Analysis of nine chromosome probes in first polar bodies and metaphase II oocytes for the detection of aneuploidies

We used fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) to detect nine chromosomes (1, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22 and X) in 89 first Polar Bodies (1PBs), from in vitro matured oocytes discarded from IVF cycles. In 54 1PBs, we also analysed the corresponding oocyte in metaphase II (MII) to confirm the results; the other 35 1PBs were analysed alone as when preimplantation genetic diagnosis using 1PB (PGD-1PB) is performed. The frequency of aneuploid oocytes found was 47.5%; if the risk of aneuploidy for 23 chromosomes is estimated, the percentage rises to 57.2%. Missing chromosomes or chromatids found in 1PBs of 1PB/MII doublets were confirmed by MII results in 74.2%, indicating that only 25.8% of them were artefactual. Abnormalities observed in 1PBs were 55.8% whole-chromosome alterations and 44.2% chromatid anomalies. We observed a balanced predivision of chromatids for all chromosomes analysed. Differences between balanced predivision in 1PB and MII were statistically significant (P<0.0001, χ2 test); the 1PB was most affected. The mean abnormal segregation frequency for each chromosome was 0.89% (range 0.52–1.70%); so, each of the 23 chromosomes of an oocyte has a risk of 0.89% to be involved in aneuploidy. No significant differences were observed regarding age, type of abnormality (chromosome or chromatid alterations) or frequency of aneuploidy. Nine of the 35 patients (25.7%) whose 1PB and MII were studied presented abnormalities (extra chromosomes) that probably originated in early oogenesis. Analysis of 1PBs to select euploid oocytes could help patients of advanced age undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.