Embryo Morphokinetic Parameters Evaluated Using a Time-Lapse Embryo Monitoring System Can Predict the Embryo Developmental Potential in ICSI Cycles

Abstract At present, embryo morphology assessment based on the observation of the embryonic morphological characteristics at several specific time points has been mainly used for selecting the high-quality embryo. However, we all know that embryo development is a dynamic process. Many research results on the correlation between the embryo morphokinetic parameters and embryo quality and development potential were inconsistent. With the help of time-lapse imaging, the development processes and outcomes of a total of 365 embryos were cultured and analyzed in this study. The results showed that the mean tPNf and t2 of the high-quality embryo were significantly shorter than the low-quality embryo; the mean t2PBe and tPNa of the high-quality embryo from the implantation group were significantly shorter than those from the non-implantation group. In addition, based on the quartile grouping of each morphokinetic parameter, the embryos that had 21.15≤tPNf≤25.30 value were significantly higher in embryo quality when compared with the embryos that had the tPNf values outside the range on Days 3. Similarly, the embryos that had values of t2≤25.60 were significantly higher in embryo quality than those with outside the range values on Days 3. Thus, we demonstrated that the morphokinetic parameter evaluated using a time-lapse embryo monitoring system can predict the embryo quality, and be benefit for the selection of the high-quality embryos and improvement for the implantation success of the patient in assisted reproductive technologies.