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Oocyte morphology on day 0 correlates with aneuploidy as detected by polar body biopsy and FISH

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

For better selection of oocytes and embryos, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) was introduced. As from the beginning of IVF, morphology was used as selection criteria; we investigated the combination of both. If there was a correlation between phenotype and genotype, invasive PGS might be replaced.

Method

Therefore, 104 cycles with PGS were done by biopsy of the first polar body and FISH with five chromosomes. Morphology of the oocyte was recorded digitally and noted for 12 categories in 4–13 values; evaluation of the chromosomes was noted for five chromosomes in five values. Morphology and genetics were correlated to each other.

Result

Correlations between morphology and genetics for day 0 were found: oocytes with an irregular or dark zona are less probable to have a normal chromosome 13 (80 vs. 53 %, p = 0.001). A medium amount of detritus in the perivitelline space makes it more probable to have a normal chromosome 18 (94 vs. 78 %, p = 0.001). A halo in the cytoplasm makes it less probable to be euploid for chromosome 22 (56 vs. 75 %, p = 0.018). For day 1, pattern “1, 2, 3 and fine” in the pronuclei makes it more probable to be euploid for chromosome 22 (78 vs. 63 %, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

There are correlations between the oocyte genome and its morphology also on day 0. These correlations are not sufficient to replace PGS.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Melanie Glander for starting the PGS laboratory part, Prof. Dr. Reiner Siebert and Dr. Almuth Caliebe, University Institute for Human Genetics, for support of the study by genetic counselling and Ms Kerstin Koch for her meticulous registration of the data.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

The PGS study was registered and approved by the Ethics Commission of the Medical Faculty of the Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Hospital, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel, Germany

    Andreas G. Schmutzler, Bengi Acar-Perk, Jörg Weimer, Ali Salmassi, Knud Sievers, Monica Tobler, Liselotte Mettler, Walter Jonat & Norbert Arnold

  2. Gyn-Medicum Fertility Center, Goettingen, Germany

    Monica Tobler

  3. Universitätsfrauenklinik, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, Haus 24, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    Andreas G. Schmutzler

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  1. Andreas G. Schmutzler
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Correspondence to Andreas G. Schmutzler.

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Schmutzler, A.G., Acar-Perk, B., Weimer, J. et al. Oocyte morphology on day 0 correlates with aneuploidy as detected by polar body biopsy and FISH. Arch Gynecol Obstet 289, 445–450 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2944-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-013-2944-3

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