Preimplantation genetic diagnosis may pose neurological risks

[Guest guest]

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis may pose neurological risks

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/asfb-pgd072109.php

Appearing in the July issue of Molecular and Cellular Proteomics

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has helped many couples conceive healthy

children and is generally considered a safe practice. However, a new long-term

analysis of PGD in mice suggests that this procedure may increase risks of

weight gain and memory decline in adulthood.

PGD is used alongside assisted reproduction technologies to ensure couples that

may be carriers of genetic disease (e.g. Ashkenazi Jews who have a high

incidence of Tay-Sachs among their population) don't pass on defective genes to

their children. While PGD is not believed to pose any serious health risks, the

procedure does involve manipulating the developing embryo and no rigorous

long-term studies have been carried out.

Ran Huo, Qi Zhou and colleagues used a mouse model to examine how a blastomere

biopsy, as the key manipulation during the PGD procedure, could affect fetal,

neonatal and adult development.

They found that there were no differences in embryo development prior to uterine

implantation in the biopsied and control groups, which is consistent with

results found in humans. However, following implantation, successful births from

biopsied embryos were significantly lower than in controls.

Following birth, the authors tracked many physical and behavioral properties;

the two groups of mice were similar in many respects, though mice in the

biopsied group on average had higher body weight and poorer memory in maze

tests. To get a more detailed picture of these memory defects, the authors

performed a proteomic analysis of adult mouse brains; 36 proteins displayed

significant differences between biopsied and control groups, 17 of which are

closely associated with neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers and Down

Syndrome.

The authors suggest that the developing nervous system may be sensitive to

blastomere biopsy, and that more studies should be performed to address any

possible long-term adverse effects of PGD to ensure its safety.

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From the study: " Evaluation of Blastomere Biopsy Using a Mouse Model Indicates

the Potential High Risk of Neurodegenerative Disorders in the Offspring " by Yang

Yu, Jindao Wu, Yong Fan, Zhuo Lv, Xuejiang Guo, Chun Zhao, Rong Zhou, Zhuo

Zhang, Fuqiang Wang, Min Xiao, Ling Chen, Hui Zhu, Wen Chen, Min Lin, Jiayin

Liu, Zuomin Zhou, Liu Wang, Ran Huo, Qi Zhou and Jiahao Sha

[Guest guest]

thank you for the article, now again my question did any one consider PGD?

 

 

thnak you in advance