Mosaic embryos contain two or more genetically distinct cell lines, which can be detected by pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. At present, it has been reported that mosaic embryo transfer can lead to healthy live births. In order to prevent severe adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as implantation failure, abortion, congenital malformation and neonatal death after implantation of mosaic embryos, it is critical to carry out genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy supervision for mosaic embryo transfer. This article reviews the selection of mosaic embryos, the pregnancy outcomes of mosaic embryo transfer, and the safety of offspring, in order to provide references for the clinical practice of mosaic embryo transfer.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Embryo Transfer ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Genetic Testing ; Embryo Implantation/genetics*

Endometrial receptivity has become the main cause of fertilization and pregnancy outcomes in infertile patients,bringing large psychological damage and economic loss to the patients and their family. In recent years,the role of non-coding RNA has increasingly been recognized. The relationship between non-coding RNA and endometrial receptivity is reviewed in this article.
Embryo Implantation ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics

The transcription factor X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) plays a key role in unfolded protein reaction. This study was aimed to investigate the expression pattern and regulation of XBP1 in the mouse uterus during early pregnancy. The methods of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real time quantitative RT-PCR were used to test XBP1 expression in early pregnancy, artificial decidualization, oestrous cycle and hormone-regulated mouse models. The results showed that XBP1 was spatiotemporally expressed in mouse uterus during early pregnancy. The XBP1 protein was mainly detected in the luminal and glandular epithelia on days 1-4 of pregnancy, and was strongly detected in the decidual area on days 5-8 of pregnancy. Similarly, XBP1 expression was also mainly expressed in decidual cells following artificial decidualization. During the oestrous cycle, Xbp1, Xbp1u, and Xbp1s mRNA was predominantly present in proestrus. In the ovariectomized uterus, the expression of XBP1 in luminal and glandular epithelia was up-regulated after estrogen treatment. These results suggest that XBP1 is associated with embryo implantation and decidualization during early pregnancy in mice, and the expression of XBP1 in luminal and glandular epithelia may be regulated by estrogen.
Animals ; Decidua ; Embryo Implantation ; Estrogens ; Female ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Uterus

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), age of male, various parameters of sperm, rates of fertilization, high quality embryo and pregnancy and implantation rates.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven infertile couples were selected randomly, and DFI was tested by flow cytometry for the sperm used for IVF. The patients were divided into different groups according to the DFI scores. The results of each group were analyzed.

RESULTSThe IVF normal fertilization was significantly lower in couples with sperm DFI over 10% (60.5%) than that in couples with DFI below 10% (70.1%) (P<0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between DFI and the age of male (r=0.624, P<0.05). DFI was also significantly negatively correlated with the percentage of linearly progressive sperm (r=-0.360, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the rates of high quality cleaved embryos, pregnancy and implantation rate and sperm DFI.

CONCLUSIONDFI scores are increased with male's age, and it can influence the sperm motility. DFI=10% can be considered as a critical point which can be used to estimate the clinical fertility rate of IVF. But it could not provide relative information about the rates of high quality embryos and pregnancy for infertile couples undergoing IVF procedure.

Adult ; Aging ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryo Implantation ; genetics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Regression Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; physiology

This study examined the effects of Bangdeyun on the expressions of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the endometrium of mice with embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) during the implantation time (namely on pregnancy day 5, 6, 7 and 8) and explored the local immune regulatory effects of Bangdeyun. The gestational mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and Bangdeyun-treated group. EID models of mice were established by using indomethacin. The endometrial expression of NF-kappaB was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. IFN-gamma and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that in the normal group, NF-kappaB and IFN-gamma were weakly expressed and IL-10 was strongly expressed in the endometrium during the whole implantation period. In the model group, the expressions of NF-kappaB and IFN-gamma were increased on pregnancy day 5, 6 and 7, and IL-10 expression decreased during the whole implantation time when compared with those in the normal group (P<0.01 for all). In the Bangdeyun-treated group, little amount of NF-kappaB and IFN-gamma was expressed and IL-10 expression was strong, much the way they were expressed in the normal group (P>0.05). The expressions of NF-kappaB and IFN-gamma were much lower in the Bangdeyun-treated group than those in the model group on pregnancy day 5, 6 and 7 (P<0.01 for all), while the expression of IL-10 was much higher than in the model group during the whole implantation time (P<0.01). It was suggested Bangderun may favor a shift from Th1- to Th2-type immune response, therefore inhibiting the maternal immune rejection, inducing the immune tolerance and improving the fetal implantation.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology ; Embryo Implantation, Delayed/*drug effects ; Embryo Implantation, Delayed/immunology ; Endometrium/*immunology ; Endometrium/metabolism ; Interferon-gamma/genetics ; Interferon-gamma/metabolism ; Interleukin-10/genetics ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; NF-kappa B/genetics ; NF-kappa B/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of calcium dependent adhesion molecules (cadherin) during the implantation and development of human embryo by studying the expression of E-cadherin in human embryo and blastocysts.

METHODSExpression of E-cadherin in preimplantation embryos and blastocysts was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay and quantitated by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

RESULTSExpression of E-cadherin was found in all the preimplantation embryos and blastocysts the present authors studied. The expression was higher in blastocysts than that in preimplantation embryos.

CONCLUSIONThe above results suggested that human embryos and blastocysts could express E-cadherin and the expression increased during their development. These may be of significance to the adhesion and implantation of the human embryo and blastocysts.

Blastocyst ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of big Y chromosome on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

METHODSData of 127 cycles of IVF/ICSI-ET, performed in our Reproductive Medicine Center from March 2001 to June 2003 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the length of chromosome: Group A, 56 cycles with big Y chromosome

RESULTSNo significant difference was observed in the quality of embryos and in the and Group B, 71 cycles with normal karyotype. rates of fertilization, cleavage, clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, dead infant delivery, malformation,

CONCLUSIONBig Y chromosome has no significant influence on the baby boy delivery and baby girl delivery between the two groups. development of embryos and the outcome of pregnancy.

Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic

To study the expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) in endometrium of pregnant mice during the peri-implantation period and the role of DKK-1 during the embryo implantation in mice. Immunohistochemical technique was employed to determine the location of DKK-1 protein in endometrium, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized to determine the levels of DKK-1 mRNA. Our results showed that the expressions of DKK1 mRNA and protein were higher in experimental groups than in control group (P<0.01) and it increased significantly on day 3 and reached its peak on day 4, and then decreased gradually on day 5-7. The levels of DKK-1 mRNA and protein on day 4 was significantly higher than those of other groups (P<0.01). It is concluded that DKK-1 probably plays an important role in signal transudation of embryo implantation and its high expression indicates the opening of implantation window.
Embryo Implantation/*genetics ; Endometrium/*metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

To study the expression of Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) in endometrium of pregnant mice during the peri-implantation period and the role of DKK-1 during the embryo implantation in mice. Immunohistochemical technique was employed to determine the location of DKK-1 protein in endometrium, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized to determine the levels of DKK-1 mRNA. Our results showed that the expressions of DKK1 mRNA and protein were higher in experimental groups than in control group (P<0.01) and it increased significantly on day 3 and reached its peak on day 4, and then decreased gradually on day 5-7. The levels of DKK-1 mRNA and protein on day 4 was significantly higher than those of other groups (P<0.01). It is concluded that DKK-1 probably plays an important role in signal transudation of embryo implantation and its high expression indicates the opening of implantation window.
Animals ; Embryo Implantation ; genetics ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

BACKGROUNDAt present, a diagnostic tool with high specificity for impaired endometrial receptivity, which may lead to implantation failure, remains to be developed. We aimed to assess the different endometrial microRNA (miRNA) signatures for impaired endometrial receptivity by microarray analysis.

METHODSA total of 12 repeated implantation failure (RIF) patients and 10 infertile patients, who conceived and delivered after one embryo transfer attempt, were recruited as RIF and control groups, respectively. Endometrial specimens from the window of implantation (WOI) were collected from these two groups. MiRNA microarray was conducted on seven and five samples from the RIF and control groups, respectively. Comparative, functional, and network analyses were performed for the microarray results. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on other samples to validate the expression of specific miRNAs.

RESULTSCompared with those in the control group, the expression levels of 105 miRNAs in the RIF group were found to be significantly up- or down-regulated (at least 2-fold) by microarray analysis. The most relevant miRNA functional sets of these dysregulated miRNAs were miR-30 family, human embryonic stem cell regulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and miRNA tumor suppressors by tool for annotations of microRNA analysis. Network regulatory analysis found 176 miRNA-mRNA interactions, and the top 3 core miRNAs were has-miR-4668-5p, has-miR-429, and has-miR-5088. Expression levels of the 18 selected miRNAs in new samples by real-time PCR were found to be regulated with the same trend, as the result of microarray analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a significant different expression of certain miRNAs in the WOI endometrium for RIF patients. These miRNAs may contribute to impaired endometrial receptivity.

Adult ; Embryo Implantation ; genetics ; physiology ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Microarray Analysis ; Pregnancy ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction