Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026

A Neural Network-Based Identification of Developmentally Competent or Incompetent Mouse Fully-Grown Oocytes
Published on: March 3, 2018
Is the nuclear status of an embryo an independent factor to predict its ability to develop to term?
Patricia Fauque1, Etienne Audureau, Roger Leandri
1Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Hôpital de Dijon, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. patricia.fauque@chu-dijon.fr
Objective:
To determine the prognostic impact of the embryo nuclear status at day 2 among other major morphologic parameters (first cleavage at day 1, number of blastomeres and anuclear fragmentation at day 2) on the birth rate.
Design:
Retrospective study.
Setting:
Hospital IVF department.
Patient(S):
Women undergoing 1,629 day 2 transfers of 2,732 embryos from May 2006 to November 2008.
Intervention(S):
Four groups according to the embryo nuclear status.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Implantation, miscarriage, and birth rates.
Result(S):
Univariate analysis indicated significantly higher birth rates when all blastomeres were mononucleated (15.0%) compared with embryos with not all blastomeres mononucleated (9.2%), embryos without any visible nucleus (7.7%), and embryos where at least one blastomere was multinucleated (4.2%). Multivariate analysis found significant decreased birth rates when multinucleated blastomeres were observed.
Conclusion(S):
Blastomere nuclear status should be added to the kinetic and morphologic criteria traditionally used at day 2 to assess human embryo quality. The presence of multinucleated blastomeres has a negative impact on birth potential. The results argue for integrating the blastomere nuclear status at day 2 with the kinetic and morphologic criteria traditionally used to define the best embryo to transfer. Embryos with a single visible nucleus in all blastomeres should be given priority for transfer when available.
Related Concept Videos
Teratogenicity
Determination
Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
Cleavage and Blastulation
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

