Pilot Study: hCG Secreted by Blastocyst as Potential Marker of Embryo Quality

hCG is a hormone produced very early by the pre-embryo, but not by the oocyte. It has a pivotal role in the trophoblast differentiation, and embryo implantation as well as the corpus luteum support. In spite of its well-known role, the literature about it is scarce. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relation between the amount of hCG secreted by the blastocyst and embryo euploidy status and morphological pre-embryo quality according to morphokinetic pattern. We will analyse the amount of hCG secreted by blastocyst to the culture medium thorough mass spectrometry and it will be correlated with the main morphokinetic issues and the chromosomal structure after NGS analysis at blastocyst stage. We will take the pre-embryo spent culture medium that has been discarded after embryo culture without any interference on the pre-embryo neither any different deviation of standard protocol of embryo manipulation. Furthermore, the evaluation by time-lapse technology will let to document the main issues of embryo development, also without any deviation of the standard protocol. We are waiting to find the value of hCG secreted by blastocyst as a potential marker of embryo quality and ploidy status.