Use of image processing techniques can indicate bovine embryo stress and response to temperature changes in real-time

Abstract

Temperature is a known factor affecting pre-implantation embryo development and should be controlled to prevent a decrease in developmental competence. However, practical considerations of the conventional embryo transfer procedure require the embryos to endure fluctuations in temperature as the embryos are flushed from the in vivo uterine environment, to the in vitro collection dish and into the embryo laboratory. This transition typically involves the embryo culture environ­ment decreasing from 38 °C (body temperature) to approximate­ly 20 °C (room temperature), possibly inducing damage to the embryo and reducing the likelihood of the embryo to result in live birth. The objective of this study was to use graphic imag­ing and machine learning techniques to measure real-time bo­vine embryo morphokinetic activity as the embryo transitions from 38 °C to environmental room temperature.