Aberrant behavior of mouse embryo development after blastomere biopsy as observed through time-lapse cinematography

Objective: To analyze whether blastomere biopsy affects early embryonal growth as observed through time-lapse cinematography. Design: Comparative prospective study between embryos in which a blastomere was removed and embryos in which a blastomere was not removed. Setting: An experimental laboratory of the university. Main Outcome Measure(s): We calculated the time between blastocele formation and the end of hatching, the time between the start and end of hatching, the number of contractions and expansions between blastocyst formation and the end of hatching, and the maximum diameter of the expanded blastocyst. Result(s): In blastomere removal embryos, compaction began at the six-cell stage instead of at the eight-cell stage. We also found that hatching was delayed in these embryos as compared with matched controls. Moreover, the frequency of contraction and expansion movements after blastocyst formation was significantly higher in the blastomere removal group as compared with the control group. Finally, the maximum diameter of the expanded blastocyst just before hatching was not significantly different between both groups. Conclusion(s): These findings suggested that blastomere removal has an adverse effect on embryonic development around the time of hatching. Thus, future developments in preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening should involve further consideration and caution in light of the influence of blastomere biopsy on embryonal growth.