Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine

The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine (대한생식의학회)
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Human embryos derived from first polar body nuclear transfer exhibit comparatively abnormal morphokinetics during development

  • Leila Heydari (Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Mohammad Ali Khalili (Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Azam Agha Rahimi (Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Fatemeh Shakeri (Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2023.01.31
  • Accepted : 2023.06.10
  • Published : 2023.09.30
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Abstract

Objective: Reconstructed oocytes after polar body genome transfer constitute a potential therapeutic option for patients with a history of embryo fragmentation and advanced maternal age. However, the rescue of genetic material from the first polar body (PB1) through introduction into the donor cytoplasm is not yet ready for clinical application. Methods: Eighty-five oocytes were obtained following in vitro maturation (IVM) and divided into two groups: PB1 nuclear transfer (PB1NT; n=54) and control (n=31). Following enucleation and PB1 genomic transfer, PB1 fusion was assessed. Subsequently, all fused oocytes underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and were cultured in an incubator under a time-lapse monitoring system to evaluate fertilization, embryonic morphokinetic parameters, and cleavage patterns. Results: Following enucleation and fusion, 77.14% of oocytes survived, and 92.59% of polar bodies (PBs) fused. However, the normal fertilization rate was lower in the PB1NT group than in the control group (56.41% vs. 92%, p=0.002). No significant differences were observed in embryo kinetics between the groups, but a significant difference was detected in embryo developmental arrest after the four-cell stage, along with abnormal cleavage division in the PB1NT group. This was followed by significant between-group differences in the implantation potential rate and euploidy status. Most embryos in the PB1NT group had at least one abnormal cleavage division (93.3%, p=0.001). Conclusion: Fresh PB1NT oocytes successfully produced normal zygotes following PB fusion and ICSI in IVM oocytes. However, this was accompanied by low efficiency in developing into cleavage embryos, along with an increase in abnormal cleavage patterns.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was part of a PhD thesis and was financially supported by the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD, No. 971155), Tehran, Iran. We would like to thank the staff of the laboratory of reproductive medicine.

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