Higher mitochondrial dna content is associated with partial compaction patterns amongst human blastocysts

It has been hypothesized that mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNA) may represent the energy potential of an embryo. Other data including our own have demonstrated higher scores of mtDNA were associated with poorer blastocyst quality, lower rates of implantation and higher proportions of aneuploid embryos (1). Compaction is a critical transition point in embryonic development and represents the first outward indicator of embryonic genomic activation. As embryos undergo compaction, there is a shift in biosynthetic activity, oxygen consumption, intracellular transportation and preferred nutrients (2). The post-compaction embryo is required to meet the increased energy demand for successful blastulation and differentiation. At this time, it is not well understood how mtDNA may relate to this essential step in embryo development.