation and live birth rates in IVF treatment, although the mechanism of action is unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Expression of HA-interacting genes in frozen-thawed oocytes/embryos was assessed by microarray analysis (n = 21). Fresh and frozen human blastocysts (n = 98) were co-cultured with human endometrial epithelial Ishikawa cell layers. Blastocyst attachment and the effects of a widely used HA-containing medium were measured. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human embryos surplus to treatment requirements were donated with informed consent from several ART centres. Blastocyst-stage embryos were transferred at day 6 to confluent Ishikawa cell layers; some blastocysts were artificially hatched. Blastocyst attachment was monitored from 1 to 48 h, and the effects of blastocyst pre-treatment for 10 min with HA-containing medium were determined. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Human embryos expressed the HA receptor genes CD44 and HMMR, hyaluronan synthase genes HAS1–3, and hyaluronidase genes HYAL1–3, at all stages of preimplantation development. Attachment of partially hatched blastocysts to Ishikawa cells at 24 and 48 h was related to trophectoderm grade (P = 0.0004 and 0.007, respectively, n = 34). Blastocysts of varying clinical grades that had been artificially hatched were all attached within 48 h (n = 21). Treatment of artificially hatched blastocysts with HA-containing medium did not significantly affect attachment at early (1–6 h) or late (24 and 48 h) time points, compared with control blastocysts (n = 43). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Using an adenocarcinoma-derived cell line to model embryo-endometrium attachment may not fully recapitulate in vivo interactions. The high levels of blastocyst attachment seen with this in vitro model may limit the sensitivity with which the effects of HA can be observed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Morphological trophectoderm grade can be correlated with blastocyst attachment in vitro. HA-containing medium may increase pregnancy rates by mechanisms other than promoting blastocyst attachment to endometrium. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was funded by a grant from the Wellbeing of Women, the NIHR Local Comprehensive Research Network and NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, the Department of Health Scientist Practitioner Training Scheme, and the Ministry of Higher Education, The State of Libya. None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.

Prognostic factors for patients undergoing vitrified-warmed human embryo transfer cycles: a retrospective cohort study

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshifumi Takahashi ◽  
Ayumi Hasegawa ◽  
Hideki Igarashi ◽  
Mitsuyoshi Amita ◽  
Jun Matsukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Embryo Transfer ◽  
Human Embryo ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Cohort
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