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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 5/2018

01-05-2018 | Assisted Reproduction Technologies

Embryonal mitochondrial DNA: relationship to embryo quality and transfer outcomes

Authors: Amber M. Klimczak, Lucia E. Pacheco, Kelsey E. Lewis, Niloofar Massahi, Jon P. Richards, William G. Kearns, Antonio F. Saad, John R. Crochet

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 5/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to study the association between embryonal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and embryo quality and implantation outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed with data collected from a private IVF center database. The study population included female infertility patients with ages ranging from 31 to 38 years old, and the main outcome measures were embryo quality and transfer outcomes.

Results

From a total of 1510 blastocyst biopsies, the majority of embryos consisted of grade 1 (High), followed by grade 2 (mid), and grade 3 (poor). Embryos with higher mtDNA content were found to be of poorer quality (grade 3) relative to grades 1 and 2 (P = 0.003). Using a logistic model, mtDNA best predicted lowest and highest grades, but not mid-grade embryos. There was no correlation between mtDNA content and the subjects’ age (R2 = 0.0018). In an analysis of only euploid embryos (N = 717), there was no longer an association between mtDNA content and embryo quality (P = 0.834). There was no difference in mtDNA content between groups of embryos that did and did not implant (P = 0.53). There was also no association noted between mtDNA content and ongoing pregnancy. Compared to day 6, day 5 blastocysts contain significantly higher amounts of mtDNA (P = 0.0005), lower rates of aneuploidy (P < 0.001), and were more likely to be high-quality blastocysts (grade 1) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although the mtDNA content shows some association to the morphologic grade of an embryo, this association does not persist in an analysis of only euploid embryos. Mitochondrial DNA content also does not appear to be associated with implantation or ongoing pregnancy. Day 5 blastocysts have significantly higher mtDNA content compared to day 6 blastocysts.
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Metadata
Title
Embryonal mitochondrial DNA: relationship to embryo quality and transfer outcomes
Authors
Amber M. Klimczak
Lucia E. Pacheco
Kelsey E. Lewis
Niloofar Massahi
Jon P. Richards
William G. Kearns
Antonio F. Saad
John R. Crochet
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1147-z

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