Clinical implications of mitochondrial DNA quantification on pregnancy outcomes: a blinded prospective non-selection study

This study demonstrated that euploid blastocysts of good morphology, but with high mtDNA levels had a greatly reduced implantation potential.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYBetter methods of embryo selection leading to IVF outcome improvement are necessary, as the transfer of chromosomally normal embryos of high morphological grade cannot guarantee the establishment of an ongoing pregnancy. The quantity of mtDNA in embryonic cells has been proposed as a new biomarker of viability —higher levels of mtDNA associated with reduced implantation potential.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONmtDNA was quantified in 199 blastocysts, previously biopsied and shown to be chromosomally normal using preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). These were generated by 174 couples (average female age 37.06 years). All patients underwent IVF in a single clinic. The study took place in a blinded, non-selection manner —i.e. mtDNA quantity was not known at the time of single embryo transfer. The fate of the embryos transferred was subsequently compared to the mtDNA levels measured.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSEmbryos were biopsied at the blastocyst stage. The TE samples obtained were subjected to whole genome amplification followed by comprehensive chromosome analysis via next generation sequencing. The same biopsy specimens were also tested using quantitative PCR, allowing highly accurate mtDNA quantification. After blastocyst transfer, the code used for blinding was broken and analysis...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research