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Sakkas D, Gulliford C, Ardestani G, Ocali O, Martins M, Talasila N, Shah JS, Penzias AS, Seidler EA, Sanchez T. Metabolic imaging of human embryos is predictive of ploidy status but is not associated with clinical pregnancy outcomes: a pilot trial. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:516-525. [PMID: 38195766 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)-based metabolic imaging assessment of human blastocysts prior to frozen transfer correlate with pregnancy outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER FLIM failed to distinguish consistent patterns in mitochondrial metabolism between blastocysts leading to pregnancy compared to those that did not. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY FLIM measurements provide quantitative information on NAD(P)H and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD+) concentrations. The metabolism of embryos has long been linked to their viability, suggesting the potential utility of metabolic measurements to aid in selection. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was a pilot trial enrolling 121 IVF couples who consented to have their frozen blastocyst measured using non-invasive metabolic imaging. After being warmed, 105 couples' good-quality blastocysts underwent a 6-min scan in a controlled temperature and gas environment. FLIM-assessed blastocysts were then transferred without any intervention in management. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Eight metabolic parameters were obtained from each blastocyst (4 for NAD(P)H and 4 for FAD): short and long fluorescence lifetime, fluorescence intensity, and fraction of the molecule engaged with enzyme. The redox ratio (intensity of NAD(P)H)/(intensity of FAD) was also calculated. FLIM data were combined with known metadata and analyzed to quantify the ability of metabolic imaging to differentiate embryos that resulted in pregnancy from embryos that did not. De-identified discarded aneuploid human embryos (n = 158) were also measured to quantify correlations with ploidy status and other factors. Statistical comparisons were performed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with 5-fold cross-validation averaged over 100 repeats with random sampling. AUC values were used to quantify the ability to distinguish between classes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE No metabolic imaging parameters showed significant differences between good-quality blastocysts resulting in pregnancy versus those that did not. A logistic regression using metabolic data and metadata produced an ROC AUC of 0.58. In contrast, robust AUCs were obtained when classifying other factors such as comparison of Day 5 (n = 64) versus Day 6 (n = 41) blastocysts (AUC = 0.78), inner cell mass versus trophectoderm (n = 105: AUC = 0.88) and aneuploid (n = 158) versus euploid and positive pregnancy embryos (n = 108) (AUC = 0.82). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The study protocol did not select which embryo to transfer and the cohort of 105 included blastocysts were all high quality. The study was also limited in number of participants and study sites. Increased power and performing the trial in more sites may have provided a stronger conclusion regarding the merits of the use of FLIM clinically. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FLIM failed to distinguish consistent patterns in mitochondrial metabolism between good-quality blastocysts leading to pregnancy compared to those that did not. Blastocyst ploidy status was, however, highly distinguishable. In addition, embryo regions and embryo day were consistently revealed by FLIM. While metabolic imaging detects mitochondrial metabolic features in human blastocysts, this pilot trial indicates it does not have the potential to serve as an effective embryo viability detection tool. This may be because mitochondrial metabolism plays an alternative role post-implantation. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was sponsored by Optiva Fertility, Inc. Boston IVF contributed to the clinical site and services. Becker Hickl, GmbH, provided the FLIM system on loan. T.S. was the founder and held stock in Optiva Fertility, Inc., and D.S. and E.S. had options with Optiva Fertility, Inc., during this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER The study was approved by WCG Connexus IRB (Study Number 1298156).
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Affiliation(s)
- Denny Sakkas
- Boston IVF, Research Department, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Olcay Ocali
- Boston IVF, Research Department, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Jaimin S Shah
- Boston IVF, Research Department, Waltham, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan S Penzias
- Boston IVF, Research Department, Waltham, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily A Seidler
- Boston IVF, Research Department, Waltham, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Hong J, Tong H, Wang X, Lv X, He L, Yang X, Wang Y, Xu K, Liang Q, Feng Q, Niu T, Niu X, Lu Y. Embryonic diapause due to high glucose is related to changes in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as abnormalities in the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1135837. [PMID: 38170036 PMCID: PMC10759208 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1135837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The adverse effects of high glucose on embryos can be traced to the preimplantation stage. This study aimed to observe the effect of high glucose on early-stage embryos. Methods and results Seven-week-old ICR female mice were superovulated and mated, and the zygotes were collected. The zygotes were randomly cultured in 5 different glucose concentrations (control, 20mM, 40mM, 60mM and 80mM glucose). The cleavage rate, blastocyst rate and total cell number of blastocyst were used to assess the embryo quality. 40 mM glucose was selected to model high glucose levels in this study. 40mM glucose arrested early embryonic development, and the blastocyst rate and total cell number of the blastocyst decreased significantly as glucose concentration was increased. The reduction in the total cell number of blastocysts in the high glucose group was attributed to decreased proliferation and increased cell apoptosis, which is associated with the diminished expression of GLUTs (GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT3). Furthermore, the metabolic characterization of blastocyst culture was observed in the high-glucose environment. Discussion The balance of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation at the blastocyst stage was disrupted. And embryo development arrest due to high glucose is associated with changes in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, as well as abnormalities in the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiewei Hong
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxuan Tong
- Institute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Party Committee Office, Shanxi Health Vocational College, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lv
- Library Collection and Editing Department, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan He
- Rehabilitation Department, Dongfang Hospital Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xuezhi Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yingli Wang
- Experimental Management Center, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi, China
| | - Kaixia Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi, China
| | - Qi Liang
- Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
| | - Qianjin Feng
- Experimental Management Center, Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi, China
| | - Tingli Niu
- Medical Insurance Office, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Niu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Lee SH, Liu X, Jimenez-Morales D, Rinaudo PF. Murine blastocysts generated by in vitro fertilization show increased Warburg metabolism and altered lactate production. eLife 2022; 11:e79153. [PMID: 36107481 PMCID: PMC9519152 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) has resulted in the birth of over 8 million children. Although most IVF-conceived children are healthy, several studies suggest an increased risk of altered growth rate, cardiovascular dysfunction, and glucose intolerance in this population compared to naturally conceived children. However, a clear understanding of how embryonic metabolism is affected by culture condition and how embryos reprogram their metabolism is unknown. Here, we studied oxidative stress and metabolic alteration in blastocysts conceived by natural mating or by IVF and cultured in physiologic (5%) or atmospheric (20%) oxygen. We found that IVF-generated blastocysts manifest increased reactive oxygen species, oxidative damage to DNA/lipid/proteins, and reduction in glutathione. Metabolic analysis revealed IVF-generated blastocysts display decreased mitochondria respiration and increased glycolytic activity suggestive of enhanced Warburg metabolism. These findings were corroborated by altered intracellular and extracellular pH and increased intracellular lactate levels in IVF-generated embryos. Comprehensive proteomic analysis and targeted immunofluorescence showed reduction of lactate dehydrogenase-B and monocarboxylate transporter 1, enzymes involved in lactate metabolism. Importantly, these enzymes remained downregulated in the tissues of adult IVF-conceived mice, suggesting that metabolic alterations in IVF-generated embryos may result in alteration in lactate metabolism. These findings suggest that alterations in lactate metabolism are a likely mechanism involved in genomic reprogramming and could be involved in the developmental origin of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok Hee Lee
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Xiaowei Liu
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - David Jimenez-Morales
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Paolo F Rinaudo
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoUnited States
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Jung JH, Loeken MR. Diabetic Embryopathy Susceptibility in Mice Is Associated with Differential Dependence on Glucosamine and Modulation of High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10081156. [PMID: 34439404 PMCID: PMC8388881 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10081156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The high KM glucose transporter, GLUT2 (SLC2A2), is expressed by embryos and causes high rates of glucose transport during maternal hyperglycemic episodes in diabetic pregnancies and causes congenital malformations (diabetic embryopathy). GLUT2 is also a low KM transporter of the amino sugar, glucosamine (GlcN), which enters the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) and provides substrate for glycosylation reactions. Exogenous GlcN also increases activity of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which increases production of NADPH reducing equivalents. GLUT2-transported GlcN is inhibited by high glucose concentrations. Not all mouse strains are susceptible to diabetic embryopathy. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that susceptibility to diabetic embryopathy is related to differential dependence on exogenous GlcN for glycosylation or stimulation of the PPP. We tested this using murine embryonic stem cell (ESC) lines that were derived from embryopathy-susceptible FVB/NJ (FVB), and embryopathy-resistant C57Bl/6J (B6), embryos in the presence of low or high glucose, and in the presence or absence of GlcN. There were no significant differences in Glut2 expression, or of glucose or GlcN transport, between FVB and B6 ESC. GlcN effects on growth and incorporation into glycoproteins indicated that FVB ESC are more dependent on exogenous GlcN than are B6 ESC. GlcN stimulated PPP activity in FVB but not in B6 ESC. High glucose induced oxidative stress in FVB ESC but not in B6 ESC. These results indicate that FVB embryos are more dependent on exogenous GlcN for glycosylation, but also for stimulation of the PPP and NADPH production, than are B6 embryos, thereby rendering FVB embryos more susceptible to high glucose to induce oxidative stress.
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Desmet KLJ, Marei WFA, Richard C, Sprangers K, Beemster GTS, Meysman P, Laukens K, Declerck K, Vanden Berghe W, Bols PEJ, Hue I, Leroy JLMR. Oocyte maturation under lipotoxic conditions induces carryover transcriptomic and functional alterations during post-hatching development of good-quality blastocysts: novel insights from a bovine embryo-transfer model. Hum Reprod 2021; 35:293-307. [PMID: 32112081 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does oocyte maturation under lipolytic conditions have detrimental carry-over effects on post-hatching embryo development of good-quality blastocysts after transfer? SUMMARY ANSWER Surviving, morphologically normal blastocysts derived from bovine oocytes that matured under lipotoxic conditions exhibit long-lasting cellular dysfunction at the transcriptomic and metabolic levels, which coincides with retarded post-hatching embryo development. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY There is increasing evidence showing that following maturation in pathophysiologically relevant lipotoxic conditions (as in obesity or metabolic syndrome), surviving blastocysts of good (transferable) morphological quality have persistent transcriptomic and epigenetic alteration even when in vitro embryo culture takes place under standard conditions. However, very little is known about subsequent development in the uterus after transfer. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Bovine oocytes were matured in vitro in the presence of pathophysiologically relevant, high non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations (HIGH PA), or in basal NEFA concentrations (BASAL) as a physiological control. Eight healthy multiparous non-lactating Holstein cows were used for embryo transfers. Good-quality blastocysts (pools of eight) were transferred per cow, and cows were crossed over for treatments in the next replicate. Embryos were recovered 7 days later and assessed for post-hatching development, phenotypic features and gene expression profile. Blastocysts from solvent-free and NEFA-free maturation (CONTROL) were also tested for comparison. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Recovered Day 14 embryos were morphologically assessed and dissected into embryonic disk (ED) and extraembryonic tissue (EXT). Samples of EXT were cultured for 24 h to assess cellular metabolic activity (glucose and pyruvate consumption and lactate production) and embryos' ability to signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy (interferon-τ secretion; IFN-τ). ED and EXT samples were subjected to RNA sequencing to evaluate the genome-wide transcriptome patterns. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The embryo recovery rate at Day 14 p.i. was not significantly different among treatment groups (P > 0.1). However, higher proportions of HIGH PA embryos were retarded in growth (in spherical stage) compared to the more elongated tubular stage embryos in the BASAL group (P < 0.05). Focusing on the normally developed tubular embryos in both groups, HIGH PA exposure resulted in altered cellular metabolism and altered transcriptome profile particularly in pathways related to redox-regulating mechanisms, apoptosis, cellular growth, interaction and differentiation, energy metabolism and epigenetic mechanisms, compared to BASAL embryos. Maturation under BASAL conditions did not have any significant effects on post-hatching development and cellular functions compared to CONTROL. LARGE-SCALE DATA The datasets of RNA sequencing analysis are available in the NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository, series accession number GSE127889 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE127889). Datasets of differentially expressed genes and their gene ontology functions are available in the Mendeley datasets at http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/my2z7dvk9j.2. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The bovine model was used here to allow non-invasive embryo transfer and post-hatching recovery on Day 14. There are physiological differences in some characteristics of post-hatching embryo development between human and cows, such as embryo elongation and trophoblastic invasion. However, the main carry-over effects of oocyte maturation under lipolytic conditions described here are evident at the cellular level and therefore may also occur during post-hatching development in other species including humans. In addition, post-hatching development was studied here under a healthy uterine environment to focus on carry-over effects originating from the oocyte, whereas additional detrimental effects may be induced by maternal metabolic disorders due to adverse changes in the uterine microenvironment. RNA sequencing results were not verified by qPCR, and no solvent control was included. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our observations may increase the awareness of the importance of maternal metabolic stress at the level of the preovulatory oocyte in relation to carry-over effects that may persist in the transferrable embryos. It should further stimulate new research about preventive and protective strategies to optimize maternal metabolic health around conception to maximize embryo viability and thus fertility outcome. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was supported by the Flemish Research Fund (FWO grant 11L8716N and FWO project 42/FAO10300/6541). The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolien L J Desmet
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Waleed F A Marei
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211 Giza, Egypt
| | - Christophe Richard
- UMR Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alford, Université Paris-Saclay, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Katrien Sprangers
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research Group (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gerrit T S Beemster
- Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research Group (IMPRES), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pieter Meysman
- Biomedical Informatics Research Center Antwerp, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kris Laukens
- Biomedical Informatics Research Center Antwerp, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Ken Declerck
- Laboratory of Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Wim Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory of Protein Science, Proteomics and Epigenetic Signaling, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Peter E J Bols
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Hue
- UMR Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alford, Université Paris-Saclay, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jo L M R Leroy
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Kurosawa H, Utsunomiya H, Shiga N, Takahashi A, Ihara M, Ishibashi M, Nishimoto M, Watanabe Z, Abe H, Kumagai J, Terada Y, Igarashi H, Takahashi T, Fukui A, Suganuma R, Tachibana M, Yaegashi N. Development of a new clinically applicable device for embryo evaluation which measures embryo oxygen consumption. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:2321-30. [PMID: 27609982 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does a new system-the chip-sensing embryo respiration monitoring system (CERMs)-enable evaluation of embryo viability for potential application in a clinical IVF setting? SUMMARY ANSWER The system enabled the oxygen consumption rate of spheroids, bovine embryos and frozen-thawed human embryos to be measured, and this rate corresponded to the developmental potential of embryos. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN To date, no reliable and clinically suitable objective evaluation methods for embryos are available, which circumvent the differences in inter-observer subjective view. Existing systems such as the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) technique, which enables the measurement of oxygen consumption rate in embryos, need improvement in usability before they can be applied to a clinical setting. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a prospective original research study. The feasibility of measuring the oxygen consumption rate was assessed using CERMs for 9 spheroids, 9 bovine embryos and 30 redundant frozen-thawed human embryos. The endpoints for the study were whether CERMs could detect a dissolved oxygen gradient with high sensitivity, had comparable accuracy to the SECM measuring system with improved usability, and could predict the development of an embryo to a blastocyst by measuring the oxygen consumption rate. The relationship between the oxygen consumption rate and standard morphological evaluation was also examined. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We developed a new CERMs, which enables the oxygen consumption rate to be measured automatically using an electrochemical method. The device was initially used for measuring a dissolved oxygen concentration gradient in order to calculate oxygen consumption rate using nine spheroids. Next, we evaluated data correlation between the CERMs and the SECM measuring systems using nine bovine embryos. Finally, the oxygen consumption rates of 30 human embryos, which were frozen-thawed on 2nd day after fertilization, were measured by CERMs at 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after thawing with standard morphological evaluation. Furthermore, the developed blastocysts were scored using the blastocyst quality score (BQS), and the correlation with oxygen consumption rate was also assessed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The device enabled the oxygen consumption rate of an embryo to be measured automatically within a minute. The oxygen concentration gradient profile showed excellent linearity in a distance-dependent change. A close correlation in the oxygen consumption rates of bovine embryos was observed between the SECM measuring system and CERMs, with a determination coefficient of 0.8203 (P = 0.0008). Oxygen consumption rates of human embryos that have reached the blastocyst stage were significantly higher than those of arrested embryos at 48, 72 and 96 h after thawing (P = 0.039, 0.004 and 0.049, respectively). Thus, in vitro development of frozen-thawed human embryos to the blastocyst stage would be predicted at 48 h after thawing (day 4) by measuring the oxygen consumption using CERMs. Although a positive linear relationship between BQS and the oxygen consumption rate was observed [the determination coefficient was R(2) = 0.6537 (P = 0.008)], two blastocysts exhibited low oxygen consumption rates considering their relatively high BQS. This suggests that morphology and metabolism in human embryos might not correlate consistently. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Transfer of the embryo and pregnancy evaluation was not performed. Thus, a correlation between oxygen consumption and the in vivo viability of embryos remains unknown. Clinical trials, including embryo transfer, would be desirable to determine a threshold value to elect clinically relevant, quality embryos for transfer. We utilized frozen-thawed human embryos in this study. The effect of these manipulations on the respiratory activity of the embryo is also unknown. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Selection of quality embryos, especially in a single embryo transfer cycle, by CERMs may have an impact on obtaining better clinical outcomes, albeit with clinical trials being required. Furthermore, the early determination of quality embryos by CERMs may enable the omission of long-term in vitro embryo culture to the blastocyst stage. CERMs is scalable technology that can be integrated into incubators and/or other embryo evaluation systems, such as the time-lapse systems, due to its chip-based architecture. Thus, CERMS would enable automatic measurement of oxygen consumption, under 5% CO2, in the near future, in order to reduce oxidative stress from exposure to atmospheric air. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by grants from the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant (H24-Hisaichiiki-Shitei-016). The authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Kurosawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hiroki Utsunomiya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Naomi Shiga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Aiko Takahashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Motomasa Ihara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masumi Ishibashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Nishimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Zen Watanabe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Abe
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Yamagata University, Yamagata 992-8510, Japan
| | - Jin Kumagai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Terada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita 010-8543, Japan
| | - Hideki Igarashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Takahashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Atsushi Fukui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Ryota Suganuma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Masahito Tachibana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Nobuo Yaegashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
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Drábková P, Andrlová L, Hampl R, Kanďár R. [Changes in the levels of selected metabolites in the culture medium as a possible tool for the embryo selection in assisted reproduction]. Ceska Gynekol 2015; 80:135-139. [PMID: 25944603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the increasing success of infertility treatment methods of assisted reproduction, it still remains a problem how to select the best embryo that has the potential for further development and implantation. At the present time, embryo selection is based especially on morphological criteria. This approach is subjective; therefore there is a trend to find another more objective and robust method for embryo selection. Embryo metabolism can be used as an indicator of viability. This non-invasive method allows observing changes in the levels of different metabolites in culture medium before and after incubation of the only one embryo. The most mentioned substances are carbohydrates and amino acids as important components of culture medium. Carbohydrates serve predominantly as energy sources, whereas amino acids are precursors of protein and nucleotides, antioxidants, osmolytes, pH regulators etc. Several methods have been proposed for evaluating of embryo metabolic profile of embryo. There are many hypotheses for embryo selection according its metabolic profile.
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