Resumption of mitosis in frozen–thawed embryos is not related to the chromosomal constitution

Objective

To study the relation between the resumption of mitosis after thaw and chromosomal constitution in frozen–thawed embryos. In addition, to evaluate the correlation among the three parameters of resumption of mitosis after thaw, postthaw blastomere loss, and multinucleation.

Design

Frozen–thawed embryos were morphologically evaluated at thaw and after 24 hours of culture. Then, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, including enumeration of 13 chromosomes, was performed by using a combination of peptide nucleic acid and DNA probes.

Setting

In vitro fertilization laboratory.

Patient(s)

Forty IVF and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients.

Intervention(s)

Embryo thawing, morphological evaluation, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for aneuploidy screening.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Resumption of mitosis, blastomere loss, multinucleation, and chromosome enumeration.

Result(s)

No difference was observed in the chromosomal constitution of embryos with and without resumption of mitosis. Neither was the postthaw blastomere loss connected to the chromosomal constitution. The resumption of mitosis was not associated with postthaw loss of blastomeres or with multinuclearity.

Conclusion(s)

Resumption of mitosis and blastomere loss of frozen–thawed embryos is not related to chromosome aberrations in the embryo. Further, the resumption of mitosis is not correlated with multinucleation. However, the high incidence of multinucleated embryos after thawing indicates that the freezing and thawing procedure may affect this condition.

Key Words: Aneuploidy, blastomere loss, cryopreservation, resumption of mitosis, multinuclearity