The mitochondrial challenge: Disorders and prevention strategies

Abstract

This short review provides basic knowledge on mitochondrial inheritance, its disorders, and potential ways to overcome them in human reproductive medicine. The latter are currently mostly associated with the so-called mitochondrial replacement (nuclear transfer) procedures, performed at different stages and with slight technical differences. Being promising but obviously highly invasive, these procedures require detailed investigation of their delayed effects on embryogenesis, pregnancy and future health. A special attention is paid to the newest available data on these issues, as well as to their limitations and possible further research directions.

Keywords: Maternal spindle transfer; Mitochondrial diseases; Mitochondrial inheritance; Mitochondrial replacement; Nuclear transfer; Polar body transfer; Pronuclear transfer; mtDNA.