Relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number, membrane potential of human embryo and embryo morphology

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between the embryo with the different morphological types in the third day and its mitochondrial copy number, the membrane potential. Methods: Totally 117 embryos with poor development after normal fertilization and were not suitable transferred in the fresh cycle and 106 frozen embryos that were discarded voluntarily by infertility patients with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer after successful pregnancy were selected. According to evaluation of international standard in embryos, all cleavage stage embryos were divided into class Ⅰ frozen embryo group (n=64), class Ⅱ frozen embryo group (n=42) and class Ⅲ fresh embryonic group (not transplanted embryos; n=117). Real-time PCR and confocal microscopy methods were used to detect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number and the mitochondrial membrane potential of a single embryo. The differences between embryo quality and mtDNA copy number and membrane potential of each group were compared. Results: The copy number of mtDNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential in class Ⅲ fresh embryonic group [(1.7±1.0)×10(5) copy/μl, 1.56±0.32] were significantly lower than those in class Ⅰ frozen embryo group [(3.4±1.7)×10(5) copy/μl, 2.66±0.21] and class Ⅱ frozen embryo group [(2.6±1.2)×10(5) copy/μl, 1.80±0.32; all P<0.05]. The copy number of mtDNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential in classⅠ frozen embryo group were significantly higher than those in classⅡ frozen embryo group (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The mtDNA copy number and the mitochondrial membrane potential of embryos of the better quality embryo are higher.