Non-Invasive Human Embryo Metabolic Assessment as a Developmental Criterion.

Marjan Motiei,Katerina Vaculikova,Reza Khalili,David Rumpik,Zdenek Glatz,Tomas Saha,Andrea Cela,Katerina Tvrdonova,Tatana Rumpikova

doi:10.3390/jcm9124094

Abstract

The selection of a highly-viable single embryo in assisted reproductive technology requires an acceptable predictive method in order to reduce the multiple pregnancy rate and increase the success rate. In this study, the metabolomic profiling of growing and impaired embryos was assessed on the fifth day of fertilization using capillary electrophoresis in order to find a relationship between the profiling and embryo development, and then to provide a mechanistic insight into the appearance/depletion of the metabolites. This unique qualitative technique exhibited the appearance of most non-essential amino acids and lactate, and depleting the serine, alanyl-glutamine and pyruvate in such a manner that the embryos impaired in their development secreted a considerably higher level of lactate and consumed a significantly higher amount of alanyl-glutamine. The different significant ratios of metabolomic depletion/appearance between the embryos confirm their potential for the improvement of the prospective selection of the developed single embryos, and also suggest the fact that pyruvate and alanyl-glutamine are the most critical ATP suppliers on the fifth day of blastocyst development.

Highlights

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), despite epigenetic disruptions and low live birth rates, is still one hope of many subfertile couples
The metabolomic profiling of growing and impaired embryos was assessed on the fifth day of fertilization using capillary electrophoresis in order to find a relationship between the profiling and embryo development, and to provide a mechanistic insight into the appearance/depletion of the metabolites
It is impossible to confirm an association between human ART and epigenetic disturbances [1], and these limited epigenetic variations are largely attenuated by adulthood [2], ART laboratories care about the quality control and quality assurance of ART policies and procedures [3]

Summary

Introduction

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), despite epigenetic disruptions and low live birth rates, is still one hope of many subfertile couples. Many embryologists try to increase the pregnancy rate by the replacement of multiple embryos in a cycle. Several European countries disagree with this subject, owing to high obstetric, neonatal, and economic costs. It is necessary to identify sensitive and predictive biomarkers for the differentiation of the embryos’ developmental potential. Various criteria (i.e., cell number, morphological appearance, and embryo cleavage timing) have been utilized for embryo selection, which requires an extended embryo culture, time to monitor the embryo development, and an experienced embryologist. Due to the individual errors and detrimental effect of prolonged time on the human embryos [4], these criteria are relatively subjective and poor implantation predictors. Embryo selection requires a reliable predictive strategy, independent of or complementary to other predictors

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