Yuji Abe

Preimplantation Diagnosis by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Using 13-, 16-, 18-, 21-, 22-, X-, and Y-Chromosome Probes

Purpose:Our purpose was to select the proper chromosomes for preimplantation diagnosis based on aneuploidy distribution in abortuses and to carry out a feasibility study of preimplantation diagnosis for embryos using multiple-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on the selected chromosomes of biopsied blastomeres.Methods:After determining the frequency distribution of aneuploidy found in abortuses, seven chromosomes were selected for FISH probes. Blastomeres were obtained from 33 abnormal or excess embryos. The chromosome complements of both the biopsied blastomeres and the remaining sibling blastomeres in each embryo were determined by FISH and compared to evaluate their preimplantation diagnostic potential.Results:Chromosomes (16, 22, X, Y) and (13, 18, 21) were selected on the basis of the high aneuploid prevalence in abortuses for the former group and the presence of trisomy in the newborn for the latter. Thirty-six (72%) of 50 blastomeres gave signals to permit a diagnosis. Diagnoses made from biopsied blasotmeres were consistent with the diagnoses made from the remaining sibling blastomeres in 18 embryos. In only 2 of 20 cases did the biopsied blastomere diagnosis and the embryo diagnosis not match.Conclusions:If FISH of biopsied blastomere was successful, a preimplantation diagnosis could be made with 10% error. When a combination of chromosome-13, -16, -18, -21, -22, -X, and -Y probes was used, up to 65% of the embryos destined to be aborted could be detected.

Regulating assisted reproductive technologies in Japan.

Japan’s first in vitro fertilization preembryo transfer (IVF-ET) baby was born in 1983 some 5 years behind Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF-ET child (1). Subsequent technological advances have been remarkable, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) has now become firmly established in the treatment of infertility. In 1999, 69,019 cycles of IVF-ET had been performed in Japan, with 11,929 babies born as a result; this equates to 1 in 100 live births. The number of facilities performing IVF-ET has increased annually, reaching 423 in 1999 (2). There are few large-scale IVF facilities in Japan handling in excess of 200 cases a year; instead the country is characterized by its numerous small clinics. To date, however, no legal regulations covering ART have been promulgated in Japan. Since the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) issued its “Announcements on IVF-ET” in 1983, new statements and revisions have been made in line with the emergence of new technologies. Nevertheless, it is necessary to point out that the development of practical legal regulations has moved slowly in this country. For example, although artificial insemination by donor (AID) was first performed in 1949, for some reason, this date is cited as 1996 in JSOG statements (3). Some couples now travel to countries where IVF is unregulated in order to reap the benefits of ART, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD),

Effect of oocyte transportation time on the clinical results of transport in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer

Background and AimsIn transport assisted reproductive technology (ART), the time taken to transport oocytes to the main center differs greatly among the satellite facilities and may influence the clinical results.MethodsFor the conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) groups in which oocytes were collected at the satellite facilities and transported to the main ART center for insemination and embryo transfer, there were 29 cycles in 27 patients with a transportation time within 60 min (short time transport IVF (ST-IVF)), 78 cycles in 62 patients with a time between 60 and 120 min (long time transport IVF (LT-IVF)), and there were 141 cycles in 110 patients at the main ART center (center IVF (C-IVF)). For the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) group, there were 65 ST-ICSI cycles in 42 patients, 146 LT-ICSI cycles in 97 patients, and 326 cycles in 238 patients at the main ART center (C-ICSI).ResultsThe morphologically favorable embryo rate was lower in the ST-ICSI group (33.8%, P < 0.05) than in the C-ICSI group (38.1%), and the morphologically poor embryo rate in the LT-IVF group (38.6%, P < 0.0001) was higher than in the C-IVF group (26.7%). The rate of embryo transfers resulting in pregnancies was 16.7% in the ST-ICSI group (P < 0.01) and 17.3% in the LT-ICSI group (P < 0.001), both less than that of 35.2% for the C-ICSI group.ConclusionsTo improve both the morphologically favorable embryo rate and the pregnancy rate in transport ART, it is essential to improve the total quality control at the satellite facilities.

Clinical Study of Transport Fresh Embryo Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer

ABSTRACT We evaluated the clinical efficacy of the transport fresh embryo frozen-thawed embryo transfer method, whereby fresh embryos are transported from the satellite center for cryopreservation at the main ART center. In the Transport group (T group), surplus embryos from the satellite center were transported to the main ART center for frozen-thawed embryo transfer in 28 cycles in 15 patients. In the Center group (C group), oocytes were collected for frozen-thawed embryo transfer at the main ART center in 256 cycles in 165 patients. The slow freezing method was used. No significant differences were seen between groups in rates of embryo viability, embryo transfer, pregnancy, IVF embryo viability, ICSI embryo viability, pronuclear phase embryo viability, and cleavage phase embryo viability, or the numbers of transferred embryos. The transport fresh embryo frozen-thawed embryo transfer method is suitable for clinical application because there were no adverse effects from either transport or freeze/thawing.