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OBJECTIVE@#To explore the correlation between microRNA (miRNA) differential expression and quality of embryo.@*METHODS@#The miRNA expression profiles of 8 blastocysts were detected by a TaqMan microRNA array, and miRNAs with a stable expression were selected. Additional blastocysts were selected, and the candidate miRNA was detected by real-time PCR. Meanwhile, chromosomal abnormalities of the embryos were detected by using next-generation sequencing, and the results were compared.@*RESULTS@#The expression of mir-720, mir-372, mir-886-3p and mir-512-3p was higher than that of miR-145, which suggested that mir-720, mir-372, mir-886-3p and mir-512-3p are related to early embryo development. The expression of miR-145 and mir-886-3p were significantly lower in the normal chromosome group. With the threshold values of above 9 and 3 for the relative expression of miR-145 and mir-886-3p, respectively, there was no embryo without a chromosomal abnormality.@*CONCLUSION@#There is a correlation between the expression level of specific miRNA and chromosomal abnormalities of embryos, which may be used as a novel biomarker for embryo selection.
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Objective To estimate the effect of blastocysts morphological score on pregnancy outcomes and neonate′s condition in vitrified-warmed single-blastocyst transfer cycles. Methods A retrospective analysis of 586 cycles of vitrified-warmed single-blastocyst transfer from Mar. 2010 to Feb.2016 was performed and the influ-ence of day of vitrification,inner cell mass(ICM)and trophectoderm(TE)scores on pregnancy outcomes and neo-nate′s condition were observed. Results There were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate,birth weight and sex ration of newborn between different vitrification day,ICM score and TE score.The day of vitrifica-tion and ICM score can significantly influence pregnancy loss rate,and were the two primary predictors of pregnan-cy loss rate. Vitrification day,ICM score and TE score exerted significant influence on live birth rate(P < 0.05) and TE score was the primary factor of live birth rate. Conclusions Day 5 vitrified blastocysts with higher quality of ICM and TE can provide high live birth rate and low pregnancy loss rate,but it could not predict the weight and gender of the newborn.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate the value of blastocyst culture for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Day 3 embryos were biopsied and analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Embryos with normal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts, and the ones with better morphology scores were transferred. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts. Part of the cells taken from the blastocysts were amplified by whole genomic amplification (WGA) and assessed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six blastocysts with normal FISH results were transferred in 5 cycles. Four healthy babies of 3 cycles were delivered. Another one was a singleton pregnancy but with embryo growth arrest, whose villus karyotype was normal. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts and analyzed by array-CGH. Six blastocysts were normal by array-CGH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FISH combined with blastocyst culture may further ensure the accuracy of PGD result. Detection at the blastocyst stage can avoid false positive results and mosaic interferences on Day 3 stage and are therefore more authentic.</p>