Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Embryo pp 63–79Cite as

Embryo Biopsy

  • Chapter

  • 97 Accesses

Abstract

The development of a technique for embryo biopsy that will enable the diagnosis of genetic disorders in the preimplantation embryo would represent a major advance in prenatal diagnosis (McLaren 1985; Penketh and McLaren 1987; Whittingham and Penketh 1987). Currently, such couples are faced with a number of choices: they may opt to remain childless rather than risk giving birth to an affected child; they may embark on a pregnancy, and continue with it in the hope that the fetus is unaffected; they may conceive, and opt for prenatal diagnosis (by chorionic villus sampling at 8–12 weeks’, by cordocentesis at 18–20 weeks’, or by amniocentesis at 12–18 weeks’ gestation), followed by termination of the pregnancy if the fetus is affected. This last choice may result in several cycles of conception and termination before an unaffected child is eventually conceived, or until the couple abandon all hopes of parenthood. However, if the diagnosis could be made during the preimplantation stage of embryonic development, followed by the transfer of unaffected embryos to the woman’s uterus, these distressing choices would no longer be necessary. Preimplantation diagnostic techniques, if developed, would enable couples for whom terminations are unacceptable to embark on a pregnancy in the knowledge that their future child would not be affected by the disorder for which they are at risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Betteridge KJ, Hare WCD, Sing EL (1981) Approaches to sex selection in farm animals. In: Brackett BG, Seidel SM (eds) New technology in animal breeding. Academic Press, New York, pp 109–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton VN, Braude PR (1987) Development of the human preimplantation embryo in vitro. In: McLaren A, Siracusa G (eds) Current topics in developmental biology 23: recent advances in mammalian development. Academic Press, London, pp 93–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton VN, Hawes, SM, Taylor CT, Parsons JH (1989) Development of spare human preimplantation embryos in vitro: an analysis of the correlations among gross morphology, cleavage rates, and development to the blastocyst. J IVF Embryo Transfer 6: 30–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton VN, Parsons JH, Wren ME (1990) In vitro fertilization and transfer of human preimplantation embryos at the blastocyst stage. Fertil Steril (in press) Buster JE (1985) Embryo donation by uterine flushing and embryo transfer. Clin Obstet Gynecol 12: 815–824

    Google Scholar 

  • Buster JE, Bustillo M, Thorneycroft IH, Simon JA, Boyers CP, Marshall JR, Louw JA, Seed RW, Seed RG (1983) Non-surgical transfer of in vivo fertilized donated ova to five infertile women: report of two pregnancies. Lancet ii: 223–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Buster JE, Bustillo M, Rodi IA, Cohen SW, Hamilton M, Simon JA, Thorneycroft IH, Marshall JR (1985)Biologie and morphologic development of donated human ova recovered by non-surgical uterine lavage. Am J Obstet Gynecol 153: 211–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Devane GW, Eisner CW, Fehilly CB, Kort HI, Massey JB, Turner TG (1988) Cryopreservation of zygotes and early cleaved human embryos. Fertil Steril 49: 283–298

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Inge KL, Suzman M, Wiker SR, Wright G (1989) Videocinematography of fresh and cryopreserved embryos: a retrospective analysis of embryonic morphology and implantation. Fertil Steril 51: 820–827

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards RG, Hollands P (1988) New advances in human embryology: implications of the preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disease. Hum Reprod 3: 549–556

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fishel SB, Edwards RG, Evans CJ (1984) Human chorionic gonadotrophin secreted in preimplantation embryos cultured in vitro. Science 223: 816–818

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Formigli L, Formigli G, Roccio C (1987) Donation of fertilized uterine ova to infertile women. Fertil Steril 47: 162–165

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner RL (1971) Manipulations on the blastocyst. Adv Biosci 6: 279–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner RL (1985) Origin and development of trophectoderm and inner cell mass. In: Edwards RG, Purdy JM, Steptoe PC (eds) Implantation of the human embryo. Academic Press, London, pp 151–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner RL, Edwards RG (1968) Control of the sex ratio at term in the rabbit by trasferring sexed blastocysts. Nature 218: 346–348

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon JW, Talansky BE (1986) Assisted fertilization by zona drilling: a mouse model for correction of oligospermia. J Exp Biol 239: 347–354

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Handyside AH, Penketh RJA, Winston RML, Pattinson JK, Delhanty JDA, Tuddenham EGD (1989) Biopsy of human preimplantation embryos and sexing by DNA amplification. Lancet i: 347–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy K, Handyside AH, Winston RML (1989) The human blastocyst: cell number, death and allocation during late preimplantation development. Development 107: 597–604

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hardy K, Handyside AH, Markin K, Leese H, Winston RML (1990) Human preimplantation development in vitro is not adversely affected by biopsy at the 8-cell stage. Hum Reprod (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyman Y, Chesne P (1984) Freezing bovine embryos: survival after cervical transfer of one half, one or two blastocysts frozen in straws. Theriogenology 21: 240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson MH, Maro B (1986) Time and space in the early mouse embryo: a cell biological approach to cell diversification. In: Rossant J, Pedersen R (eds) Experimental approaches to mammalian embryonic development. Cambridge University Press, London, pp 35–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanagawa H, Frim J, Kruuv J (1979) The effect of puncturing the zona pellucida on freeze-thaw survival of bovine embryos. Cam J Anim Sci 59: 623–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehn-Jensen H, Willadsen SM (1983) Deep–freezing of cow “half” and “quarter” embryos. Theriogenology 19: 49–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopata A, Hay DL (1989) The surplus human embryo: its potential for growth, blastulation, hatching, and human chorionic gonadotrophin production in culture. Fertil Steril 51: 984–991

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandelbaum J, Junca AM, Plachot M, et al. (1987) Human embryo cryopreservation, extrinsic and intrinsic parameters of success. Hum Reprod 2: 709–715

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLaren A (1985) Prenatal diagnosis before implantation: opportunities and problems. Prenatal Diagn 5: 85–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell D (1977) Sexing of embryos. In: Betteridge KJ (ed) Embryo transfer in farm animals. Monograph 16, Agriculture of Canada, Ottawa, p 26

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk M, Handyside AH (1987) Sexing of preimplantation mouse embryos by measurement of X-linked gene dosage in a single blastomere. J Reprod Fertil 82: 365–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk M, Handyside AH, Hardy K, Whittingham DG (1987a) Preimplantation diagnosis of deficiency in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase in a mouse model for Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome. Lancet ii: 423–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk M, Muggleton-Harris AL, Rawlings E, Whttingham DG (1987b) Preimplantation diagnosis of HPRT–deficient male and carrier female mouse embryos by trophectoderm biopsy. Hum Reprod 3: 377–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Muggleton-Harris AL (1989) Prolferation of cells derived from the biopsy of pre-mbryos. Proc Vlth World Congress on IVF and alternate Assisted Reproduction, Jerusalem, Israel

    Google Scholar 

  • Muggleton-Harris AL (1990) Proliferation and growth potential of polar trophectoderm cells of the preimplantation mouse blastocyst. Development (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolson GL, Yanagimachi R, Yanagimachi H (1975) Ultrastructural localization of lectin-binding sites on the zonae pellucidae and plasma membranes of mammalian eggs. J Cell Biol 66: 263–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niemann H, Brem G, Sacher B, Smidt D, Krausslich H (1986) An approach to successful freezing of demi-embryos derived from 7-day bovine embryos. Theriogenology 25: 519–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nijs M, Van Steirteghem AC (1987) Assessment of different isolation procedures for blastomeres from two–cell mouse embryos. Hum Reprod 2: 421–424

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nijs M, Camus M, Van Steirteghem AC (1988) Evaluation of different biopsy methods of blastomeres from 2–cell mouse embryos. Hum Reprod 3: 999–1003

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien JM, Critser ES, First NL (1984) Developmental potential of isolated blastomeres from very early murine embryos. Theriogenology 22: 601–607

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Penketh R, McLaren A (1987) Prospects for prenatal diagnosis during preimplantation human development. Bailliere’s Clin Obstet Gynecol 1: 747–764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ponzilius K-H, Nagai J, Marcus GH, Hackett AJ (1987) Survival of bisected mouse embryos after exposure to pronase and medium free of calcium and magnesium. Theriogenology 27: 859–867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pope CE, Pope VZ, Beck LR (1980) Non-surgical recovery of uterine embryos in the baboon. Biol Reprod 23: 657–662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rands GF (1985) Cell allocation in half-and quadruple-sized preimplantation embryos. J Exp Zool 236: 67–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rands GF (1986a) Size regulation in the mouse embryo: I. J Embryol Exp Morphol 92: 403–404 Rands GF (1986b) Size regulation in the mouse embryo: II. J Embryol Exp Morphol 98: 209–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson EJ (1987) Embryo-derived stem cell lines. In: Robertson EJ (ed) Teratocarcinomas and embryonic stem cells, a practical approach. IRL Press, Oxford, pp 71–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauer MV, Anderson RE, Paulson RJ (1989) A trial of superovulation in ovum donors undergoing uterine lavage. Fertil Steril 51: 131–134

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sauer MV, Bustillo M, Gorrill MJ, Louw JA, Marshall JR, Buster JE (1988) An instrument for the recovery of preimplantation uterine ova. Obstet Gynecol 71: 804–806

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seiwood L (1986) Cleavage in vitro following destruction of some blastomeres in the marsupial Antechninus stuartii. J Embryo Exp Morphol 92: 71–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers PM, Campbell JM, Miller MW (1988) Normal in vivo development of marmoset monkey embryos after trophectoderm biopsy. Hum Reprod 3: 389–393

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarkowski AK (1959) Experiments on the development of isolated blastomeres of mouse eggs. Nature 184: 1286–1287

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trounson A, Sjoblom P (1988) Cleavage and development of human embryos in vitro after ultrarapid freezing and thawing. Fertil Steril 50: 373–376

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trounson A, Peura A, Freeman L, Kirby C (1988) Ultrarapid freezing of early cleavage stage human embryos and eight-cell mouse embryos. Fertil Steril 49: 822–826

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsunoda Y, McLaren A (1983) Effect of various procedures on the viability of mouse embryos containing half the normal number of blastomeres. J Reprod Fertil 69: 315–322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Os HC, Alberda AT, Janssen-Caspers HAB, Leerentveld RA, Scholtes MCW, Zeilmaker GH (1989) The influence of the interval between in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer and some other variable on treatment outcome. Fertil Steril 51: 360–362

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Steirteghem AC (1987) Survey of cry preservation. In: Proc Vth World Congress on IVF and Embryo Transfer. American Fertility Society, Abstract 54, p 20

    Google Scholar 

  • Voluntary (Interim) Licensing Authority (1986) The first report of the Voluntary Licensing Authority for human in vitro fertilization and embryology

    Google Scholar 

  • Voluntary (Interim) Licensing Authority (1987) The second report of the Voluntary Licensing Authority for human in vitro fertilization and embryology

    Google Scholar 

  • Voluntary (Interim) Licensing Authority (1988) The third report of the Voluntary Licensing Authority for human in vitro fertilization and embryology

    Google Scholar 

  • Voluntary (Interim) Licensing Authority (1989) The fourth report of the Voluntary Licensing Authority for human in vitro fertilization and embryology

    Google Scholar 

  • Wassarman PM (1987) The zona pellucida: a coat of many colors. Bioessays 6: 161–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whittingham DG, Penketh R (1987) Prenatal diagnosis in the human preimplantation period. Hum Reprod 2: 267–270

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Willadsen SM (1979) A method for culture of micromanipulated sheep embryos and its use to produce monozygotic twins. Nature 277: 289–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willadsen SM, Fehilly CB (1983) The developmental potential and regulatory capacity of blastomeres from two-, four- and eight-cell sheep embryos. In: Beier HM, Lindner HL (eds) Fertilization of the human egg in vitro. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 353–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilton LJ, Trounson AO (1989) Biopsy of preimplantation mouse embryos: development of micromanipulated embryos and proliferation of single blastomeres in vitro. Biol Reprod 40: 145–152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilton LJ, Shaw JM, Trounson AO (1989) Successful single-cell biopsy and cryopreservation of preimplantation mouse embryos. Fertil Steril 51: 513–517

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wren ME, Parsons JH (1989) Ultrasound directed follicle aspiration for oocyte collection. In: Chen C, Tan SL, Cheng WC (eds) Recent advances in the management of infertility. McGraw Hill, New York, pp 165–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Young Y, Foote R (1987) Production of identical twin rabbits by micromanipulation of embryos. Biol Reprod 37: 1007–1014

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. V. N. Bolton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guy’s Hospital, SE1 9RT, London, UK

    Michael G. Chapman MBBS, MRCOG

  2. Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The London Hospital, E1 1BB, Whitechapel, London, UK

    J. Gedis Grudzinskas MD, MRCOG, FRACOG

  3. Academic Unit of Reproductive Physiology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, EC1A 7BE, London, UK

    Tim Chard MD, FRCOG

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bolton, V.N. (1991). Embryo Biopsy. In: Chapman, M.G., Grudzinskas, J.G., Chard, T. (eds) The Embryo. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1802-2_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1802-2_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1804-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1802-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation