title: MicroRNA expression in the human blastocyst.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the most highly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in human blastocysts and to compare miRNAs in euploid versus aneuploid embryos and in male versus female embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study of human embryos: 14 blastocysts (four male, five female, and five aneuploid) were evaluated for miRNA expression with the use of an array-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Highly expressed and differentially expressed miRNAs were confirmed with the use of qPCR in an expanded set of 27 blastocysts (seven male, eleven female, and nine aneuploid).
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic IVF program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen couples donated 91 cryopreserved embryos for this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relative miRNA expression in individual blastocysts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most highly expressed miRNA in euploid embryos was miR-372. Many of the highly expressed miRNAs have been shown to be critical to mammalian embryo development and to maintenance of stem cell pluripotency. Several differentially expressed miRNAs were discovered based on chromosomal makeup, including sex of the embryo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human blastocysts express miRNAs, which may be important to their survival. Differential miRNA expression based on sex implies some degree of differentiation at the blastocyst stage of development. Differential miRNA expression between euploid and aneuploid embryos may be an early indicator of their prognosis or a mechanism behind their eventual fate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rosenbluth
authors.forename: Dawne N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: Amy E T
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Devor
authors.forename: Lane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christenson
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Van Voorhis
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs