Automatic user-independent zona pellucida imaging at the oocyte stage allows for the prediction of preimplantation development

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• 作者：Thomas Ebner ; Basak Balaban ; Marianne Moser ; Omar Shebl ; Bulent Urman ; Barı ; ş ; Ata ; Gernot Tews
• 关键词：Birefringence ; inner layer ; oocyte quality ; polarization microscopy ; zona pellucida ; zona score
• 刊名：Fertility and Sterility
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：August 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：94
• 期：3
• 页码：913-920
• 全文大小：318 K

文摘

Objective

To analyze whether a change in three-dimensional structure of the zona pellucida could indicate suboptimal gamete quality.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Women's general hospital.

Patient(s)

A total of 72 patients who gave informed consent.

Intervention(s)

The birefringence of all oocytes was prospectively analyzed with an automatic user-independent polarization microscopy imaging system.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Birefringence of the inner zona layer, preimplantation development, implantation, and pregnancy.

Result(s)

In approximately one third of all gametes (244/712), the system's automatic detection of the inner zona layer did not succeed. This phenomenon was a negative predictor of compaction (P < 0.01), blastulation (P < 0.001), and pregnancy (P < 0.001). In cases of successful zona imaging, the score based on the birefringence of the inner zona layer was a strong predictor of blastocyst formation but not of embryo quality or pregnancy (P > 0.05). Interestingly, antagonist protocol resulted in lower zona scores as compared with the long protocol (P < 0.05).

Conclusion(s)

Combining the information from both undetected and detected oocytes, zona imaging was a helpful tool in oocyte selection. This knowledge might further help to reduce both the time in culture and the number of concepti considered for transfer.