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Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media and morphology grading to predict implantation outcome in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles

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

Abstract

Purpose

Assessment of embryo viability is a crucial component of in vitro fertilization and currently relies largely on embryo morphology and cleavage rate. Because morphological assessment remains highly subjective, it can be unreliable in predicting embryo viability. This study investigated the metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for predicting the implantation potential of human embryos in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Methods

Spent embryo culture media was collected on day 4 after thawed embryo transfer (n = 621) and analysed using NIR spectroscopy. Viability scores were calculated using a predictive multivariate algorithm of fresh embryos with known pregnancy outcomes.

Results

The mean viability indices of embryos resulting in clinical pregnancy following FET were significantly higher than those of non-implanted embryos and differed between the 0, 50, and 100 % implantation groups. Notably, the 0 % group index was significantly lower than the 100 % implantation group index (–0.787 ± 0.382 vs. 1.064 ± 0.331, P < 0.01). To predict implantation outcomes, we examined the area under the ROC curve (AUCROC), which was significantly higher for the viability than for the morphology score (0.94 vs. 0.55; P < 0.01); however, the AUCROCs for the composite and viability scores did not differ significantly (0.92 vs. 0.94; P > 0.05).

Conclusions

NIR metabolomic profiling of thawed embryo culture media is independent of morphology and correlates with embryo implantation potential in FET cycles. The viability score alone or in conjunction with morphologic grading is a more objective marker for implantation outcome in FET cycles than morphology alone.

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Abbreviations

AUCROC :

The area under the ROC curve

FET:

Frozen–thawed embryo transfer

IVF:

In vitro fertilization

NIR:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

SET:

Single embryo transfer

ARTs:

Assisted reproductive treatments

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the program of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (no. 11411950100).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: XL, SL, and XS; Performed the experiments: XL, YX, and JF; Analysed the data: XL and WZ; Wrote the manuscript: XL; Revised the manuscript: SL and XS; All authors approved the revisions to the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Ji Ai Genetics & IVF Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China

    Xiong Li, Yan Xu, Jing Fu, Wen-Bi Zhang, Su-Ying Liu & Xiao-Xi Sun

  2. Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China

    Xiao-Xi Sun

Authors
  1. Xiong Li
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  2. Yan Xu
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  3. Jing Fu
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  4. Wen-Bi Zhang
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  5. Su-Ying Liu
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  6. Xiao-Xi Sun
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Su-Ying Liu or Xiao-Xi Sun.

Additional information

Capsule

In this work, we present a new approach to investigate the value of the combination of morphology and viability scores in predicting implantation outcome in FET cycles.

The authors consider the last two authors as joint corresponding authors.

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Cite this article

Li, X., Xu, Y., Fu, J. et al. Non-invasive metabolomic profiling of embryo culture media and morphology grading to predict implantation outcome in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 1597–1605 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0578-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0578-z

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