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Updated: Feb 15, 2026
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Real-time Monitoring of Mitochondrial Respiration in Cytokine-differentiated Human Primary T Cells
Published on: October 19, 2021
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Blastulation timing is associated with differential mitochondrial content in euploid embryos
Jacqueline R Ho1,2, Nabil Arrach3,4, Katherine Rhodes-Long1,2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
|January 22, 2018
Summary
Lower mitochondrial content (MC) in blastocysts indicates better embryo quality, correlating with euploidy and successful blastocyst formation. Time-lapse morphokinetics (TLM) and MC combined may improve embryo selection for IVF.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive medicine
- Embryology
- Genetics
Background:
- Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and mitochondrial content (MC) are used for embryo selection.
- Time-lapse morphokinetics (TLM) may also aid in identifying viable embryos.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between TLM parameters and MC for adjunct embryo selection.
- To examine the association of MC with ploidy and blastulation.
Main Methods:
- Human zygotes were cultured in a time-lapse system.
- Blastomere and trophectoderm biopsies were performed on days 3 and 6.
- MC and ploidy were analyzed using next-generation sequencing.
Main Results:
- MC per cell decreased from day 3 to day 6.
- Longer blastulation timing correlated with higher day 6 MC.
- Day 6 MC was lower in euploid vs. aneuploid embryos and blastocysts vs. arrested embryos.
Conclusions:
- Lower blastocyst stage MC is linked to euploidy and blastocyst formation, suggesting higher embryo quality.
- Higher MC in aneuploid/arrested embryos may result from slower cell division or DNA degradation.
- Combining TLM, MC, morphology, and ploidy may enhance embryo selection strategies.
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