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, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Roberts CJ, Lowe CR: Where have all the conceptions gone? Lancet 1975;1:498
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
Lopata A: Concepts in humanin vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1983;40:289–301
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.
O'Neill C: Thrombocytopenia is an initial maternal response to fertilization in the mouse. J Reprod Fertil 1985;73:559–566.
O'Neill C: Examination of the cause of early pregnancy associated thrombocytopenia. J Reprod Fertil 1985;73:567–577.
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
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
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.
Becker G, Cronkite E: Morphology and enumeration of human blood platelets. J Appl Physiol 1950;3:365–371
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.
Frojmovic MM, Milton JG: Human platelet size, shape and related functions in health and disease. Physiol Rev 1982;62:185–261
Ward CV, MacArthur JL: Blood platelet studies during pregnancy and the puerperium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1948;55:600–608
Dittmer DS: Blood and Other Body Fluids: Biological Handbook. Washington DC, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 1961
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
Rebadi S: Blood platelets during pregnancy, labor, the puerperium and menstruation and the newborn. Am J Obstet 1907;2:475
Mor A, Yang W, Schwarz A, Jones WC: Platelet counts in pregnancy and labor. Obstet Gynecol 1968;16:338–342.
Talbert LM, Langdell R: Normal values of certain factors in the blood clotting mechanism in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1964;90:44–47
Todd ME, Thompson JH, Bowie EJW: Changes in blood coagulation during pregnancy. Mayo Clin Proc 1965:370–377
Pitkin RM, Witte DL: Platelet and leukocyte counts in pregnancy. JAMA 1979;242:2696
Sejeny SA, Eastham RD, Baker SR: Platelet counts during normal pregnancy. J Clin Pathol 1975;28:812–813
O'Brien JR: Platelet count in normal pregnancy. J Clin Pathol 1976;29:174
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
Morris JM, Van Wagenan G: Interception: The use of post ovulatory oestrogens to prevent implantation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1973;115:101–106
O'Neill C, Saunders DM: Assessment of embryo quality. Lancet 1984;2:1035
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights 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
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01139339