PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate whether artificial shrinkage, induced by a laser pulse or hyperosmotic sucrose solutions, improves in vitro survival and/or implantation of vitrified-warmed human expanded blastocysts. METHODS: Before Cryotop vitrification, the blastocoelic cavity was collapsed either by a laser pulse or sucrose solutions. Non-treated blastocysts were used as control. Post-warm blastocyst survival and implantation after transfer were examined. Implantation rate outcome was retrospectively analyzed by morphological grading and developmental kinetics of post-warm blastocysts. RESULTS: Survival rates in the three groups were high. Implantation rates in the laser-pulse group (59.7%) were comparable with those in the sucrose group (49.3%), and were significantly higher than those in the control group (34.2%). The proportion of blastocysts showing fast development tended to be higher when the blastocysts underwent artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification. There was no clear correlation between morphology of post-warm blastocysts and implantation rate. CONCLUSION: Artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification is associated with an increased probability of fast-developing embryos, resulting in higher implantation rates.
PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate whether artificial shrinkage, induced by a laser pulse or hyperosmotic sucrose solutions, improves in vitro survival and/or implantation of vitrified-warmed human expanded blastocysts. METHODS: Before Cryotop vitrification, the blastocoelic cavity was collapsed either by a laser pulse or sucrose solutions. Non-treated blastocysts were used as control. Post-warm blastocyst survival and implantation after transfer were examined. Implantation rate outcome was retrospectively analyzed by morphological grading and developmental kinetics of post-warm blastocysts. RESULTS: Survival rates in the three groups were high. Implantation rates in the laser-pulse group (59.7%) were comparable with those in the sucrose group (49.3%), and were significantly higher than those in the control group (34.2%). The proportion of blastocysts showing fast development tended to be higher when the blastocysts underwent artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification. There was no clear correlation between morphology of post-warm blastocysts and implantation rate. CONCLUSION: Artificial shrinkage treatment before vitrification is associated with an increased probability of fast-developing embryos, resulting in higher implantation rates.
Authors: Pierre Vanderzwalmen; G Bertin; Ch Debauche; V Standaert; E van Roosendaal; M Vandervorst; N Bollen; H Zech; T Mukaida; K Takahashi; R Schoysman Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2002-03 Impact factor: 6.918
Authors: Franchesca D Houghton; Peter G Humpherson; Judith A Hawkhead; Christine J Hall; Henry J Leese Journal: Dev Biol Date: 2003-11-15 Impact factor: 3.582
Authors: P Vanderzwalmen; G Bertin; Ch Debauche; V Standaert; N Bollen; E van Roosendaal; M Vandervorst; R Schoysman; N Zech Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2003-07 Impact factor: 6.918