title: [Investigation on development potential of blastomeres isolated from 4-cell human embryos].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the development potential of blastomeres isolated from 4-cell human embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human oocytes were collected after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and fertilized in vitro. The zona pellucida of 4-cell stage embryos were removed and the embryos were separated to single blastomeres and cultured in vitro. The development and differentiation of the blastomeres were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  83 blastomeres were isolated from 20 4-cell and 2 3-cell human embryos. Of those, 35 developed to expanded blastocyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blastomeres isolated from the 4-cell human embryos have the competence to develop to expanded blastocyst.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, Jinan Central Railway Hospital, Jinan 250001, China.
authors.forename: Shiyou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Qiyao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*