Vitrified blastocysts from Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) as a source for human Embryonic Stem Cell (hESC) derivation

Embryos diagnosed as abnormal in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) cycles are useful for the establishment of human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESC) lines with genetic disorders. These lines can be helpful for drug screening and for the development of new treatments. Vitrification has proved to be an efficient method to preserve human blastocysts. One hundred and three abnormal or undiagnosed vitrified blastocysts from the PGD programme at Institut Universitari Dexeus were donated for human embryonic stem cell derivation. The overall survival rate after warming was 70.6 %. Our results showed better survival rates when blastocysts have not started the hatching process (initial/expanded 87.8 %, hatching 68.3 % and hatched 27.3 %). Thirty-five blastocysts and 12 partially surviving embryos were seeded. One hESC line with the multiple exostoses type 2 paternal mutation was obtained.