scholarly journals The clinical use of time-lapse in human-assisted reproduction

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 263349412097692
Author(s):  
Maria Giulia Minasi ◽  
Pierfrancesco Greco ◽  
Maria Teresa Varricchio ◽  
Paolo Barillari ◽  
Ermanno Greco
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Embryo Selection ◽  
Selection Strategy ◽  
Preimplantation Genetic Testing ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Efficient Criteria

A major challenge in the assisted reproduction laboratory is to set up reproducible and efficient criteria to identify the embryo with the highest developmental potential. Over the years, several methods have been used worldwide with this purpose. Initially, standard morphology assessment was the only available strategy. It is now universally recognized that besides being a very subjective embryo selection strategy, morphology evaluation alone has a very poor prognostic value. More recently, the availability of time-lapse incubators allowed a continuous monitoring of human embryo development. This technology has spread quickly and many fertility clinics over the world produced a remarkable amount of data. To date, however, a general consensus on which variables, or combination of variables, should play a central role in embryo selection is still lacking. Many confounding factors, concerning both patient features and clinical and biological procedures, have been observed to influence embryo development. In addition, several studies have reported unexpected positive outcomes, even in the presence of abnormal developmental criteria. While it does not seem that time-lapse technology is ready to entirely replace the more invasive preimplantation genetic testing in identifying the embryo with the highest implantation potential, it is certainly true that its application is rapidly growing, becoming progressively more accurate. Studies involving artificial intelligence and deep-learning models as well as combining morphokinetic with other non-invasive markers of embryo development, are currently ongoing, raising hopes for its successful applicability for clinical purpose in the near future. The present review mainly focuses on data published starting from the first decade of 2000, when time-lapse technology was introduced as a routine clinical practice in the infertility centers.

P–212 Mitochondrial DNA content shows a significant association with timing of human embryo development and fertility diagnosis in euploid embryos

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Hur ◽  
V Nanavaty ◽  
A Chehab ◽  
M Yao ◽  
N Desai
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Dna Content ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Correlation Factor ◽  
Embryo Selection ◽  
Preimplantation Genetic Testing ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Content ◽  
Time Lapse Imaging

Abstract Study question Does mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNA) correlate with clinical parameters and embryo morphokinetics using advanced time-lapse technology? Summary answer mtDNA correlated with embryo morphokinetics and the growth trajectory of euploid embryos. Maternal age, anti-mullerian hormone level and fertility diagnosis were significantly associated with mtDNA. What is known already With the push towards single embryo transfers, laboratories are working to improve embryo selection. In addition to conventional microscopy, preimplantation genetic testing and time-lapse microscopy have been utilized to aid in embryo selection. More recently, as mtDNA may represent the energy potential of an embryo, some data have supported the use of mtDNA as an additional tool. Limited studies have suggested that a lower amount of mtDNA is associated with higher rates of implantation and improved embryo quality. Study design, size, duration This is a retrospective chart review. All embryos that underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) between January to December of 2020 were studied. Participants/materials, setting, methods Women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection undergoing PGT-A were studied. All patients were from a single academic institution. This study exclusively examined the characteristics of euploid embryos. Mitochondrial DNA content was expressed as a ratio of mtDNA:nDNA (MitoScore). Time-lapse imaging was utilized to evaluate embryo development every 15 minutes in 5–7 focal planes. Chi square test and Spearman correlation analysis were performed with a p-value of < 0.05 considered significant. Main results and the role of chance A total of 494 embryos from 52 women who underwent 58 IVF cycles were cultured to blastocyst and 331 embryos were biopsied for PGT-A evaluation. Of these, 132 embryos were diagnosed as euploid. A moderate positive correlation was found between MitoScore and time to morula, time to blast and time to expanded blast (correlation value 0.54, 0.50 and 0.54, respectively; p < 0.001). Consistent with this trend, day 5 blastocysts had a significantly lower MitoScore values than day 6 blastocysts (20.2 v. 29.2; p < 0.001). When examining all biopsied euploid embryos, no significant association was found between MitoScore, blastocyst maturity, trophectoderm or inner cell mass scores. Our data also demonstrated a positive correlation between MitoScore and maternal age (correlation factor 0.33; p < 0.001). A negative association between MitoScore and serum anti-mullerian hormone levels (correlation factor –0.20; p < 0.021) was also noted. Of particular interest was the significant association between fertility diagnosis and mitochondrial score (p < 0.001). Even amongst euploid embryos, mtDNA content varied widely, potentially reflecting differences in embryo potential and quality. Additionally, the significant difference in MitoScore between that day 5 and day 6 blastocysts may reflect a fundamental difference in cytoplasmic characteristics and requires further study. Limitations, reasons for caution Due to the study cohort of euploid embryos undergoing PGT-A, this study was biased for the selection of high grade embryos. This limited diversity in embryo quality may have masked other potential associations between mitochondrial content and blastocyst quality. Wider implications of the findings: mtDNA may be additional tool aiding in embryo selection as IVF labs work to improve pregnancy rates while minimizing the risks of transferring multiple embryos. To our knowledge, this is the largest study assessing the relationship of mtDNA content of blastocysts and the timing of embryo development using time-lapse imaging. Trial registration number None

Morphokinetics of early equine embryo development in vitro using time-lapse imaging, and use in selecting blastocysts for transfer

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 1851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niamh Lewis ◽  
Karen Schnauffer ◽  
Katrin Hinrichs ◽  
Monica Morganti ◽  
Stephen Troup ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Early Cleavage ◽  
Blastocyst Development ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Development In Vitro ◽  
Time Lapse Imaging ◽  
First Time

The use of time-lapse imaging (TLI) in the evaluation of morphokinetics associated with invitro developmental competence is well described for human, cattle and pig embryos. It is generally accepted that embryos that complete early cleavage sooner are more likely to form blastocysts and that timing of later events, such as blastocyst formation and expansion, are predictive of implantation potential and euploid status. In the horse, morphokinetics as a predictor of developmental competence has received little attention. In this study we evaluated the morphokinetics of early equine embryo development invitro for 144 oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and report the timings of blastocyst development associated with ongoing pregnancy for the first time. There was a tendency for time of cytoplasmic extrusion and first cleavage to occur earlier in the embryos that went on to form blastocysts (n=19) compared with those that arrested, and for first cleavage to occur earlier in blastocysts that established pregnancies that were ongoing (n=4) compared with pregnancies that were lost (n=2). TLI was clinically useful in identifying blastocysts when evaluation of morphology on static imaging was equivocal.

Comparison of two culture media on morphokinetics and ploidy status of sibling embryos

Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Michael Urich ◽  
Muhammet Rasit Ugur ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
F. Nicholas Shamma ◽  
Ahmad Hammoud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
Complete Medium ◽  
Preimplantation Genetic Testing ◽  
Development Data ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Summary To investigate the effects of culture media with different lactate concentrations on early embryonic development, data collected from our patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) were assessed using the EmbryoScope™ time-lapse culturing system. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), sibling oocytes were cultured in the same EmbryoScope (Vitrolife) slides including two different commercially available media. The patients with fewer than five mature oocytes were not included in the analyses. All embryos were hatched on day 3, and trophectoderm biopsies (n = 212) were performed accordingly. PGT for aneuploidy (PGT-A) on biopsied materials was carried out using next generation sequencing. Morphokinetic parameters, fertilization, irregular division, degeneration, blastulation, euploidy, and pregnancy rates of embryos cultured in LifeGlobal Global Total medium (LGGT) and Continuous Single Culture-NX Complete medium (CSCM-NXC) were compared. There were no differences observed in time to pronuclear fade, or in time spent as 2-cell (cc2) and 3-cell (s2), to 4-cell, 5-cell, morula and blastocyst stages (P > 0.05). Embryos reached the 2-cell (t2) and 3-cell (t3) stages significantly faster in LGGT (P < 0.05), whereas embryos grown in CSCM-NXC with lower lactate reached starting blastulation significantly sooner (P = 0.026). However, there were no statistical differences observed in fertilization, blastulation, degeneration, irregular division euploidy, and pregnancy rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). Even though pregnancy and fertilization rates did not indicate statistical differences, results are significant to provide better insight on potential roles of lactate in embryo development. These finding will advance the fundamental knowledge of human embryo development and assisted reproductive technologies.

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