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- Title
Identification of viable embryos in IVF by non-invasive measurement of amino acid turnover.
- Authors
D.R. Brison; F.D. Houghton; D. Falconer; S.A. Roberts; J. Hawkhead; P.G. Humpherson; B.A. Lieberman; H.J. Leese
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: IVF is limited by low success rates and an unacceptably high multiple pregnancy rate. These outcomes would be improved significantly if a single embryo of high viability could be replaced in each treatment cycle, but widespread acceptance of such a policy is hindered by the lack of predictive factors for embryo selection. We have conducted a retrospective clinical study of a novel non-invasive method of embryo selection based on the depletion/appearance of amino acids in the culture medium. METHODS: Fifty-three cycles of IVF treatment using ICSI were studied. Embryos were cultured for 24 h in 4 μl drops of medium containing a physiological mixture of 18 amino acids. The spent medium was analysed for amino acid content by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The turnover of three amino acids, Asn, Gly and Leu, was significantly correlated with a clinical pregnancy and live birth. These correlations were independent of known predictors, such as female age, basal levels of FSH, embryo cell number and embryo morphological grade. CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive assay of amino acid turnover has the potential to improve significantly the prospective selection of the most viable embryos, or single embryo, for replacement in an IVF cycle.
- Publication
Human Reproduction, 2004, Vol 19, Issue 10, p2319
- ISSN
0268-1161
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1093/humrep/deh409