Morphokinetics and mitochondrial DNA secretion by human embryos
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is mitochondrial DNA secretion by human embryos related to embryo morphokinetics?
IRAS ID
151593
Contact name
Stuart Lavery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Boston Place Clinic
Research summary
Background: Time lapse imaging involves taking photographs of developing embryos every 15 minutes, so that changes in their appearance (morphology) can be linked with the timing of changes (kinetics). Embryo morphokinetics is used as a predictor of embryo viability, but the factors that affect an embryo’s morphokinetics are still not fully understood.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been identified in the culture medium of developing embryos, and has been associated with decreased viability and increased fragmentation and reduced blastocyst quality. Intracellular mtDNA has also been identified in embryo biopsied cells and has been associated with increased implantation potential. No studies to date have compared intracellular and extracellular mtDNA with embryo morphokinetics.
Study design: Blind prospective study of patients undergoing routine IVF treatment at a private clinic using time-lapse assessment of embryo morphokinetics.
Objective: To identify whether differing amounts of intrcellular (in biopsied cells) and extracellular (in spent media) mtDNA, affects embryo morphokinetics and the ability of the embryo to form a blastocyst.
Methods: The patients recruited from the IVF clinic will undergo normal IVF treatment using a time-lapse incubator. Spent culture medium from the developing embryos will be sent for quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis of the mtDNA, which will be compared to embryo morphokinetics and blastulation. If pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or screening is being performed, mtDNA will also be assessed by qPCR on the same cell that is used for the diagnosis, to look for associations with embryo morphokinetics and ability to blastulate.Hypothesis: Embryos that secrete a high amount of mtDNA into the medium will have slower morphokinetics and may be less likely to blastulate. Other demographic factors may explain variations in amount of mtDNA.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0548
Date of REC Opinion
28 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion