ART and the Human Blastocyst

Presents the proceedings of the International Symposium on ART and the Human Blastocyst held from March 30-April 2, 2000 in Dana Point, California. This work includes topics such as gamete quality and pregnancy outcome, physiology of the embryo, blastocyst development in culture, blastocyst transfer and fate, and implantation.

I. Gamete Quality and Pregnancy Outcome.- 1. The Impact of High-Order Multiple Pregnancies.- 2. Patient Stimulation and Effect on Outcomes.- 3. New Developments in Imaging and Hormonal Stimulation of the Ovaries.- 4. Paternal Effects on Fertilization, Embryo Development, and Pregnancy Outcome.- II. Physiology of the Embryo.- 5. The Cell Biology of Preimplantation Development.- 6. Metabolism of the Early Embryo: Energy Production and Utilization.- 7. Blastomere Homeostasis.- 8. Cell Junctions and Cell Interactions in Animal and Human Blastocyst Development.- III. Blastocyst Development in Culture.- 9. Blastocyst Development in Culture: The Role of Macromolecules.- 10. Culture Systems and Blastocyst Development.- 11. Apoptosis in the Human Blastocyst: Role of Survival Factors.- 12. Predictors of Viability of the Human Blastocyst.- IV. Blastocyst Transfer and Fate.- 13. Which Patients Should Have Blastocyst Transfer?.- 14. Embryo Transfer and Luteal Phase Support.- 15. Cryopreservation of Blastocysts.- V. Implantation.- 16. Embryo-Maternal Dialogue in the Apposition and Adhesion Phases of Human Implantation.- 17. Biomarkers and the Assessment of Uterine Receptivity.- 18. Endometrial Pinopodes: Relevance for Human Blastocyst Implantation.- 19. The Future: Toward Single Embryo Transfer.- 20. The Niche of the Blastocyst in Human ART.- Author Index.