新检测技术加倍试管受精成功率

开始神话

--随着技术的发展，试管婴儿技术为许多希望有孩子的家庭带来了希望。然而试管婴儿成功率过低一直困扰着研究人员。最近一项由清华大学和哈佛大学联合进行的研究可能将试管婴儿成功率提升至60%之多。这项技术是基于新的基因检测技术以更加全面监测试管受精的胚胎基因正常而实现的。目前医务人员正在通过多种手段监测是否存在基因缺陷，然而目前的技术只能从已受精的胚胎中选择有限数目的胚胎干细胞，但这种方法无法完整检测所有的基因缺陷。而这种新技术则是通过检测极体的基因来检测基因缺陷。不过目前这一技术还处于早期阶段，距离大规模应用还需要一段时间。

详细英文报道：

IVF involves joining a woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish

Mapping the genetic code of fertilised eggs could double the success rate of IVF, researchers claim.

The new screening method to detect healthy embryos could raise the success of IVF to 60% or more, according to a Peking University and Harvard University team.

Trials of the procedure in China offer hope to older women, they say.

The research, in the journal Cell, should be viewed with caution, said a UK fertility expert.

IVF involves joining a woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish, then transferring embryos into the mother's womb.

In order to maximise the success of IVF, various screening procedures can be used by fertility clinics to select the most healthy ones for implantation.

These approaches often involve removing cells from the growing embryo, and may not pick up all genetic problems.

The new method, studied in 70 fertilised eggs from volunteer egg donors, was based on removing left-over fragments of cells, known as polar bodies, from the early developing embryo and analysing their full genetic code.

Lead researcher, Jie Qiao of Third Hospital, Peking University, said: "Theoretically, if this works perfectly, we will be able to double the success rate of test tube baby technology from 30% to 60% or even more."

Proof of principle

The technique allows DNA contributed by the mother to the growing embryo to be screened for genetic abnormalities that might lead to IVF failure, miscarriage, or genetic problems in the child, said co-researcher, Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, of Harvard University.

It would be of most use to women with repeated failures of IVF and could improve the success rate of fertility treatment, particularly in older women, he said.

"In this paper we have a proof of principle - the clinical trial has already started," he told BBC News. "It does offer hope to women with repeated failure of IVF."

However, a UK expert urged caution. Commenting on the research, Dr Yacoub Khalaf, consultant in reproductive medicine and surgery at the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy's Hospital, London, told BBC News: "The area of screening is appealing in theory but in practice has not delivered.

"If screening eggs or screening embryos is not robust and reliable it could cost women their eggs or their embryos, both of which are precious and finite."

Infertility affects up to 15% of couples around the world, with many turning to IVF to have a child.

开始神话

2013年12月23日讯