Survival and developmental potential of stored human early cleavage stage embryos

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 115; pp. S8 - S11
• Main Authors: Edgar, D.H, Archer, J, Gook, D.A, Jericho, H, Wilton, L, Bourne, H
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-07-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blastomere loss; Blastomeres - cytology; Cell Survival; Cleavage Stage, Ovum - cytology; Cryopreservation; Embryo cryopreservation (human); Embryo Transfer; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Implantation potential; In vitro development; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Implantation potential; In vitro development; Embryo cryopreservation (human); Blastomere loss; Human; Embryo; Gynecology; Conservation; Development; Cleavage; Early stage; Obstetrics; Survival
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.01.009

Human early cleavage stage embryos which survive cryopreservation and thawing fully intact demonstrate similar developmental potential to equivalent non frozen embryos when returned to the in vivo environment, whereas blastomere loss is directly related to the loss of potential for subsequent implantation in thawed embryos. This suggests that blastomere lysis during freezing and thawing does not occur preferentially in non viable blastomeres. Prefreeze growth rate rather than prefreeze blastomere number per se correlates with the developmental potential of stored embryos. When blastomere loss occurs as a consequence of cryopreservation, development of thawed early cleavage stage embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro is impaired and the resultant blastocysts have a reduced total cell content. Blastomere loss is more prevalent in embryos which have been biopsied for preimplantation genetic diagnosis but this increased sensitivity can be circumvented by modification of the standard cryopreservation protocol.