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Origin of single pronucleated human zygotes

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

Purpose

Diploidy in embryos developing from single pronucleated zygotes can occur following parthenogenetic activation or by asynchronous inflation of pronuclei following fertilization. To distinguish between these two mechanisms, sexing was performed.

Results

The presence of a Y chromosome in the embryo was considered proof that fertilization had occurred. Twenty-one dividing embryos originating from single pronucleated zygotes were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction or fluorescence in situ hybridization. In total, 43% (9/21) of the embryos showed Y chromosomes.

Conclusion

It can be extrapolated that more than 80% of them originated from fertilized eggs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory, Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Hospital—Cornell University Medical Center, 1300 York Avenue, P.O. Box 30, 10021, New York, New York, USA

    Santiago Munné, Ya-Xu Tang, Jamie Grifo & Jacques Cohen

Authors
  1. Santiago Munné
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  2. Ya-Xu Tang
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  3. Jamie Grifo
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  4. Jacques Cohen
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Munné, S., Tang, YX., Grifo, J. et al. Origin of single pronucleated human zygotes. J Assist Reprod Genet 10, 276–279 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01204942

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01204942

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