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Laser Scanning Confocal Imaging of Abnormal or Arrested Human Preimplantation Embryos

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Abstract

Purpose: The improved resolution and optical sectioning of a confocal microscope make it an ideal instrument for extracting three-dimensional information, especially from extended biological specimens such as human embryos. The staining of actin together with chromatin allowed us to specify the architecture of the embryo and the appearance of the nucleus.

Methods: F-Actin and chromatin distributions were visualized using laser scanning confocal microscopy in “fresh” and “cryopreserved” human preimplantation embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization.

Results: The current study revealed a high rate of multinucleation in arrested or poor-quality embryos (89%, in grade IV embryos).

Conclusions: Confocal microscopy revealed high levels of multinucleated blastomeres, suggesting that the probable cause of arrested development in these embryos was due to multinucleation of blastomeres.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction et du Développement, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Place d'Arsonval, 69437, Lyon Cedex 03, France

    Rachel Levy, Mehdi Benchaib, Helene Cordonier & Jean-Francois Guerin

  2. Centre Commun de Quantimétrie, Université Claude Bernard, 8 avenue Rockefeller, 69373, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Mehdi Benchaib & Catherine Souchier

Authors
  1. Rachel Levy
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  2. Mehdi Benchaib
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  3. Helene Cordonier
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  4. Catherine Souchier
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  5. Jean-Francois Guerin
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Levy, R., Benchaib, M., Cordonier, H. et al. Laser Scanning Confocal Imaging of Abnormal or Arrested Human Preimplantation Embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 15, 485–495 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022582404181

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022582404181

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