Microscopy Applications for Reproductive Medicine

Microscopy Solutions for Embryo Quality

Indicators for a "High Quality" Embryo

After fertilization of the oocyte you monitor the embryo growth until the implantation of the embryo. Embryologists have developed morphological parameters that indicate a good or bad prognosis for the developing embryo. Each developmental step is carefully observed.

Indicators for a "high quality" embryo are:

Cell number - blastomeres and day 3 embryo
Cell regularity
Fragmentation / blebbing
Multinucleation
Presence of vacuoles, granularity, thickness of the outer shell (or zona pellucida)

Application Examples

Courtesy of Dr. L.-M. Criado Rodríguez, Transgenesis Department, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III, Madrid, Spain