This study describes, for the first time, the relationship between morphology and ploidy in domestic cat embryos. Blastocyst morphology and quality were assessed using time-lapse recordings, while ploidy was analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Out of 54 blastocysts, clear fluorescence signals for all the molecular probes used were observed in 24 (44.4%) blastocysts, while in another 14 (25.9%) blastocysts, fluorescence signals only allowed for sex assessment. No clear signals were observed in the remaining 16 blastocysts (29.7%). Of the 24 blastocysts with clear signals, normal ploidy was detected in 10 (41.4%), 7 (29.2%) were diagnosed as haploid, and the remaining 7 blastocysts (29.2%) were mosaics. Additionally, results showed the distribution of diploid, haploid, and mosaic blastocysts in relation to the occurrence of morphological disorders and to embryo quality. The presence of abnormal embryo morphology and karyotype disorders may affect further development and the pregnancy rate. Due to the comparable proportion of good and poor quality blastocysts with disturbed ploidy, it is important to implement new methods of embryo assessment, especially when techniques used in humans, such as pronuclear observation, cannot be used.

Department of Animal Reproduction Anatomy and Genomics University of Agriculture Mickiewicza 24 28 30 059 Krakow Poland

Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals University of Environmental Science Grunwaldzki square 49 50 357 Wroclaw Poland

Veterinary Research Institute Hudcova 296 70 621 00 Brno Czech Republic

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