Embryo cell allocation patterns are not altered by biopsy but can be linked with further development

Sepulveda-Rincon, Lessly P.; Islam, Nadia; Marsters, Peter; Campbell, Bruce K.; Beaujean, Nathalie; Maalouf, Walid E.

Abstract

It has been suggested that first embryo cleavage can be related with the embryonic-abembryonic axis at blastocyst stage in mice. Thus, cells of the 2 cell embryo might be already biased to form the inner cell mass or trophectoderm. This study was conducted to observe the possible effects of embryo biopsy on cell allocation patterns during embryo pre-implantation in two different mouse strains and the effects of these patterns on further development. First, one blastomere of the 2-cell embryo was injected with a lipophilic tracer and cell allocation patterns were observed at blastocyst stage. Blastocysts were classified into orthogonal, deviant or random pattern. For the first experiment, embryos were biopsied at 8-cell stage and total cell counts (TCC) were annotated. Furthermore, non biopsied blastocysts were transferred into foster mothers. Then, pups and their organs were weighed two weeks after birth. Random pattern was significantly recurrent (≈60%), against orthogonal (<22%) and deviant (<22%) patterns among groups. These patterns were not affected by biopsy procedure. However, TCC on deviant embryos were reduced after biopsy. Moreover, no differences were found between patterns for implantation rates, litter size, live offspring and organ weights (lungs, liver, pancreas and spleen). However, deviant pups presented heavier hearts and orthogonal pups presented lighter kidneys among the group. In conclusion, these results suggest that single blastomere removal does not disturb cell allocation patterns during pre-implantation. Nonetheless, the results suggest that embryos following different cell allocation patterns present different coping mechanisms against in-vitro manipulations and further development might be altered.

Citation

Sepulveda-Rincon, L. P., Islam, N., Marsters, P., Campbell, B. K., Beaujean, N., & Maalouf, W. E. (in press). Embryo cell allocation patterns are not altered by biopsy but can be linked with further development. Reproduction, https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-17-0514

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Sep 29, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 13, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2018
• Journal: Reproduction
• Print ISSN: 1470-1626
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-7899
• Publisher: BioScientifica
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-17-0514
• Keywords: Embryo biopsy, pre-patterning, PGD/PGS, organ development, embryo transfer, implantation.
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/884895
• Publisher URL: http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/early/2017/09/29/REP-17-0514
• Additional Information: This manuscript has been accepted for publication in Reproduction, but the version presented here has not yet been copy-edited, formatted or proofed. Consequently, Bioscientifica accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions it may contain. The definitive version is now freely available at http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/early/2017/09/29/REP-17-0514
• Contract Date: Oct 13, 2017