title: Abnormally cleaving embryos are able to produce live births: a time-lapse study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the prevalence of abnormally cleaved embryos and determined which types of abnormally cleaved embryos (1-3c, 2-4c, 3-5c, 4-6c), might be suitable for transfer based on live birth data.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-one women (whose transferred embryos were confirmed to be either fully implanted or fully unimplanted) provided 1256 embryos, which were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of these embryos, 320 embryos were transferred, of these transferred embryos, 291 embryos were normal and 29 embryos were abnormal, which five embryos were not analyzed because each one was presented one abnormal cleavage type. These 24 embryos were divided into four groups. Inclusion criteria were as follows: women under 37 years of age undergoing first fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment with a basal antral follicle count of 5-15, body mass index (BMI) of 18-25 kg/m(2), number of retrieved oocytes between 5 and 20, and tubal factors as the cause of infertility. Time-lapse imaging analysis software was used to compare temporal parameters of normal cleavage and abnormal cleavage groups (there were four abnormal groups, based on the prevalence of abnormal cleavage embryos). Cleavage times were analyzed before the abnormal cleavage occurred, and time intervals were analyzed after the abnormal cleavage based upon the types of abnormal cleavage. In addition, the time intervals of t4-t3 and t8-t5 were also analyzed; corresponding time parameters were measured in the normal group as well. Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were also measured in the normally cleaved and abnormally cleaved embryos. The prevalence of abnormal cleavage was 15.92% (200/1256). T8-t5 was the most important parameter in the prediction of potential development (production of a live-born baby) of abnormally cleaving embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormally cleaving embryos were able to produced live births with T8-t5 the best parameter to predict the developmental potential of abnormally cleaving embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400013, China.
authors.forename: Yan Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Chong Qing Reproductive and Genetics Institute, Chongqing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, 64 Jing Tang ST, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China.
authors.forename: Shu Biao
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Chong Qing Reproductive and Genetics Institute, Chongqing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, 64 Jing Tang ST, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China.
authors.forename: Li Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400013, China.
authors.forename: Ya Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chong Qing Reproductive and Genetics Institute, Chongqing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, 64 Jing Tang ST, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China. gnhuang009@yahoo.cn.
authors.forename: Guo Ning
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Abnormal cleavage; Cell division; Non-invasive assessment; Time-lapse imaging