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Viability of preimplantation embryos
Bailliere'S Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) success requires identifying viable embryos. Morphological assessment and metabolic analysis, including interleukin 1-alpha levels, show promise for predicting implantation potential and increasing IVF efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Embryology
- In vitro fertilization (IVF)
Background:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) has a low success rate, with only about 10% of transferred embryos implanting.
- Identifying viable embryos is crucial for enhancing IVF efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore methods for detecting viable embryos to improve IVF success rates.
- To evaluate the predictive value of embryo morphology and metabolic markers for implantation.
Main Methods:
- Assessing zygote and embryo morphology, including timely fertilization and blastomere size.
- Utilizing sensitive microassays to analyze the metabolic profile of embryo supernatants.
- Measuring interleukin 1-alpha levels and antiproliferative activity in embryo supernatants.
Main Results:
- Embryos with timely fertilization, normal pronuclear growth, and equally sized blastomeres reaching the 4-cell stage by 42 hours post-insemination show higher implantation potential.
- In a small series, elevated interleukin 1-alpha (> 60 pg/ml) and suppressive activity (> 20%) in the supernatant accurately predicted 100% of pregnancies.
- Metabolic analysis of embryo supernatant shows promise for predicting viability.
Conclusions:
- Embryo morphology and metabolic markers are valuable indicators of embryo viability in IVF.
- Interleukin 1-alpha levels and antiproliferative activity in the supernatant can predict pregnancy outcomes.
- Future strategies may involve invasive assessment of embryo chromosomal status to further improve IVF success rates.