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GDF9 concentration in embryo culture medium is linked to human embryo quality and viability

  • Embryo Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the link between the GDF9 concentration in day 3 human embryo culture medium and embryo quality and viability.

Methods

Two independent, prospective, observational studies were conducted. In study 1, a total of 280 embryos from 70 patients who obtained at least 4 embryos with 6–10 blastomeres (2 transferable and 2 non-transferable embryos) at day 3 were enrolled. In study 2, a total of 119 embryos from 61 patients (29 fully implanted and 32 non-implanted patients) were enrolled. The corresponding GDF9 concentrations in spent culture medium of embryos were quantified by ELISA assay. The expression pattern of GDF9 in human embryos was investigated using Q-PCR and immunofluorescence.

Results

GDF9 mRNA and protein were detected from human oocytes to eight-cell embryos and displayed a slow decreasing trend. In study 1, GDF9 concentration in culture medium is lower for transferable embryos compared with non-transferable embryos (331 pg/mL (quartiles: 442, 664 pg/mL) vs. 518 pg/mL (quartiles: 328, 1086 pg/mL), P < 0.001), and increased commensurate with the diminution of the embryo quality (P < 0.001). In study 2, significantly lower GDF9 concentration was detected for implanted embryos than non-implanted embryos (331 pg/mL (quartiles: 156, 665 pg/mL) vs. 518 pg/mL (quartiles: 328, 1086 pg/mL), P < 0.001). The same trend was found between the embryos that led to live birth and those that failed.

Conclusion

The GDF9 concentration in culture medium is linked to embryo quality and viability, and exhibited the potential to be a non-invasive biomarker for embryo selection.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

Not applicable.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Chongqing Science and Health Joint Project (2021MSXM072); Special Research Project of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (2019YJMS01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chongqing Reproduction and Genetics Institute, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, No.64 Jin Tang Street, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400013, China

    Jingyu Li, Chong Li, Xuemei Liu, Jingwei Yang, Qi Zhang, Wei Han & Guoning Huang

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Human Embryo Engineering, Chongqing, China

    Jingyu Li, Chong Li, Xuemei Liu, Wei Han & Guoning Huang

  3. Chongqing Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Chongqing, China

    Jingwei Yang, Qi Zhang & Guoning Huang

Authors
  1. Jingyu Li
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  2. Chong Li
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  3. Xuemei Liu
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  4. Jingwei Yang
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  5. Qi Zhang
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  6. Wei Han
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  7. Guoning Huang
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Contributions

J.L. conceived and designed the study. J.L. and C.L. performed the experiments. J.L., W.H., and F.X. collected the samples. C.L., J.Y., and Q.Z. performed the data statistics. J.L., X.L., and G.H. contributed to manuscript drafting with the help from all authors. All authors approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jingyu Li or Guoning Huang.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children (2019-RGI-05). All patients gave their written informed consent for culture medium analysis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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The authors consider that Jingyu Li and Chong Li should be regarded as joint first authors.

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Li, J., Li, C., Liu, X. et al. GDF9 concentration in embryo culture medium is linked to human embryo quality and viability. J Assist Reprod Genet 39, 117–125 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02368-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02368-x

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