Unequal pronuclear size--a powerful predictor of embryonic chromosome anomalies

J Assist Reprod Genet. 1999 Aug;16(7):385-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1020550115345.

Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate whether pronuclei of unequal size, observed in 13.7% of zygotes evaluated after in vitro fertilization (IVF), are predictive of chromosome anomalies in the developing embryo.

Methods: Five ploidy of 38 embryos grown from zygotes with unequal-sized pronuclei was assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Twenty-six embryos developed after intracytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI) and 12 embryos were derived from conventional IVF.

Results: Chromosome anomalies were documented in the ICSI and IVF groups in 88.5 and 50% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions: We suggest that FISH should be employed to examine the ploidy of zygotes with unequal pronuclei, prior to embryo transfer.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology*
  • Chromosome Aberrations / pathology*
  • Chromosome Disorders
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Zygote / cytology