Effects of first and second division modes on euploidy acquisition in human embryo

Abstract

The aim of this study was to non-invasively investigate euploid embryos using methods other than pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. The study focused on direct cleavage (DC) observed during early embryo development. We also investigated the relationship between the mode of early embryo division and embryo ploidy. Embryos were divided into the normal cleavage (NC) and DC groups, and the DC group was further subdivided into the DC-First (DC-F) and DC-Second (DC-S) groups, depending on whether DC was observed at the first or second cleavage, respectively. The acquisition rates of euploid embryos and embryos appropriate for transfer were compared between the groups. Our results revealed that the timing of the first division did not differ between blastocyst grades or in embryos with varying degrees of ploidy. Further, the timing of the first cleavage did not affect the acquisition rate of embryos appropriate for transfer and euploid embryo formation rate did not significantly differ between the DC and NC groups. We also noted that for embryos appropriate for transfer, euploidy acquisition rate did not differ significantly between the DC and NC groups. Further, the euploidy acquisition rate of embryos did not differ between the DC-F and DC-S groups. However, the acquisition rate of embryos appropriate for transfer, including those with low mosaicism, was significantly higher in the DC-S group than in the DC-F group. These findings indicated that the number of good-quality blastocysts formed was significantly higher in the NC group than in the DC group and the acquisition rate of embryos appropriate for transfer, including those with low mosaicism, was significantly higher in the DC-S group than in the DC-F group.

Keywords:

• blastocyst ploidy
• euploidy
• first division
• mosaicism
• second division

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the clinical embryologists and nursing staff at the Takeuchi Ladies Clinic/Center for Reproductive Medicine (Aira-shi, Kagoshima, Japan) for providing technical assistance and support during this study.

Authors’ contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: YM, KT; Performed the experiments: YM, YK, YK, YF, MT, HM; Analyzed the data: YK, YK, YF, MT, HM; Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: YM, TI; Wrote the manuscript: YM; Final edit of paper: YM, KT.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).