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The ART of selecting the best embryo: A review of early embryonic mortality and bovine embryo viability assessment methods
Author(s) -
Perkel Kayla J.,
Tscherner Allison,
Merrill Casandra,
Lamarre Jonathan,
Madan Pavneesh
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22525
Subject(s) - biology , embryo , embryonic stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo transfer , metabolome , selection (genetic algorithm) , embryo culture , computational biology , embryogenesis , bioinformatics , genetics , metabolomics , computer science , gene , artificial intelligence
SUMMARY Animal reproductive biotechnology is continually evolving. Significant advances have been made in our understanding of early embryonic mortality and embryo development in domestic animals, which has improved the selection and success of in vitro technologies. Yet our knowledge is still relatively limited such that identifying a single embryo with the highest chance of survival and development for transfer remains challenging. While invasive methods such as embryo biopsy can provide useful information regarding the genetic status of the embryos, morphological assessment remains the most common evaluation. A recent shift, however, favors alternative, adjunct approaches for non‐invasive assessment of an embryo's viability and developmental potential. Various analytical techniques have facilitated the evaluation of cellular health through the metabolome, the assessment of end products of cellular metabolism, or by analyzing spent media for small RNAs. This review discusses the application of noninvasive approaches for ascertaining the health and viability of in vitro‐produced bovine embryos. A comparative analysis of noninvasive techniques for embryo assessment currently being investigated in cattle and humans is also discussed. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 822–838, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .