ART and the Human Blastocyst presents the proceedings of the International Symposium on ART and the Human Blastocyst held from March 30- April 2, 2000 in Dana Point, California. Experts in the field present the recent developments in embryology that have brought the role of the blastocyst in human ART back into the spotlight. Topics include gamete quality and pregnancy outcome, physiology of the embryo, blastocyst development in culture, blastocyst transfer and fate, and implantation.

Klappentext

The continued debate regarding the stage at which the human embryo conceived in the laboratory should be placed in the mother, combined with recent developments in culture media formulations, have brought the role of the human blastocyst in ART back into the spotlight.BRART and the Human Blastocyst presents the proceedings of the International Symposium on ART and the Human Blastocyst held from March 30- April 2, 2000 in Dana Point, California. This book brings to the forefront the main issues raised with the transfer of embryos at the blastocyst stage, including the reduction of high order multiple gestations and the role of the blastocyst culture and transfer in facilitating successful single embryo transfer. Sections include gamete quality and pregnancy outcome, physiology of the embryo, blastocyst development in culture, blastocyst transfer and fate, and implantation. More than 40 illustrations and 25 tables complement the text.

Inhalt
I. Gamete Quality and Pregnancy Outcome.- 1. The Impact of High-Order Multiple Pregnancies.- 2. Patient Stimulation and Effect on Outcomes.- 3. New Developments in Imaging and Hormonal Stimulation of the Ovaries.- 4. Paternal Effects on Fertilization, Embryo Development, and Pregnancy Outcome.- II. Physiology of the Embryo.- 5. The Cell Biology of Preimplantation Development.- 6. Metabolism of the Early Embryo: Energy Production and Utilization.- 7. Blastomere Homeostasis.- 8. Cell Junctions and Cell Interactions in Animal and Human Blastocyst Development.- III. Blastocyst Development in Culture.- 9. Blastocyst Development in Culture: The Role of Macromolecules.- 10. Culture Systems and Blastocyst Development.- 11. Apoptosis in the Human Blastocyst: Role of Survival Factors.- 12. Predictors of Viability of the Human Blastocyst.- IV. Blastocyst Transfer and Fate.- 13. Which Patients Should Have Blastocyst Transfer?.- 14. Embryo Transfer and Luteal Phase Support.- 15. Cryopreservation of Blastocysts.- V. Implantation.- 16. EmbryoMaternal Dialogue in the Apposition and Adhesion Phases of Human Implantation.- 17. Biomarkers and the Assessment of Uterine Receptivity.- 18. Endometrial Pinopodes: Relevance for Human Blastocyst Implantation.- 19. The Future: Toward Single Embryo Transfer.- 20. The Niche of the Blastocyst in Human ART.- Author Index.