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Updated: Jan 24, 2026
14:08
Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
Published on: January 26, 2013
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Blastomere movement post first cell division correlates with embryonic compaction and subsequent blastocyst formation
Kazuki Ohata1, Kenji Ezoe2, Tetsuya Miki1
1Kato Ladies Clinic, 7-20-3 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan.
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology : RB&E
|May 17, 2019
Summary
Blastomere movement (BMov) after the first cell division in human embryos impacts blastocyst development. Certain movements, like twist-and-crumble, hinder embryo development, but BMov type and duration do not affect live birth rates after single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer.
Area of Science:
- Embryology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Blastomere movement (BMov) post-first cell division in human embryos is a potential prognostic marker for pregnancy outcomes.
- Previous research focused on cleavage-stage embryo transfer; the impact of BMov on blastocyst development and outcomes after blastocyst transfer is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between BMov after the first cell division and blastocyst formation rate.
- To assess the relationship between BMov and live birth rate following single vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer (SVBT).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 966 embryos using the EmbryoScope+® time-lapse system.
- Categorization of BMov into bouncing, wobbling, and twist-and-crumble types, with monitoring of duration (dBMov) and ratio (dBMov/(t3-t2)).
- Evaluation of developmental rates to various stages, blastocyst morphology, and correlation with pregnancy and live birth rates.
Main Results:
- Increased dBMov/(t3-t2) correlated with reduced developmental rates to the 8-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages.
- Bouncing BMov embryos showed higher developmental rates than twist-and-crumble embryos.
- No significant correlation was found between BMov type/duration and clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, or live birth rates after SVBT.
Conclusions:
- Twist-and-crumble movement and prolonged BMov negatively impact embryonic compaction and blastocyst formation.
- Assessing BMov after the first cell division on day 1 can predict the preimplantation developmental competence of human embryos.
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