Embryo transfer (ET) is universally recognized as the final and most critical stage in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome (Neithardt et al., 2005; Ghazzawi et al., 1999). The majority of couples (approximately 80%) who undergo IVF reach the embryo transfer stage, yet few pregnancies occur (Mansour & Aboulghar, 2002; Adamson et al., 2006). Although embryo genetic abnormalities (Munne et al....

BACKGROUND Embryo selection has been an integral feature of in vitro fertilization (IVF) almost since its inception. Since the advent of extended blastocyst stage embryo culture, and especially with increasing popularity of elective single embryo transfer (eSET), the concept of embryo selection has increasingly become a mainstay of routine IVF. DISCUSSION We here, however, argue that embryo s...

Multiple pregnancies lead to complications and induce high costs. The most successful way to decrease multiple pregnancies in IVF is to transfer only one embryo, which might reduce the efficacy of treatment. The objective of this review is to determine which embryo-transfer policy is most cost-effective: elective single-embryo transfer (eSET) or double-embryo transfer (DET). Several databases w...

BACKGROUND In human reproduction, embryo implantation is complex and poorly understood. At present, no single markers are used in routine treatment to assay biochemical functions of the human embryo. Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G (sHLA-G) could be considered a possible marker of embryo developmental potential. It is localized primarily on the extravillous trophoblast, making this antigen a ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Previous studies have reported effects of pollen source on the oil concentration of maize (Zea mays) kernels through modifications to both the embryo/kernel ratio and embryo oil concentration. The present study expands upon previous analyses by addressing pollen source effects on the growth of kernel structures (i.e. pericarp, endosperm and embryo), allocation of embryo chem...

The aim of this in vitro study was to test the effect of microinjection (Mi) of foreign gene into the rabbit egg pronucleus and epidermal growth factor (EGF) addition on the blastocyst rate, the cell number and the diameter of embryos, and to determine possible relationships between embryo cell number and embryo diameter. Blastocyst rate was significantly decreased in geneMi (G-Mi/E0) group (63...

BACKGROUND Transfer of more than a single embryo in an IVF cycle comes with the finite possibility of a multiple gestation. Even a twin pregnancy confers significant risk to both mother and babies. The move to single-embryo transfer for all patients will be greatly facilitated by the ability to quantify embryo viability. Developments in time-lapse incubation systems have provided new insights i...

The structure of the maize kernels plays a critical role in determining yield and quality, high-throughput, non-destructive microscope phenotypic characteristics acquisition analysis are great importance. In this study, Micro-CT technology was used to obtain images kernels. An automatic CT image pipeline then developed extract 20 traits related three-dimensional kernel, embryo, endosperm, cavit...

Although the mechanisms under which sex ratio is controlled in nature remain unknown, researchers have attempted to treat sperm in an effort to predetermine the sex of the offspring. The methods of sperm separation that have been repeatedly reported to isolate fractions rich in X- or Y-chromosome bearing sperm are serum albumin gradient swim-up and flow cytometry. However, the ability of the se...