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Embryonal mitochondrial DNA: relationship to embryo quality and transfer outcomes

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to study the association between embryonal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and embryo quality and implantation outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed with data collected from a private IVF center database. The study population included female infertility patients with ages ranging from 31 to 38 years old, and the main outcome measures were embryo quality and transfer outcomes.

Results

From a total of 1510 blastocyst biopsies, the majority of embryos consisted of grade 1 (High), followed by grade 2 (mid), and grade 3 (poor). Embryos with higher mtDNA content were found to be of poorer quality (grade 3) relative to grades 1 and 2 (P = 0.003). Using a logistic model, mtDNA best predicted lowest and highest grades, but not mid-grade embryos. There was no correlation between mtDNA content and the subjects’ age (R2 = 0.0018). In an analysis of only euploid embryos (N = 717), there was no longer an association between mtDNA content and embryo quality (P = 0.834). There was no difference in mtDNA content between groups of embryos that did and did not implant (P = 0.53). There was also no association noted between mtDNA content and ongoing pregnancy. Compared to day 6, day 5 blastocysts contain significantly higher amounts of mtDNA (P = 0.0005), lower rates of aneuploidy (P < 0.001), and were more likely to be high-quality blastocysts (grade 1) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although the mtDNA content shows some association to the morphologic grade of an embryo, this association does not persist in an analysis of only euploid embryos. Mitochondrial DNA content also does not appear to be associated with implantation or ongoing pregnancy. Day 5 blastocysts have significantly higher mtDNA content compared to day 6 blastocysts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA

    Amber M. Klimczak, Lucia E. Pacheco, Kelsey E. Lewis, Antonio F. Saad & John R. Crochet

  2. AdvaGenix, Rockville, MD, USA

    Niloofar Massahi & William G. Kearns

  3. Center of Reproductive Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Jon P. Richards & John R. Crochet

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    William G. Kearns

Authors
  1. Amber M. Klimczak
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  2. Lucia E. Pacheco
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  3. Kelsey E. Lewis
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  4. Niloofar Massahi
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Correspondence to Amber M. Klimczak.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Accepted as poster presentations at the ASRM 2017 Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, and PCRS 2018 Meeting in Indian Wells, California.

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Klimczak, A.M., Pacheco, L.E., Lewis, K.E. et al. Embryonal mitochondrial DNA: relationship to embryo quality and transfer outcomes. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 871–877 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1147-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1147-z

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