Thomas Ebner1,2, Katja Tritscher3, Richard B Mayer4,5,3,6,7, Peter Oppelt4,5, Hans-Christoph Duba6, Maria Maurer6, Gudrun Schappacher-Tilp7, Erwin Petek3, Omar Shebl4,5. 1. Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Kinderwunsch Zentrum, Landes- Frauen- und Kinderklinik, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, 4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. Thomas.ebner@gespag.at. 2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kepler University Hospital, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, 4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. Thomas.ebner@gespag.at. 3. Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University, Harrachgasse 21/8, 8010, Graz, Styria, Austria. 4. Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Kinderwunsch Zentrum, Landes- Frauen- und Kinderklinik, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, 4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. 5. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kepler University Hospital, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, 4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. 6. Department of Human Genetics, Landes- Frauen- und Kinderklinik, Krankenhausstr. 26-30, 4020, Linz, Upper Austria, Austria. 7. Department for Mathematics and Scientific Computing, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Universitätsstr. 15, 8010, Graz, Styria, Austria.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Prolonged in vitro culture is thought to affect pre- and postnatal development of the embryo. This prospective study was set up to determine whether quality/size of inner cell mass (ICM) (from which the fetus ultimately develops) and trophectoderm (TE) (from which the placenta ultimately develops) is reflected in birth and placental weight, healthy live-birth rate, and gender after fresh and frozen single blastocyst transfer. METHODS: In 225 patients, qualitative scoring of blastocysts was done according to the criteria expansion, ICM, and TE appearance. In parallel, all three parameters were quantified semi-automatically. RESULTS: TE quality and cell number were the only parameters that predicted treatment outcome. In detail, pregnancies that continued on to a live birth could be distinguished from those pregnancies that aborted on the basis of TE grade and cell number. Male blastocysts had a 2.53 higher chance of showing TE of quality A compared to female ones. There was no correlation between the appearance of both cell lineages and birth or placental weight, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The presented correlation of TE with outcome indicates that TE scoring could replace ICM scoring in terms of priority. This would automatically require a rethinking process in terms of blastocyst selection and cryopreservation strategy.
PURPOSE: Prolonged in vitro culture is thought to affect pre- and postnatal development of the embryo. This prospective study was set up to determine whether quality/size of inner cell mass (ICM) (from which the fetus ultimately develops) and trophectoderm (TE) (from which the placenta ultimately develops) is reflected in birth and placental weight, healthy live-birth rate, and gender after fresh and frozen single blastocyst transfer. METHODS: In 225 patients, qualitative scoring of blastocysts was done according to the criteria expansion, ICM, and TE appearance. In parallel, all three parameters were quantified semi-automatically. RESULTS: TE quality and cell number were the only parameters that predicted treatment outcome. In detail, pregnancies that continued on to a live birth could be distinguished from those pregnancies that aborted on the basis of TE grade and cell number. Male blastocysts had a 2.53 higher chance of showing TE of quality A compared to female ones. There was no correlation between the appearance of both cell lineages and birth or placental weight, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The presented correlation of TE with outcome indicates that TE scoring could replace ICM scoring in terms of priority. This would automatically require a rethinking process in terms of blastocyst selection and cryopreservation strategy.
Authors: Amin A Milki; Sunny H Jun; Mary D Hinckley; Lynn W Westphal; Linda C Giudice; Barry Behr Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2003-08 Impact factor: 3.412
Authors: Christopher P Moutos; William G Kearns; Sarah E Farmer; Jon P Richards; Antonio F Saad; John R Crochet Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2021-06-04 Impact factor: 3.357