Human Reproduction Update, Vol.1, No.6 pp.558-566, 1995
© © Oxford University Press
research-article |
Involvement of programmed cell death in preimplantation embryo demise
1Division of Reproductive Sciences, The Toronto Hospital Research Institute Toronto, M5G lL7 2Department of Zoology, University of Toronto Toronto, M5S l A l 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada
To whom correspondence should be addressed at: 4To Whom correspondence should be addressed at:6–246 EN. The Toronto Hospital. 200 Elizabeth St. Tomnto. Ortario M5G 2C4. Cannda. Fax: (416) 340–4022: e-mail: r.easpar{at}utoronto.ca.
Fragmentation is frequently observed in animal and human embryos obtained via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and is known to be associated with decreased pregnancy rates and poor survival following cryopreservation. We postulate that embryo fragmentation is a consequence of activated programmed cell death (PCD) and subsequent apoptosis and discuss evidence of morphological, histological and biochemical features compatible with the occurrence of PCD in preimplantation embryos. If PCD is an underlying cause of the high incidence of the fragmentation seen in human pre-embryos, it remains to be determined whether this is reflective of the natural incidence of lethal chromo somes in the human population or due to the IVF procedure and culture conditions.
Key words: apoptosis / culture conditions / fragmentation / preimplantation embryo / programmed cell death
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