Skip to main content

Maternal blood platelet physiology and luteal-phase endocrinology as a means of monitoring pre- and postimplantation embryo viability following in vitro fertilization

Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer volume 2, pages 87–93 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

The discovery that the fertilized mouse ovum triggers an increased demand for platelets and results in thrombocytopenia during the preimplantation phase of pregnancy provides a monitor for embryo survival and viability. This paper reports a study in which the platelet count was significantly reduced throughout the human preimplantation phase of pregnancy and returned to normal following embryo implantation. The human embryo was shown to produce a platelet activating factor in vitro which caused the reduction in platelet count after embryo transfer. This factor in the embryo culture medium could be measured using a bioassay which provided a means of assessing embryo viability prior to transfer. Some women showed no reduction in platelets after transfer. These embryos failed to produce a platelet activating factor in vitro and pregnancy was not established. Other women displayed a reduction in platelets following transfer but failed to become pregnant. All of these women had elevated luteal-phase plasma E2 levels compared to pregnant patients, which may have interfered with the implantation process. Our observations provide a possible rapid and simple means for monitoring the viability of human embryos cultured in vitro and the survival of embryos in utero.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Roberts CJ, Lowe CR: Where have all the conceptions gone? Lancet 1975;1:498

    Google Scholar 

  2. Smart YC, Fraser IS, Roberts TK, Clancy RL, Cripps AW: Fertilization and early pregnancy loss in healthy women attempting conception. Clin Reprod Fertil 1982;1:177–184

    Google Scholar 

  3. Lopata A: Concepts in humanin vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1983;40:289–301

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jones HW, Acosta AA, Andrews MC, et al.: What is a pregnancy? A question for programs ofin vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1983;40:728–733.

    Google Scholar 

  5. O'Neill C: Thrombocytopenia is an initial maternal response to fertilization in the mouse. J Reprod Fertil 1985;73:559–566.

    Google Scholar 

  6. O'Neill C: Examination of the cause of early pregnancy associated thrombocytopenia. J Reprod Fertil 1985;73:567–577.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Smith DH, Picker RH, Sinosich M, Saunders DM: Assessment of ovulation by ultrasound and oestradiol levels during spontaneous and induced cycles. Fertil Steril 1980;33:387–390

    Google Scholar 

  8. Renou P, Trounson AO, Wood E, Leeton JF: The collection of human oocytes forin vitro fertilization. I. An instrument for maximizing oocyte recovery rate. Fertil Steril 1981;35:409–412

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wood C, Leeton JF, McTalbot J, Trounson AO: Technique for collecting mature human oocytes forin vitro fertilization. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1981;88:756–769.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Becker G, Cronkite E: Morphology and enumeration of human blood platelets. J Appl Physiol 1950;3:365–371

    Google Scholar 

  11. Guerrero R, Aso T, Brenner PF, et al.: Studies on the pattern of circulating steroids in the normal menstrual cycle. Acta Endocrinol 1976;81:133–149.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Frojmovic MM, Milton JG: Human platelet size, shape and related functions in health and disease. Physiol Rev 1982;62:185–261

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ward CV, MacArthur JL: Blood platelet studies during pregnancy and the puerperium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1948;55:600–608

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dittmer DS: Blood and Other Body Fluids: Biological Handbook. Washington DC, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 1961

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sharper AG, Kear J, MacIntosh D: The platelet count, platelet adhesiveness and aggregation and the mechanism of fibrinolytic inhibition in pregnancy and puerperium. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Common 1968;75:433

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rebadi S: Blood platelets during pregnancy, labor, the puerperium and menstruation and the newborn. Am J Obstet 1907;2:475

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mor A, Yang W, Schwarz A, Jones WC: Platelet counts in pregnancy and labor. Obstet Gynecol 1968;16:338–342.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Talbert LM, Langdell R: Normal values of certain factors in the blood clotting mechanism in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1964;90:44–47

    Google Scholar 

  19. Todd ME, Thompson JH, Bowie EJW: Changes in blood coagulation during pregnancy. Mayo Clin Proc 1965:370–377

  20. Pitkin RM, Witte DL: Platelet and leukocyte counts in pregnancy. JAMA 1979;242:2696

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sejeny SA, Eastham RD, Baker SR: Platelet counts during normal pregnancy. J Clin Pathol 1975;28:812–813

    Google Scholar 

  22. O'Brien JR: Platelet count in normal pregnancy. J Clin Pathol 1976;29:174

    Google Scholar 

  23. McBain JC, Pepperell RJ, Robinson HP, Smith MA, Brown JB: An unexpectedly high rate of ectopic pregnancy following induction of ovulation with human pituitary and chorionic gonadotrophin. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1980;87:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  24. Morris JM, Van Wagenan G: Interception: The use of post ovulatory oestrogens to prevent implantation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1973;115:101–106

    Google Scholar 

  25. O'Neill C, Saunders DM: Assessment of embryo quality. Lancet 1984;2:1035

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Christopher O'Neill & A. Angus Gidley-Baird

  2. I.V.F. Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Royal North Shore Hospital, 2065, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia

    Ian L. Pike, Richard N. Porter, Michael J. Sinosich & Douglas M. Saunders

Authors
  1. Christopher O'Neill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Angus Gidley-Baird
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian L. Pike
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Richard N. Porter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michael J. Sinosich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Douglas M. Saunders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

O'Neill, C., Gidley-Baird, A.A., Pike, I.L. et al. Maternal blood platelet physiology and luteal-phase endocrinology as a means of monitoring pre- and postimplantation embryo viability following in vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet 2, 87–93 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01139339

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01139339

Key Words

  • thrombocytopenia
  • platelets
  • embryo
  • implantation
  • estrogen
  • progesterone