Real time imaging of embryo development gives promise of enhanced human reproduction therapies

Researchers at A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have developed advanced microscopy technologies to monitor embryo development in real time, revealing how mammalian cells differentiate during the earliest stages of embryonic life, said the research organization in a press release on Friday.

The study was published in the top-tier scientific journal, Cell, and it was also featured as the cover of the journal. Coupled with the novel imaging technique, these findings hold great potential in shaping how assisted reproduction procedures such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) are performed, and making these procedures more effective.

Current IVF procedures assess whether an embryo is suitable for implantation into the mother largely through observable measurements such as gauging if the rate of growth of the embryo is normal.

While PGD of embryos is carried out by analyzing a randomly extracted embryonic cell for genetic defects, with the assumption that all cells within a preimplantation embryo are identical and that the removal of a single embryonic cell would not affect the overall development of the embryo after implantation.

Researchers at IMCB has demonstrated that the cells are in fact differentiated and may play very different roles in later development, which is contrary to the current conception that every cell within a preimplantation embryo is identical.

By designing cutting-edge real-time imaging techniques, researchers were able to examine every cell within a preimplantation mouse embryo without perturbing its development. They observed differences in the way which certain proteins in each cell bind to their target genes.

The scientists also observed that there were variances in cell behavior at every stage of the embryo's development. As mouse embryos bear strong resemblance to human embryos at early stage development, the findings indicate that cells within a preimplantation human embryo are also not identical.

Thus, the study refines understanding of early stage embryonic development and highlights how assisted reproduction procedures such as IVF and PGD may be further enhanced to ensure successful fertilization, smooth pregnancy and childbirth.

Further development of real-time imaging technique may eventually enable fertility specialists to study the microscopic properties of embryos and decide more precisely if an embryo is suitable for implantation, or screen an embryo for genetic abnormalities using imaging lasers instead of physical manipulation.

This would enable better quality control of embryos implanted in mothers hence potentially increasing the chances of success for these procedures through more efficient control of embryo quality.

"Our findings as a result of this advanced technique have put forth a new paradigm of knowledge that would encourage more detailed microscopic analysis for future assisted reproduction procedures." said Dr Nicolas Plachta, Senior Principal Investigator of IMCB. Enditem