Altered cleavage patterns in human tripronuclear embryos and their association to fertilization method: a time-lapse study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the cleavage patterns in dipronuclear (2PN) and tripronuclear (3PN) embryos in relation to fertilization method.


METHODS
Time-lapse analysis.


RESULTS
Compared to 2PN, more 3PN IVF embryos displayed early cleavage into 3 cells (p < 0.001), displayed longer duration of the 3-cell stage (p < 0.001), and arrested development from the compaction stage and onwards (p < 0.001). For the IVF embryos, the 2nd and 3rd cleavage cycles were completed within the expected time frame. However, timing of the cell divisions within the cleavage cycles differed between the two groups. In contrast, the completion of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cleavage cycle was delayed, but with a similar division pattern for 3PN ICSI compared with the 2PN ICSI embryos. 3PN, more often than 2PN ICSI embryos, displayed early cleavage into 3 cells (p = 0.03) and arrested development from the compaction stage and onwards (p = 0.001). More 3PN IVF than ICSI embryos displayed early cleavage into 3 cells (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports differences in cleavage patterns between 2PN and 3PN embryos and for the first time demonstrates differences in the cleavage pattern between 3PN IVF and ICSI embryos.
Department of Clinical Genetics, Vejle Hospital, Kappeltoft 25, 7100, Vejle, Denmark, mette.warming.joergensen@rsyd.dk.
Mette Warming
MW
Joergensen
Inge
I
Agerholm
Johnny
J
Hindkjaer
Lars
L
Bolund
Lone
L
Sunde
Hans Jakob
HJ
Ingerslev
Kirstine
K
Kirkegaard
D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging