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Chapter 12 - Noninvasive Analysis of Embryo Nutrient Utilization for Embryo Selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2023

Catherine Racowsky
Affiliation:
Hôpital Foch, France
Jacques Cohen
Affiliation:
IVF 2.0, New York
Nicholas Macklon
Affiliation:
London Women's Clinic
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Summary

Embryo health and viability are related to metabolic activity during the preimplantation period, with higher viability being related to amino acid utilisation and being positively correlated with glucose uptake. Metabolic stress, such as that induced by atmospheric oxygen and media lacking amino acids, leads to compromised transfer outcomes, and culture conditions have therefore been designed to minimise such metabolic trauma. It is feasible to assess the metabolic state of an individual embryo through the analysis of spent culture media. Platforms which have proved most effective in this include ultramicrofluorescence, high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and microfluidic devices. Here we provide details around the technologies most commonly used and look to the future in which novel microscopies may provide insight into the metabolic state of cells.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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