Study on application of time-lapse imaging technology in monitoring embryonic direct cleavage and evaluating embryonic developmental potential

LIU Haifang; PAN Yongyi; WANG Shikai; ZHANG Xiaohui; WEI Pingpin; LI Zhengda; MAO Xianbao; CHEN Liangshi; XUE Lintao

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2025.10.12

Abstract：Objective To explore the application value of time-lapse imaging technology in monitoring embryonic direct cleavage(DC)and evaluating embryonic developmental potential.Methods The clinical data of patients who received in vitro fertilization(IVF)or intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)treatment in Reproductive Medicine and Genetics Center,the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from July 2020 to February 2024 were retrospectively analyzed,with a total of 601 treatment cycles.The development process of embryos was monitored by using time-lapse imaging technology.According to the embryonic cleavage patterns,the embryos were divided into normal cleavage group and DC group.According to the periods of DC,the DC group was further divided into DC1 group(DC occurred in the first division of the fertilized eggs),DC2 group(DC occurred in the second division of the fertilized eggs)and DC3 group(DC occurred in the third division of the fertilized eggs).The indicators of embryonic developmental potential and pregnancy outcomes were compared among the groups.Results The monitoring results of time-lapse imaging showed that the incidence of DC in the embryos was 16.67%(822/4 932).The mean of blastomeres of D3 embryos in the DC group was significantly less than that in the normal cleavage group,and the rates of D3 high-quality embryos,D6 blastocysts formation,D6 high-quality blastocyst formation and D6 freezable blastocyst formation in the DC group were significantly lower than those in the normal cleavage group(P＜0.05).The D3 high-quality embryo rates in the DC1 group and the DC2 group were significantly lower than those in the normal cleavage group(P＜0.05).The D3 high-quality embryo rates in the DC1 group were significantly lower than those in the DC2 group and the DC3 group(P＜0.05).The D6 blastocyst formation rates in the DC1 group and the DC2 group were significantly lower than those in the normal cleavage group(P＜0.05).The D6 blastocyst formation rates in the DC1 group were significantly lower than those in the DC2 group and the DC3 group(P＜0.05).The D6 high-quality blastocyst formation rates in the DC1 group,the DC2 group and the DC3 group were significantly lower than those in the normal cleavage group(P＜0.05).The D6 high-quality blastocyst formation rates in the DC1 group were significantly lower than those in the DC2 group and the DC3 group(P＜0.05).Compared with those in the normal cleavage group,the biochemical pregnancy rate,clinical pregnancy rate,implantation rate and live birth rate in the DC1 group and the DC2/3 group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion DC can reduce the embryonic development potential,and the earlier DC occurs,the greater the negative impact on the embryonic development.Time-lapse imaging technology is an effective method to monitor the occurrence of DC in the embryos and evaluate the embryonic development potential.