Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chromosome analysis of single- and multipronucleated human zygotes proceeded after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure

  • Genetics
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose: Fertilization of an egg by injection of a single spermatozoon into the cytoplasm has been shown to be an effective procedure to obtain a pregnancy in human in vitro fertilization. This, as one of the most invasive micromanipulation techniques, has generated concern about inducing embryo abnormalities. The objective of this study was to obtain insight into the chromosomal constitution of zygotes proceeded after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure.

Methods: For this purpose the first cleavage division of 33 single- and 16 multipronucleated zygotes proceeded after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure was cytogenetically analyzed.

Results: Chromosome spreading permitted adequate karyotyping in 28 (84.8%) single-pronucleated zygotes. Among these, 19 (67.9%) were haploid, 5 (17.9%) hypohaploid (n=20–22), and 4 (14.3%) hyperhaploid (n=24–25). The overall rate of aneuploidy found here for single-pronucleated zygotes was 32.1%. In the 23 (82.1%) analyzed single-pronucleated zygotes, besides single mitotic complements, an intact sperm head or sperm nuclei structure has been found, indicating the maternal origin of these chromosomes.

Conclusions: Ten digynic zygotes with three pronuclei and six zygotes with more than three pronuclei were identified after injecting a single spermatozoon, representing 3.2% of all the fertilized oocytes. Aneuploid chromosome complements were found in three of seven tripronuclear zygotes and each one exhibited a hypo-, hyper-, and haploid complement (23,X, 21,X,−A,−B, 25,X,+A.+B; 23,Y, 22,X,−D, 24,X,+D; 23,X, 22,X,−G, 24,X,+G). The absolute difference in the number of chromosomes between each of these two imbalanced corresponding haplotypes was the same and this difference was caused by the chromosomes belonging to the same groups of karyotype. Of the remaining four tripronuclear zygotes, three had triploid and one had diploid numbers of chromosomes. Furthermore, five zygotes having more than three pronuclei at the first cleavage division displayed severely depleted chromosome complements. The majority of imbalanced multipronuclear zygotes was found after delay of the microinjection, suggesting that aging of oocytes might be the reason for their abnormal chromosomal arrangements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Palermo G, Joris H, Devroey P, Van Steiteghem A C: Pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection of single spermatozoon into an oocyte. Lancet 1992;340:17–18

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Palermo G, Joris H, Derde M P, Camus M, Devroey P, Van Steirteghem A C: Sperm characteristics and outcome of human assisted fertilization by subzonal insemination and intracy-toplasmic sperm injection. Fertil Steril 1993;59:826–835

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Van Steirteghem A C, Liu J, Joris H, Nagy Z, Janssenswillen C, Tournaye H, Derde M P, Van Assche E, Devroey P: Higher success rate by intracytoplasmic sperm injection than by subzonal insemination. Report of a second series of 300 consecutive treatment cycles. Hum Reprod 1993;8:1055–1060

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Van Steirteghem A C, Nagy Z, Joris H, Liu J, Staessen C, Smitz J, Wisanto A, Devroey P: High fertilization and implantation rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod 1993;8:1061–1066

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen J, Alikani M, Munné S, Palermo G: Micromanipulation in clinical management of fertility disorders. Sem Reprod Endocrin 1994;12:151–168

    Google Scholar 

  6. Imthurn B, Macas E, Rosselli M, Keller P J: Effect of a programmed short-term stimulation protocol on the replacement of cryopreserved embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 1994 (in press)

  7. World Health Organization: WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction, 3rd ed. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1992, pp 51–52

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dyban A P: An improved method for chromosome preparations from preimplantation embryos, oocytes or isolated blastomeres. Stain Technol 1983;58:69–79

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Whittingham D G: Parthenogenesis in mammals.In Oxford Reviews of Reproductive Biology, Vol 2, CA Finn (ed), Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1980, pp 205–231

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bongso A, Chye N G, Ratnan S, Sathananthan H, Kono P C: Chromosome anomalies in human oocytes failing to fertilize after insemination in vitro. Hum Reprod 1988;3:645–649

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Pellestor F, Sèle B: Assessment of aneuploidy in the human female by using cytogenetics of IVF failures. Am J Hum Genet 1988;42:274–283

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Macas E, Floersheim Y, Hotz E, Imthurn B, Keller P J, Walt H: Abnormal chromosomal arrangements in human oocytes. Hum Reprod 1990;5:703–707

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Pickering S J, Braude P R, Johnson M H, Cant A, Currie J: Transient cooling to room temperature can cause irreversible disruption of the meiotic spindle in the human oocyte. Fertil Steril 1990;54:102–108

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Miller B M, Adler I D: Aneuploidy in mouse spermatocytes. Mutagenesis 1992;7:69–76

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wallin M, Hartley A B: Effects of potential aneuploidy inducing agents on microtubule assembly in vitro. Mutat Res 1993;287:17–22

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kaufman M H: The chromosome complement of single-pronuclear haploid mouse embryos following activation by ethanol treatment. J Embryol Exp Morphol 1982;71:139–154

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kaufman M H: Effect of anesthetics agents on eggs and embryos.In Development in Mammals, MH Johnson (eds). Amsterdam, North-Holland, 1977, pp 137–163

    Google Scholar 

  18. Magistrini M, Szollosi D: Effects of cold and isopropyl-N-phenylcarbamate on the second meiotic spindle of mouse oocytes. Eur J Cell Biol 1980;22:699–707

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pickering S J, Johnson M H: The influence of cooling on the organization of meiotic spindle of the mouse oocyte. Hum Reprod 1987;2:207–216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pickering S J, Johnson M H, Braude P R, Houliston E: Cytoskeletal organization in fresh, aged and spontaneously activated human oocytes. Hum Reprod 1988;3:978–989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Eichenlaub-Ritter U, Stahl A, Luciani J M: The microtubular cytoskeleton and chromosomes of unfertilized human oocytes aged in vitro. Hum Genet 1988;80:259–264

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Maro B, Johnson M H, Pickering S J, Flach G: Changes in the actin distribution during fertilization of the mouse egg. J Embryol Exp Morphol 1984;81:211–237

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Maro B, Howlett S K, Webb M: Non-spindle microtubule organizing centres in metaphase II-arrested mouse oocytes. J Cell Biol 1985;101:1665–1672

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wramsby H, Fredga K: Chromosome analysis of human oocytes failing to cleave after insemination in vitro. Hum Reprod 1987;2:137–142

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Nagy Z P, Joris H, Liu J, Staessen C, Devroey P, Van Steirteghem A C: Intracytoplasmic single sperm injection of 1-day-old unfertilized human oocytes. Hum Reprod 1993;8:2180–2184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Division of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Ervin Macas, Bruno Imthurn, Marinella Roselli & Paul J. Keller

Authors
  1. Ervin Macas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruno Imthurn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marinella Roselli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paul J. Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Macas, E., Imthurn, B., Roselli, M. et al. Chromosome analysis of single- and multipronucleated human zygotes proceeded after the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure. J Assist Reprod Genet 13, 345–350 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02070150

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02070150

Key words

Search

Navigation