A fast and efficient method for simultaneous X and Y in situ hybridization of human blastomeres.
OBJECTIVE
To use a 6-hr fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure involving fluorochrome-labeled probes to determine the gender of blastomeres from arrested biopsied human embryos.


RESULTS
Simultaneous detection of X and Y chromosomes was performed on 68 blastomeres with this technique. The FISH efficiency for gender determination was 95.5% (65/68). In addition, rehybridization with chromosome 8-specific probes was performed to determine the ploidy of blastomeres with more than two sex chromosomes.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique offers an alternative to polymerase chain reaction for the preimplantation diagnosis of X-linked diseases and can also be used for ploidy assessment.
Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, New York 10021.
S
S
Munné
H U
HU
Weier
J
J
Stein
J
J
Grifo
J
J
Cohen
D001706:Biopsy; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D005404:Fixatives; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D011003:Ploidies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome
D005404:Fixatives