title: Following the course of pre-implantation embryo patterning by non-linear microscopy.
abstract: Embryo patterning is subject to intense investigation. So far only large, microscopically obvious structures like polar body, cleavage furrow, pro-nucleus shape can be evaluated in the intact embryo. Using non-linear microscopic techniques, the present work describes new methodologies to evaluate pre-implantation mouse embryo patterning. Third Harmonic Generation (THG) imaging, by detecting mitochondrial/lipid body structures, could provide valuable and complementary information as to the energetic status of pre-implantation embryos, time evolution of different developmental stages, embryo polarization prior to mitotic division and blastomere equivalence. Quantification of THG imaging detected highest signalling in the 2-cell stage embryos, while evaluating a 12-18% difference between blastomeres at the 8-cell stage embryos. Such a methodology provides novel, non-intrusive imaging assays to follow up intracellular structural patterning associated with the energetic status of a developing embryo, which could be successfully used for embryo selection during the in vitro fertilization process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Christiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kyvelidou
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tserevelakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippidis
authors.forename: Anthi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranella
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kleovoulou
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fotakis
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Athanassakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001757:Blastomeres / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019521:Body Patterning; D002455:Cell Division; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D059705:Polar Bodies / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015053:Zygote / Q000648:ultrastructure*