title: Time-lapse imaging reveals differences in growth dynamics of embryos after in vitro maturation compared with conventional stimulation.
abstract: To study the impact of in vitro maturation (IVM) on embryonal development with the use of time-lapse imaging.
  
  
  
  Retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  
  University hospital.
  
  
  
  In total, 294 embryos were cultured after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment of three groups: patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and IVM (n = 105; group 1 [G1]), patients after conventional stimulation without PCOS (n = 115; G2) and with PCOS (n = 74; G3). In total, 171 embryos were finally analyzed (57 G1, 65 G2, and 49 G3).
  
  
  
  Data of 23 PCOS patients (30 IVM cycles) from January 2012 to July 2015 were matched according to age and number of oocytes to patients after conventional stimulation without PCOS (n = 30; 30 cycles) and with PCOS (n = 16; 19 cycles). Markers of embryo development were analyzed at different time points. Pregnancy rates (PRs) and live birth rates (LBRs) were recorded.
  
  
  
  Morphokinetic differences in embryo development after IVM compared with conventional stimulation with or without PCOS.
  
  
  
  The rate of good-quality embryos was significantly lower in G1. Embryo development in G1 was significantly accelerated to the time of appearance of two pronuclei but slowed down by the time of reaching 6-cell stage and remained slower compared with embryos of G2 and G3. PRs as well as LBRs did not differ significantly among the study groups.
  
  
  
  Although growth dynamics of embryos from G1 differ from G2 and G3 and the rate of good-quality embryos was lower in IVM embryos, PRs and LBRs did not differ significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roesner
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weigert
authors.affiliation: Ilabcomm, Sankt Augustin, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Fertility Disorders, Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: thomas.strowitzki@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strowitzki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007700:Kinetics; D050498:Live Birth; D008540:Meiosis; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Time-lapse imaging; clinical pregnancy rate; in vitro maturation; morphokinetic parameters