Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 4, 719-729,
April 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
A microscopic and biochemical study of fragmentation phenotypes in stage-appropriate human embryos
1 Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 and 2 Colorado Reproductive Endocrinology, Rose Medical Center, Denver, CO 80220, USA
The occurrence of a pleiomorphic population of cytoplasmic fragments is a common characteristic of early human embryos fertilized in vitro. Here, temporal, spatial, fine structural, and biochemical aspects of fragmentation were examined in fragmented monospermic and dispermic pronuclear to early cleavage stages human embryos classified as stage-appropriate during the first 3.5 days of culture. The morphodynamics of certain common patterns of fragmentation and the movement and composition of fragments were analysed by time-lapse video, mitochondrial fluorescent probes, and transmission electron microscopy. Plasma membrane and nuclear DNA integrity were assessed by annexin V staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labelling (TUNEL) and single-cell alkaline gel electrophoresis (`comet') assays respectively. Developmental competence for affected embryos was related to outcome after embryo transfer. The results demonstrate that certain common forms of spontaneous fragmentation affecting early human embryos are not lethal, and that clusters of apparent fragments are often transient structures, which disappear by resorption or lysis. The findings suggest that the occurrence and fate of fragments characteristic of these phenotypes may be related to oncosis-like processes associated with transient and focal ATP deficiencies in blastomeres and mitochondrial deficiencies or absence in extracellular fragments.
Key words: `comet' assay/electron microscopy/embryo fragmentation/time-lapse video microscopy/TUNEL
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. E-mail: vanblerk{at}spot.colorado.edu
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  R.W. Browne, W.B. Shelly, M.S. Bloom, A.J. Ocque, J.R. Sandler, H.G. Huddleston, and V.Y. Fujimoto Distributions of high-density lipoprotein particle components in human follicular fluid and sera and their associations with embryo morphology parameters during IVF Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2008; 23(8): 1884 - 1894. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Guerif, A. Le Gouge, B. Giraudeau, J. Poindron, R. Bidault, O. Gasnier, and D. Royere Limited value of morphological assessment at days 1 and 2 to predict blastocyst development potential: A prospective study based on 4042 embryos Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2007; 22(7): 1973 - 1981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Holte, L. Berglund, K. Milton, C. Garello, G. Gennarelli, A. Revelli, and T. Bergh Construction of an evidence-based integrated morphology cleavage embryo score for implantation potential of embryos scored and transferred on day 2 after oocyte retrieval Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2007; 22(2): 548 - 557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Van Blerkom, H. Cox, and P. Davis Regulatory roles for mitochondria in the peri-implantation mouse blastocyst: possible origins and developmental significance of differential {Delta}{Psi}m. Reproduction, May 1, 2006; 131(5): 961 - 976. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L.J.A.M. Jacobs, G. de Wert, J.P.M. Geraedts, I.F.M. de Coo, and H.J.M. Smeets The transmission of OXPHOS disease and methods to prevent this Hum. Reprod. Update, March 1, 2006; 12(2): 119 - 136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Alikani, T. Schimmel, and S. M. Willadsen Cytoplasmic fragmentation in activated eggs occurs in the cytokinetic phase of the cell cycle, in lieu of normal cytokinesis, and in response to cytoskeletal disorder Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2005; 11(5): 335 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Mateusen, A. Van Soom, D. G D Maes, I. Donnay, L. Duchateau, and A.-S. Lequarre Porcine embryo development and fragmentation and their relation to apoptotic markers: a cinematographic and confocal laser scanning microscopic study Reproduction, April 1, 2005; 129(4): 443 - 452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Z. Han, Y. G. Chung, S. Gao, and K. E. Latham Maternal Factors Controlling Blastomere Fragmentation in Early Mouse Embryos Biol Reprod, March 1, 2005; 72(3): 612 - 618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jurisicova and B. M Acton Deadly decisions: the role of genes regulating programmed cell death in human preimplantation embryo development Reproduction, September 1, 2004; 128(3): 281 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Levy, K. Elder, and Y. Menezo Cytoplasmic transfer in oocytes: biochemical aspects Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2004; 10(3): 241 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. V. Blerkom, P. Davis, and S. Alexander Inner mitochondrial membrane potential ({Delta}{Psi}m), cytoplasmic ATP content and free Ca2+ levels in metaphase II mouse oocytes Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2003; 18(11): 2429 - 2440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Hardy, J. Stark, and R. M.L. Winston Maintenance of the Inner Cell Mass in Human Blastocysts from Fragmented Embryos Biol Reprod, April 1, 2003; 68(4): 1165 - 1169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Oehninger and R. G. Gosden Should ICSI be the treatment of choice for all cases of in-vitro conception?: No, not in light of the scientific data Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2002; 17(9): 2237 - 2242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. C. St. John Ooplasm donation in humans: The need to investigate the transmission of mitochondrial DNA following cytoplasmic transfer Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2002; 17(8): 1954 - 1958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Martinez, L. Rienzi, M. Iacobelli, F. Ubaldi, C. Mendoza, E. Greco, and J. Tesarik Caspase activity in preimplantation human embryos is not associated with apoptosis Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1584 - 1590. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|