Infertility in Mazandaran province - north of Iran: an etiological study

The prevalence and etiology of infertility are not similar in different parts of the world. There are only few reports of this topic in Iran. This study was conducted to determine the clinical patterns and major causes of infertility in Mazandaran province in north of Iran. The medical records of 3734 consecutive couples attending two infertility clinics in Mazandaran province, from 2003 to 2008, were reviewed. The couples had not had a viable birth after at least 1 year of unprotected intercourse and were fully investigated. Of the entire samples, 78.7% had primary infertility and 21.3% had secondary infertility. The mean duration of infertility in couples was 5.7 +/- 4 years. The etiology of infertility in couples revealed; male factor in 38.9%, female factor in 34.7%, combined factors in 14.6% and undetermined cause in 11.8%. In this study, delayed attendance of infertile couples to the infertility clinic was found. Therefore, there is a need to revise public health program on infertility to focus on the education and prevention of infertility and its risk factors

[Morphometrical study of mouse pre-implantation embryos: comparison of in vitro- and in vivo- produced embryos]

The development of pre-implantation mammalian embryos in vitro is compromised, compared with those grown in vivo. Selecting embryos with a high implantation potential is one of the most important challenges in the field of assisted reproductive technology. The aim of this study was to postulate morphometrical characteristics of good quality embryos, with comparisons between in vivo and in vitro produced mouse embryos. Embryos was obtained from NMRI female mice after super ovulation. In vivo developed 2-, 4- and 8-cell embryos; morulla and full blastocyst were isolated from mice on 18, 36, 52, 60, 72 and 96 hours after hCG administration respectively. Ham, s F10 medium was used for in vitro culture of embryos. External and internal diameter of embryos, zona thickness and number of cells in full blastocysts were evaluated and compared between in vivo and in vitro groups. External and internal diameter and zone thickness in oocyte and zygotes were 99.9microm, 75.4microm and 4.9microm respectively. These values did not change prior to the blastocyst stage in both in vivo and in vitro groups; but in full blastocyst stage, the diameter of embryos significantly increased and zone thickness decreased compared to prior stages in both groups [P<0.01]. The diameter of full blastocysts of in vivo group [116.5 microm] were significantly larger than those of in vitro group [104.3 microm, P<0.05]. Moreover, the full blastocysts of in vivo group had significantly more blastomeres [49], compared to in vitro group [43, P<0.05]. Additionally, cultured embryos reached full blastocyst at 110 hours after hCG administration, while in vivo condition the time frame was 96 hours. Based on the above results, embryo size and zona thickness cannot predict embryo quality prior to blastocyst stage, however, in this stage; larger embryos and those that have more blastomere may show greater viability

effect of culture medium volume on in vitro development of mouse embryos

In the field of mammalian embryo culture, the putative influence of autocrine/ paracrine factor [s], produce by the embryos itself, is under investigation. A smaller medium drop can prevent dilution of this factor [s]. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of culture medium volume on in vitro development of mouse 2-cell embryos. The embryos were obtained from female NMRI mice. To evaluate the effect of medium volume, groups of 16-20 late 2-cell embryos were cultured in 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 [micro]l of drops of Ham's F10 medium for 72 h. Development to blastocyst stage in 50 and 100 [micro]l of drop were significantly higher than this in any other volume [p<0.001]. Almost a similar pattern was also observed for hatched blastocyst formation. However, the total number of cells in blastocysts, developing in different volumes, was not significantly different. These results indicate that the optimal volumes of Ham's F10 medium for mouse early embryo development are 50 to 100 [micro]l. However, volumes as small as 2 [micro]l can successfully support mouse 2-cell embryo development to blastocyst and hatching stages

Evaluation of different sperm immunization methods in mice

Background: Antifertility effect of naturally occuring antisperm antibody [ASA] in infertile couples and studies on experimental immunization of various animals with sperm antigens represents ASA as immunocontraceptive target. Despite extensive research on the effects of different factors on sperm immunogenecity and ASA production variable result have been reported

Objective: To study whole sperm immunization in mice

Methods: In an experimental study, whole mice sperm with different adjuvant i.e. complete Freund's adjuvant [CFA], incomplete Freund's adjuvant [ICFA], and cholera toxin subunit-p [CTS-[3] were administrated to mice intramuscularly [IM], subcutaneously [SC], intranasally [IN], intra-peritoneally [IP], intrarectally [IR], intravaginally [IVA] and orally. Control groups were inoculated with phosphate buffer saline [PBS] plus corresponding adjuvant. Immunization was carried out on days 0, 7, 14, 28 and ASA titers were detected by indirect immunoflu-orescence [IFA] technique in sera and vaginal washes of all groups. The IP group was further excluded from the study due to high mortality rate. The results were compared between control and experimental groups by Mann Whitney and Fisher exact tests

Results: The number of positive mice for ASA in IM, SC, IN experimental and control groups were significantly different [P = 0.01, P = 0.01, P = 0.04, respectively]. However, there were no significant differences between IR, IVA, and oral experimental and control groups. No differences were observed between ASA in vaginal washing of all groups. Due to high mortality in IP group it was excluded from the study

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the whole sperm antigen can induce immune response in female mice by IM, SC, IN but not IAV, IR and oral administration routes