ART and the Human Blastocyst

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Gamete Quality and Pregnancy Outcome

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The Impact of High-Order Multiple Pregnancies

      • John A. Schnorr, Howard W. Jones Jr.

      Pages 3-20

   3. Patient Stimulation and Effect on Outcomes

      • David R. Meldrum

      Pages 21-28

   4. New Developments in Imaging and Hormonal Stimulation of the Ovaries

      • Roger A. Pierson

      Pages 29-37

   5. Paternal Effects on Fertilization, Embryo Development, and Pregnancy Outcome

      • Denny Sakkas, Odette Moffatt, Mathew Tomlinson, GianCarlo Manicardi, Davide Bizzaro

      Pages 38-48

3. Physiology of the Embryo

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 49-49

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   2. The Cell Biology of Preimplantation Development

      • Richard J. Tasca

      Pages 51-60

   3. Metabolism of the Early Embryo: Energy Production and Utilization

      • Henry J. Leese, Franchesca D. Houghton, Donald A. Macmillan, Isabelle Donnay

      Pages 61-68

   4. Blastomere Homeostasis

      • Michelle Lane, David K. Gardner

      Pages 69-90

   5. Cell Junctions and Cell Interactions in Animal and Human Blastocyst Development

      • Tom P. Fleming, M. Reza Ghassemifar, Judith Eckert, Aspasia Destouni, Bhavwanti Sheth, Fay Thomas et al.

      Pages 91-102

4. Blastocyst Development in Culture

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 103-103

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   2. Blastocyst Development in Culture: The Role of Macromolecules

      • Thomas B. Pool

      Pages 105-117

   3. Culture Systems and Blastocyst Development

      • David K. Gardner, Michelle Lane, William B. Schoolcraft

      Pages 118-143

   4. Apoptosis in the Human Blastocyst: Role of Survival Factors

      • Kate Hardy, Sophie Spanos

      Pages 144-154

   5. Predictors of Viability of the Human Blastocyst

      • Natalie A. Cekleniak, Katharine V. Jackson, Catherine Racowsky

      Pages 155-163

5. Blastocyst Transfer and Fate

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 165-165

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   2. Which Patients Should Have Blastocyst Transfer?

      • Kevin Doody

      Pages 167-183

   3. Embryo Transfer and Luteal Phase Support

      • William B. Schoolcraft

      Pages 184-187

   4. Cryopreservation of Blastocysts

      • Yves Menezo, Denny Sakkas, Anna Veiga

      Pages 188-195

The field of human artificial reproductive technology (ART) is continually advancing and has witnessed significant changes since the inception of Louise Brown in 1978. Though Louise Brown herself was conceived after the trans­ fer of a blastocyst, there remain significant confusion and debate regarding the stage at which the human embryo conceived in the laboratory should be replaced in the mother. Developments in culture media formulations, leading to the introduction of sequential media, have brought the role of the blasto­ cyst in human ART back into the spotlight. It was due to this resurgence of interest in the niche of extended culture in human infertility treatment that the symposium on "ART and the Human Blastocyst" was held. of this meeting within this volume bring to the forefront The proceedings the main issues raised with the transfer of embryos at the blastocyst stage. It is evident from the chapters that follow that ART needs to be perceived as a continuum of procedures, each one dependent on the preceding one, and all equally as important as each other. That is to say, the development of a com­ petent embryo is ultimately dependent on the quality of the gametes from which it was derived. With regard to the oocyte, this then places the emphasis on the physician to use a stimulation protocol that both produces quality oocytes and does not impair endometrial function. Maintenance of gamete and embryo quality is the laboratory's role.

• Embryo
• development
• homeostasis
• hormone
• metabolism
• pregnancy

• Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, Englewood, USA

  David K. Gardner, Michelle Lane

Policies and ethics