Biodynamic imaging of live porcine oocytes, zygotes and blastocysts for viability assessment in assisted reproductive technologies.

Ran An,John Turek,Zoltan Machaty,David D Nolte,Chunmin Wang

doi:10.1364/boe.6.000963

Abstract

The success of assisted reproductive technologies relies on accurate assessment of reproductive viability at successive stages of development for oocytes and embryos. The current scoring system used to select good-quality oocytes relies on morphologically observable traits and hence is indirect and subjective. Biodynamic imaging may provide an objective approach to oocyte and embryo assessment by measuring physiologically-relevant dynamics. Biodynamic imaging is a coherence-gated approach to 3D tissue imaging that uses digital holography to perform low-coherence speckle interferometry to capture dynamic light scattering from intracellular motions. The changes in intracellular activity during cumulus oocyte complex maturation, before and after in vitro fertilization, and the subsequent development of the zygote and blastocyst provide a new approach to the assessment of preimplant candidates.

Highlights

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are powerful tools for the treatment of infertility in human medicine or for the improvement of productivity in animal agriculture [1, 2]
An optical coherence image (OCI) of a cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) is shown in Fig. 2(C) at approximately the midsection of the complex
The intracellular dynamics of cells and tissues are a central property of all living systems

Summary

Introduction

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are powerful tools for the treatment of infertility in human medicine or for the improvement of productivity in animal agriculture [1, 2]. ATP production, and mitochondrial function, can be estimated by measuring oxygen consumption of the oocyte [15] These tests are either invasive or complicated and have had limited practical value to reliably predict oocyte viability prior to fertilization. A potential candidate for functional oocyte and embryo assessment is biodynamic imaging (BDI) that uses subcellular motion as an endogenous imaging contrast [20, 21]. It is well suited for the evaluation of oocyte and embryo quality because it captures the functional dynamics of the cells and tissues without exogenous dyes.

Biodynamic imaging of active transport

COC viability

Multi-cell zygotes and blastocysts

Findings

Discussion and conclusions