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Unequal Pronuclear Size—A Powerful Predictor of Embryonic Chromosome Anomalies

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Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate whether pronuclei of unequal size, observed in 13.7% of zygotes evaluated after in vitro fertilization (IVF), are predictive of chromosome anomalies in the developing embryo.

Methods: The ploidy of 38 embryos grown from zygotes with unequal-sized pronuclei was assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Twenty-six embryos developed after intracytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI) and 12 embryos were derived from conventional IVF.

Results: Chromosome anomalies were documented in the ICSI and IVF groups in 88.5 and 50% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions: We suggest that FISH should be employed to examine the ploidy of zygotes with unequal pronuclei, prior to embryo transfer.

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Manor, D., Drugan, A., Stein, D. et al. Unequal Pronuclear Size—A Powerful Predictor of Embryonic Chromosome Anomalies. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 385–389 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020550115345

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020550115345

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