Culture media influenced laboratory outcomes but not neonatal birth weight in assisted reproductive technology

Abstract

Whether the type of culture media utilized in assisted reproductive technology has impacts on laboratory outcomes and birth weight of newborns in in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was investigated. A total of 673 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI and giving birth to live singletons after fresh embryo transfer on day 3 from Jan. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2012 were included. Three types of culture media were used during this period: Quinn’s Advantage (QA), Single Step Medium (SSM), and Continuous Single Culture medium (CSC). Fertilization rate (FR), normal fertilization rate (NFR), cleavage rate (CR), normal cleavage rate (NCR), good-quality embryo rate (GQER) and neonatal birth weight were compared using one-way ANOVA and χ² tests. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the impact of culture media on laboratory outcomes and birth weight. In IVF cycles, GQER was significantly decreased in SSM medium group as compared with QA or CSC media groups (63.6% vs. 69.0% in QA; vs. 71.3% in CSC, P=0.011). In ICSI cycles, FR, NFR and CR were significantly lower in CSC medium group than in other two media groups. No significant difference was observed in neonatal birthweight among the three groups (P=0.759). Multiple linear regression analyses confirmed that the type of culture medium was correlated with FR, NFR, CR and GQER, but not with neonatal birth weight. The type of culture media had potential influences on laboratory outcomes but did not exhibit an impact on the birth weight of singletons in ART.

Keywords

culture medium / fertilization / embryo development / birth weight

References

[1] SazonovaA, KallenK, Thurin-KjellbergA, et al. . Obstetric outcome after in vitro fertilization with single or double embryo transfer. Hum Reprod, 2011, 26(2): 442-450 PMID: 21126967

[2] JacksonRA, GibsonKA, WuYW, et al. . Perinatal outcomes in singletons following in vitro fertilization: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol, 2004, 103(3): 551-563 PMID: 14990421

[3] HelmerhorstFM, PerquinDA, DonkerD, et al. . Perinatal outcome of singletons and twins after assisted conception: a systematic review of controlled studies. BMJ, 2004, 328(7434): 261 PMCID: 324454 PMID: 14742347

[4] HansenM, KurinczukJJ, MilneE, et al. . Assisted reproductive technology and birth defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update, 2013, 19(4): 330-353 PMID: 23449641

[5] PinborgA, WennerholmUB, RomundstadLB, et al. . Why do singletons conceived after assisted reproduction technology have adverse perinatal outcome? Systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update, 2013, 19(2): 87-104 PMID: 23154145

[6] KondapalliLA, Perales-PuchaltA. Low birth weight: is it related to assisted reproductive technology or underlying infertility. Fertil Steril, 2013, 99(2): 303-310 PMCID: 3577935 PMID: 23375144

[7] ChronopoulouE, HarperJC. IVF culture media: past, present and future. Hum Reprod Update, 2015, 21(1): 39-55 PMID: 25035437

[8] DumoulinJC, LandJA, Van MontfoortAP, et al. . Effect of in vitro culture of human embryos on birthweight of newborns. Hum Reprod, 2010, 25(3): 605-612 PMID: 20085915

[9] NelissenEC, Van MontfoortAP, SmitsLJ, et al. . IVF culture medium affects human intrauterine growth as early as the second trimester of pregnancy. Hum Reprod, 2013, 28(8): 2067-2074 PMID: 23666752

[10] KleijkersSHM, van MontfoortAPA, SmitsLJM, et al. . IVF culture medium affects post-natal weight in humans during the first 2 years of life. Hum Reprod, 2014, 29(4): 661-669 PMID: 24549211

[11] EskildA, MonkerudL, TanboT. Birthweight and placental weight; do changes in culture media used for IVF matter? Comparisons with spontaneous pregnancies in the corresponding time periods. Hum Reprod, 2013, 28(12): 3207-3214 PMID: 24108218

[12] NelissenEC, Van MontfoortAP, CoonenE, et al. . Further evidence that culture media affect perinatal outcome: findings after transfer of fresh and cryopreserved embryos. Hum Reprod, 2012, 27(7): 1966-1976 PMID: 22552689

[13] LinS, LiM, LianY, et al. . No effect of embryo culture media on birthweight and length of newborns. Hum Reprod, 2013, 28(7): 1762-1767 PMID: 23595972

[14] CarrascoB, BoadaM, RodriguezI, et al. . Does culture medium influence offspring birth weight. Fertil Steril, 2013, 100(5): 1283-1288 PMID: 23916797

[15] VergouwCG, KostelijkEH, DoejaarenE, et al. . The influence of the type of embryo culture medium on neonatal birthweight after single embryo transfer in IVF. Hum Reprod, 2012, 27(9): 2619-2626 PMID: 22791752

[16] EatonJL, LiebermanES, StearnsC, et al. . Embryo culture media and neonatal birthweight following IVF. Hum Reprod, 2012, 27(2): 375-379 PMID: 22128298

[17] MantikouE, YoussefMA, van WelyM, et al. . Embryo culture media and IVF/ICSI success rates: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update, 2013, 19(3): 210-220 PMID: 23385469

[18] LiS, YinT, LiW, et al. . Association between follicular fluid levels of HMGB1 protein and outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. Exp Ther Med, 2015, 9(5): 1611-1616 PMCID: 4471704 PMID: 26136867

[19] LandJA. How should we report on perinatal outcome. Hum Reprod, 2006, 21(10): 2638-2639 PMID: 16829595

[20] FuJ, YuM. A hospital-based birth weight analysis using computerized perinatal data base for a Chinese population. J Mater fetal Neonatal Medicine, 2011, 24(4): 614-618

[21] PoolTB. Development of culture media for human assisted reproductive technology. Fertil Steril, 2004, 81(2): 287-289 PMID: 14967361

[22] KhouryC, CofflerM, PotterD, et al. . Improved blastocyst development using a single step medium versus a sequential medium. Fertil Steril, 2012, 97: S4-S5

[23] VajtaG, RienziL, CoboA, et al. . Embryo culture: can we perform better than nature. Reprod Biomed Online, 2010, 20(4): 453-469 PMID: 20202911

[24] BiggersJD, SummersMC. Choosing a culture medium: making informed choices. Fertil Steril, 2008, 90(3): 473-483 PMID: 18847602

[25] SepulvedaS, GarciaJ, ArriagaE, et al. . In vitro development and pregnancy outcomes for human embryos cultured in either a single medium or in a sequential media system. Fertil Steril, 2009, 91(5): 1765-1770 PMID: 18439587

[26] PaternotG, DebrockS D, HoogheTM, et al. . Early embryo development in a sequential versus single medium: a randomized study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2010, 8: 83 PMCID: 2907384 PMID: 20609226

[27] LaneM, GardnerDK. Embryo culture medium: which is the best? Best practice & research. Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 2007, 21(1): 83-100

[28] WunderD, BallabeniP, Roth-KleinerM, et al. . Effect of embryo culture media on birthweight and length in singleton term infants after IVF-ICSI. Swiss Med Weekly, 2014, 144: w14038

[29] AriasME, RossPJ, FelmerRN. Culture medium composition affects the gene expression pattern and in vitro development potential of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Biol Res, 2013, 46(4): 452-462 PMID: 24510147

[30] KhoslaS, DeanW, ReikW, et al. . Culture of preimplantation embryos and its long-term effects on gene expression and phenotype. Hum Reprod Update, 2001, 7(4): 419-427 PMID: 11476355

[31] LonerganP, FairT, CorcoranD, et al. . Effect of culture environment on gene expression and developmental characteristics in IVF-derived embryos. Theriogenology, 2006, 65(1): 137-152 PMID: 16289260

[32] HemkemeyerSA, SchwarzerC, BoianiM, et al. . Effects of embryo culture media do not persist after implantation: a histological study in mice. Hum Reprod, 2014, 29(2): 220-233 PMID: 24324026

[33] SmithZD, ChanMM, MikkelsenTS, et al. . A unique regulatory phase of DNA methylation in the early mammalian embryo. Nature, 2012, 484(7394): 339-344 PMCID: 3331945 PMID: 22456710

[34] SheblO, EbnerT, SommergruberM, et al. . Birth weight is lower for survivors of the vanishing twin syndrome: a case-control study. Fertil Steril, 2008, 90(2): 310-314 PMID: 17931633

[35] ZhuJ, LinS, LiM, et al. . Effect of in vitro culture period on birthweight of singleton newborns. Hum Reprod, 2014, 29(3): 448-454 PMID: 24408317

[36] MakinenS, Soderstrom-AnttilaV, VainioJ, et al. . Does long in vitro culture promote large for gestational age babies. Hum Reprod, 2013, 28(3): 828-834 PMID: 23232355