Prediction of the in vitro developmental competence of early-cleavage-stage human embryos with time-lapse imaging and oxygen consumption rate measurement

Abstract

Purpose: To assess an embryo's ability to develop into a good-quality blastocyst during the early-cleavage stage using time-lapse imaging and the oxygen consumption rate. Methods: In total, 942 zygotes had their oxygen consumption rates measured. In total, 282 zygotes were assessed by using time-lapse imaging. In total, 121 zygotes were examined by using both their oxygen consumption rate and time-lapse imaging. Results: The embryos with moderate respiration rates of between 0.41 and 0.61 (×1014/mol s−1) on day 3 had a 22.1% chance of becoming good-quality blastocysts; those outside that range had a 14.3% chance. With the time-lapse system, when the first division was within 24 hours, 22.3% of the embryos grew to good blastocysts. After 24 hours, the rate dropped to 8.6%. The intervals between two consecutive cleavages were calculated and the duration of the second cell cycle was defined. When the time was between nine hours and 13 hours, there was a higher rate of good blastocysts. Regarding both criteria, when the embryos had progressed in the optimal range, a high percentage of them had become good blastocysts; it was 8.0% outside of that range. Conclusion: Individual embryos with the potential to develop into good-quality blastocysts could be selected at day 3 of culture using these systems.