title: No relationship between embryo morphology and successful derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The large number (30) of permanent human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines and additional 29 which did not continue growing, in our laboratory at Karolinska Institutet have given us a possibility to analyse the relationship between embryo morphology and the success of derivation of hESC lines. The derivation method has been improved during the period 2002-2009, towards fewer xeno-components. Embryo quality is important as regards the likelihood of pregnancy, but there is little information regarding likelihood of stem cell derivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the relationship of pronuclear zygote stage, the score based on embryo morphology and developmental rate at cleavage state, and the morphology of the blastocyst at the time of donation to stem cell research, to see how they correlated to successful establishment of new hESC lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Derivation of hESC lines succeeded from poor quality and good quality embryos in the same extent. In several blastocysts, no real inner cell mass (ICM) was seen, but permanent well growing hESC lines could be established. One tripronuclear (3PN) zygote, which developed to blastocyst stage, gave origin to a karyotypically normal hESC line.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even very poor quality embryos with few cells in the ICM can give origin to hESC lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. susanne.strom@ki.se
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ström
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Wallberg
authors.forename: Frida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hovatta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057905:Stem Cell Research
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media