Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 2/2017

01-02-2017 | Embryo Biology

Morphokinetics of vitrified and warmed blastocysts predicts implantation potential

Authors: T. Ebner, P. Oppelt, E. Radler, C. Allerstorfer, A. Habelsberger, R. B. Mayer, O. Shebl

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 2/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

It was studied whether morphokinetics of blastocoele re-expansion and hatching in vitrified-warmed blastocysts is predictive of implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth.

Methods

In 144 patients aiming for single warmed blastocyst transfer, blastocysts were cultured in a new time-lapse system (Miri® TL) immediately after warming. Video sequences with an image interval of 5 min were annotated and the corresponding morphokinetic variables were correlated with pregnancy outcome. In detail, tRE (start of re-expansion), tCRE (completion of re-expansion), tAH (hatching from the manipulated zona pellucida), and presence of collapses were recorded.

Results

In the pregnant group, tRE and tCRE were significantly lower (0.69 ± 0.45 h and 2.16 ± 0.94 h) as compared to the non-pregnant group (1.23 ± 1.08 h and 2.70 ± 1.20 h). Both variables and the duration of re-expansion (tCRE-tRE) allowed for distinction between “non-pregnant,” “loss of pregnancy,” and live birth/ongoing pregnancy. Presence and number of collapses showed no correlation with outcome.

Conclusions

Time-lapse imaging of vitrified-warmed blastocysts offers additional selection criteria allowing for prediction of implantation potential. As a consequence, cumulative pregnancy rate could be increased and time-to-pregnancy reduced.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Liebermann J, Tucker MJ. Comparison of vitrification and conventional cryopreservation of day 5 and day 6 blastocysts during clinical application. Fertil Steril. 2005;86:20–6.CrossRef Liebermann J, Tucker MJ. Comparison of vitrification and conventional cryopreservation of day 5 and day 6 blastocysts during clinical application. Fertil Steril. 2005;86:20–6.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Vanderzwalmen P, Bertin G, Debauche C, Standaert V, van Roosendaal E, Vandervorst M, et al. Births after vitrification at morula and blastula stages: effect of artificial reduction of the blastocoelic cavity before vitrification. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:744–51.CrossRefPubMed Vanderzwalmen P, Bertin G, Debauche C, Standaert V, van Roosendaal E, Vandervorst M, et al. Births after vitrification at morula and blastula stages: effect of artificial reduction of the blastocoelic cavity before vitrification. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:744–51.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Vanderzwalmen P, Bertin G, Debauche C, Standaert V, Bollen N, van Roosendaal E, et al. Vitrification of human blastocysts with the Hemi-straw carrier: application of assisted hatching after thawing. Hum Reprod. 2003;18:1504–11.CrossRefPubMed Vanderzwalmen P, Bertin G, Debauche C, Standaert V, Bollen N, van Roosendaal E, et al. Vitrification of human blastocysts with the Hemi-straw carrier: application of assisted hatching after thawing. Hum Reprod. 2003;18:1504–11.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Ortega-Hrepich C, Stoop D, Guzmán L, Van Landuyt L, Tournaye H, Smitz J, et al. A “freeze-all” embryo strategy after in vitro maturation: a novel approach in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2013;100:1002–7.CrossRefPubMed Ortega-Hrepich C, Stoop D, Guzmán L, Van Landuyt L, Tournaye H, Smitz J, et al. A “freeze-all” embryo strategy after in vitro maturation: a novel approach in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2013;100:1002–7.CrossRefPubMed
5.
go back to reference Shapiro BS, Daneshmand ST, Garner FC, Aguirre M, Hudson C. Freeze-all at the blastocyst or bipronuclear stage: a randomized clinical trial. Fertil Steril. 2015;104:1138–44.CrossRefPubMed Shapiro BS, Daneshmand ST, Garner FC, Aguirre M, Hudson C. Freeze-all at the blastocyst or bipronuclear stage: a randomized clinical trial. Fertil Steril. 2015;104:1138–44.CrossRefPubMed
6.
7.
go back to reference Zander-Fox DL, Tremellen K, Lane M. Single blastocyst embryo transfer maintains comparable pregnancy rates to double cleavage-stage embryo transfer but results in healthier pregnancy outcomes. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011;51:406–10.CrossRefPubMed Zander-Fox DL, Tremellen K, Lane M. Single blastocyst embryo transfer maintains comparable pregnancy rates to double cleavage-stage embryo transfer but results in healthier pregnancy outcomes. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011;51:406–10.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Ebner T, Vanderzwalmen P, Shebl O, Urdl W, Moser M, Zech NH, et al. Morphology of vitrified/warmed day-5 embryos predicts rates of implantation, pregnancy and live birth. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19:72–8.CrossRefPubMed Ebner T, Vanderzwalmen P, Shebl O, Urdl W, Moser M, Zech NH, et al. Morphology of vitrified/warmed day-5 embryos predicts rates of implantation, pregnancy and live birth. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19:72–8.CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Ebner T, Vanderzwalmen P, Wirleitner B. Atlas of vitrified blastocysts in human assisted reproduction. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2015.CrossRef Ebner T, Vanderzwalmen P, Wirleitner B. Atlas of vitrified blastocysts in human assisted reproduction. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2015.CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Shu Y, Watt J, Gebhardt J, Dasig J, Appling J, Behr B. The value of fast blastocyst re-expansion in the election of a viable thawed blastocyst for transfer. Fertil Steril. 2008;91:401–6.CrossRefPubMed Shu Y, Watt J, Gebhardt J, Dasig J, Appling J, Behr B. The value of fast blastocyst re-expansion in the election of a viable thawed blastocyst for transfer. Fertil Steril. 2008;91:401–6.CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Van den Abbeel E, Camus M, Verheyen G, Van Waesberghe L, Devroey P, Van Steirteghem A. Slow controlled-rate freezing of sequentially cultured human blastocysts: an evaluation of two freezing strategies. Hum Reprod. 2005;20:2929–45. Van den Abbeel E, Camus M, Verheyen G, Van Waesberghe L, Devroey P, Van Steirteghem A. Slow controlled-rate freezing of sequentially cultured human blastocysts: an evaluation of two freezing strategies. Hum Reprod. 2005;20:2929–45.
12.
go back to reference Maezawa T, Yamanaka M, Hashimoto S, Amo A, Ohgaki A, Nakaoka Y, et al. Possible selection of viable human blastocysts after vitrification by monitoring morphological changes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2014;31:1099–104.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Maezawa T, Yamanaka M, Hashimoto S, Amo A, Ohgaki A, Nakaoka Y, et al. Possible selection of viable human blastocysts after vitrification by monitoring morphological changes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2014;31:1099–104.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
go back to reference ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine, ESHRE Special Interest Group Embryology. Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011;22:632–46. ALPHA Scientists in Reproductive Medicine, ESHRE Special Interest Group Embryology. Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011;22:632–46.
14.
go back to reference Ebner T, Moser M, Tews G. Possible applications of a non-contact 1.48 microm wavelength diode laser in assisted reproduction technologies. Hum Reprod Update. 2005;11:425–35.CrossRefPubMed Ebner T, Moser M, Tews G. Possible applications of a non-contact 1.48 microm wavelength diode laser in assisted reproduction technologies. Hum Reprod Update. 2005;11:425–35.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Biggers JD, Bell JE, Benos DJ. Mammalian blastocyst: transport functions in a developing epithelium. Am J Physiol. 1988;255:C419–32.PubMed Biggers JD, Bell JE, Benos DJ. Mammalian blastocyst: transport functions in a developing epithelium. Am J Physiol. 1988;255:C419–32.PubMed
16.
go back to reference Veeck LL, Zaninovic N. An atlas of human blastocysts. 1st ed. Boca Raton, London, New York, Washington: Parthenon Publishing; 2003. Veeck LL, Zaninovic N. An atlas of human blastocysts. 1st ed. Boca Raton, London, New York, Washington: Parthenon Publishing; 2003.
17.
go back to reference Marcos J, Pérez-Albalá S, Mifsud A, Molla M, Landeras J, Meseguer M. Collapse of blastocysts is strongly related to lower implantation success: a time-lapse study. Hum Reprod. 2015;30:2501–8.CrossRefPubMed Marcos J, Pérez-Albalá S, Mifsud A, Molla M, Landeras J, Meseguer M. Collapse of blastocysts is strongly related to lower implantation success: a time-lapse study. Hum Reprod. 2015;30:2501–8.CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Bodri D, Sugimoto T, Yao Serna J, Kawachiya S, Kato R, Matsumoto T. Blastocyst collapse is not an independent predictor of reduced live birth: a time-lapse study. Fertil Steril. 2016;105:1476–83.e3.CrossRefPubMed Bodri D, Sugimoto T, Yao Serna J, Kawachiya S, Kato R, Matsumoto T. Blastocyst collapse is not an independent predictor of reduced live birth: a time-lapse study. Fertil Steril. 2016;105:1476–83.e3.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Shimoda Y, Kumagai J, Anzai M, Kabashima K, Togashi K, Miura Y, et al. Time-lapse monitoring reveals that vitrification increases the frequency of contraction during the pre-hatching stage in mouse embryos. J Reprod Dev. 2016;62:187–93.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Shimoda Y, Kumagai J, Anzai M, Kabashima K, Togashi K, Miura Y, et al. Time-lapse monitoring reveals that vitrification increases the frequency of contraction during the pre-hatching stage in mouse embryos. J Reprod Dev. 2016;62:187–93.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
go back to reference Mirzazadeh F, Cater E, Nice L, Campbell A. Data analysis study on the rate of blastocyst re-expansion after warming and its significance to outcome. Reprod Biomed Online. 2016;32(1):9.CrossRef Mirzazadeh F, Cater E, Nice L, Campbell A. Data analysis study on the rate of blastocyst re-expansion after warming and its significance to outcome. Reprod Biomed Online. 2016;32(1):9.CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Galán Rivas A, Coello A, Cobo A, Nohales M, Alegre L, Meseguer M. Morphology dynamics of warmed blastocysts are strong predictors of clinical outcome. Hum Reprod. 2016, in press. Galán Rivas A, Coello A, Cobo A, Nohales M, Alegre L, Meseguer M. Morphology dynamics of warmed blastocysts are strong predictors of clinical outcome. Hum Reprod. 2016, in press.
Metadata
Title
Morphokinetics of vitrified and warmed blastocysts predicts implantation potential
Authors
T. Ebner
P. Oppelt
E. Radler
C. Allerstorfer
A. Habelsberger
R. B. Mayer
O. Shebl
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0855-5

Other articles of this Issue 2/2017

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 2/2017 Go to the issue

Assisted Reproduction Technologies

Freeze-all cycle for all normal responders?