Contents



Preface

Since early in the last century, many studies have focused on revealing the mechanism of fertilization and embryo formation and development, which form a branch discipline of biology science, known as embryology. Embryology is a vast discipline concerned with the study of embryogenesis and is the branch of biology that studies the prenatal development of gametes, fertilization, and development of embryos and fetuses. Additionally, embryology encompasses the study of congenital disorders that occur before birth, known as teratology. Findings in embryology have helped in the understanding of congenital abnormalities and developing assisted reproduction procedures.

To date, embryology has been enriched and developed greatly in terms of its

may acquire new and usable information as well as key practice techniques.

This book updates new technologies, theories, and methods in early embryogenesis from ovarian stimulation to final ART outcomes. Areas covered include details of background proteins in human chorionic gonadotropin pharmaceutical formulations of different origins; clinical application of *in vitro* maturation of oocytes; oocyte fertilization failure and oocyte activation, both physiological and clinical aspects; human blastocyst formation and development; bovine embryonic development to implantation; the role of neuroendocrines in embryo implantation; and the present and future of embryo cryopreservation and effect of ART on newborn babies. Thus, this book will provide some important information for readers, especially embryologists and physicians for human IVF programs to improve their appreciation of ART.

**Bin Wu, PhD, HCLD (ABB)**

**Huai L. Feng, PhD, HCLD, ELD**

New York Hospital Queens, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, USA

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,

Tucson, Arizona, USA

Arizona Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility,

contents and forms. It not only includes oogenesis, spermiogenesis, embryogenesis, implantation, and fetal formation mechanisms, but also involves pharmacology, basic scientific research, and regenerative medicine. Although this subject has been studied for more than a century, it is still a pioneering field with many alternative aspects, such as embryonic stem cells, somatic cell cloning, and many novel discoveries appearing continuously. In particular, novel embryo biotechnologies have initiated a new era in the fields of medical science and agriculture because of their enormous biomedical and commercial potential. Thus, the purpose of this book is to update and review newly developed theories and technologies in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) and to provide clinical practice examples so that readers, especially embryologists and physicians involved in human IVF programs,
