Effects of partial or complete laser-assisted hatching on the hatching of mouse blastocysts and their cell numbers

• Main Authors: Chailert C., Sanmee U., Piromlertamorn W., Samchimchom S., Vutyavanich T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23510434; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84875040166&partnerID=40&md5=d59405c56168dee62f2fad3d742da56d; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/4093
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Background: It is still debatable whether a full-thickness assisted hatching (AH) is better than the partial zona thinning. In this research, we used a mouse model to study the effect of partial and complete laser-AH on the rate of completely hatched blastocyst and their cell numbers.Methods: In experiment 1, mouse morulae had 0, 1, 2 or 3 full-thickness openings of 10 microns created in the zona pellucida with an infrared laser beam. In the second experiment, 0, 1 and 2 openings of 20 microns were studied. In the third experiment, a full-thickness opening of 20 microns or quarter-thinning of the zonal circumference to a depth of 90% was compared with non-AH controls.Results: No difference in blastocyst formation was found in laser-treated groups and in the controls. In experiment 1, the rate of completely hatched blastocysts was significantly lower than the controls. In experiment 2 when the size of the opening was increased, blastocysts completely hatched at a significantly higher rate than that in the controls. In experiment 3, the rate of completely hatched blastocysts was the highest in the full-thickness group. Cell numbers in completely hatched blastocysts from both AH groups were significantly fewer than those in the controls.Conclusions: Full-thickness opening resulted in a higher rate of completely hatched blastocysts than quarter zonal-thinning and controls, but the cell numbers were significantly decreased. © 2013 Chailert et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.