DR. ALBERTINI’s PHOTO GALLERY

Today we take a deep dive into the inner workings of the human embryo. While the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) adheres strictly to its motto of “Fighting for every egg,” in the end what everybody in IVF is seeking is that highest quality embryo with the best chances of yielding a healthy offspring. When he joined the CHR 10 years ago, Dr. Albertini brought his long-standing interests in how cell cycle and cytoskeleton direct the development of the fertilized egg into a healthy blastocyst. The following images provide a glimpse into the tools of the trade he has been applying during his tenure here at the CHR.

FIGURE 1:

This embryo donated to research demonstrates the 3-dimensional perspective of a blastocyst-stage embryo, with individual cellular components highlighted in different colors with special antibody biomarkers. In collaboration with the Brivanlou Laboratory at Rockefeller University in NYC.

FIGURE 2:

By taking a thin slice of this blastocyst, we begin to identify two of the cell types comprising the blastocyst—in green, a subset of cells that will go on to form the embryo proper and eventually fetus, while the cells lining the outer limits (blue nuclei with speckles) are designated to become the placenta. In collaboration with the Brivanlou Laboratory at Rockefeller University in NYC.

FIGURE 3:

Unfortunately, and all too often, eggs fertilized by IVF or ICSI start their development on schedule but stop precisely at the stage when the decision is made to encourage some cells to become the embryo whereas others would become the placenta. This embryo is arrested at the 5-cell stage and is showing signs of abnormal cell division (see microtubules in green).

FIGURE 4:

This embryo has developed into a compacted morula, the stage at which decisions to become embryo or placenta take place. But even though signs of normal cell division are seen, the reasons why this embryo was unable to continue its journey to the blastocyst stage remain unknown and are the subject of ongoing research at the CHR.

David F. Albertini, PhD, is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (JARG), Professor and Chair of Developmental Biology at the Bedford Research Foundation in Massachusetts and a Visiting Senior Scientist at The Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) in NYC and a Visiting Researcher at Rockefeller University in NYC.