The first clinic report related to preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was occurred in 1990. Different from the first two technologies ------ in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasm sperm injection (ICSI), PGD screening aimed to couples with genetic diseases and elder women, but not only to infertile couples. The significant of this technology is not only clinic treatment but also improve the healthy of population. The procedure of PGD technology mainly included (1) obtaining fertilized embryos using IVF or ICSI procedure, (2) removing one blastomere from 8-cell embryos using biopsy technology, (3) identified the blastomere using FISH technology and (4) transplantation with healthy embryos. The basic research of PGD technology is still short, although the clinic application has been developed in some countries. Here we focus and study the effects of PGD biopsy on the long-term development of offspring.

In pursuit of this goal, Prof. Zhou Qi’s lab in the institute of zoology collaborated with Prof. Sha Jiahao’s lab in Nanjing medical university work together for this issue. The mouse model was selected in this study and the biopsy procedure was referenced as the micromanipulation criterion of human assistant reproductive technology center. This study indicated that this biopsy procedure did not affect the pre-implantation development, but in the process of long-term observation the mice from PGD biopsy showed the overgrowth phenotype and decreased memory compared with control mice. Owing to these phenotype differences, we analyzed brain tissue by proteomics method. Total 37 proteins with the different expression profile were identified by mass spectrum analysis, and importantly 17 proteins were attributed to the occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders. Using immunochemistry and ultra electron microscope, the demyelination pathology phenotype of neuron fibers is very significant, including the area and density of myelin.

In summary the PGD biopsy procedure would induce the happening of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore it is important to increase the related basic research of PGD procedure and establish a normative manipulation system to try to decrease this risk in the offspring as low as possible.

Yang Yu*, Jindao Wu*, Yong Fan, Zhuo Lv, Xuejiang Guo, Chun Zhao, Rong Zhou, Zhuo Zhang, Fuqiang Wang, Min Xiao, Ling Chen, Hui Zhu, Wen Chen, Min Lin, Jiayin Liu, Zuomin Zhou, Liu Wang, Ran Huo#, Qi Zhou#, Jiahao Sha. Evaluation of blastomere biopsy using mouse model indicates the potential high-risk of neurodegenerative disorders in the offspring. Molecular & Cellar Proteomics 2009 March 11 [Epub ahead of print] (IF = 9.43)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(By: Yang Yu)