ABSTRACT
Objective@#Bacteriospermia and urogenital infections are common problems in male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bacteriospermia on sperm parameters and clinical outcomes in semen samples infected with two common bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli) in northern Iran. @*Methods@#Microbiological tests were performed to isolate and identify organisms from 435 semen samples from infertile couples. Semen samples were assessed according to the World Health Organization criteria. The protamine status, chromatin structure, chromatin condensation, and acrosome reaction of sperm and assisted reproductive outcomes were determined in couples with different male infertility factors. @*Results@#Among the total cases, the two most prevalent pathogens were considered: S. saprophyticus (38.2%) and E. coli (52.9%). In the semen samples infected with E. coli, the spontaneous acrosome reaction and abnormal chromatin condensation were more common (p<0.05). Significant increases in abnormal chromatin condensation and deprotamination were seen in the presence of S. saprophyticus. In washed semen, tight adhesion between the sperm midpiece and S. saprophyticus was observed. There was also a significant decrease in the fertilization rate using semen samples infected with S. saprophyticus and E. coli during in vitro fertilization cycles (p<0.001). In addition, the presence of S. saprophyticus and E. coli in semen samples was associated with a lower likelihood of clinical pregnancy in couples with various factors of male infertility. @*Conclusion@#Poor results of assisted reproductive techniques may be correlated with semen samples infected with two common bacteria in northern Iran.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Bacteriospermia and urogenital infections are common problems in male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of bacteriospermia on sperm parameters and clinical outcomes in semen samples infected with two common bacteria (Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Escherichia coli) in northern Iran. @*Methods@#Microbiological tests were performed to isolate and identify organisms from 435 semen samples from infertile couples. Semen samples were assessed according to the World Health Organization criteria. The protamine status, chromatin structure, chromatin condensation, and acrosome reaction of sperm and assisted reproductive outcomes were determined in couples with different male infertility factors. @*Results@#Among the total cases, the two most prevalent pathogens were considered: S. saprophyticus (38.2%) and E. coli (52.9%). In the semen samples infected with E. coli, the spontaneous acrosome reaction and abnormal chromatin condensation were more common (p<0.05). Significant increases in abnormal chromatin condensation and deprotamination were seen in the presence of S. saprophyticus. In washed semen, tight adhesion between the sperm midpiece and S. saprophyticus was observed. There was also a significant decrease in the fertilization rate using semen samples infected with S. saprophyticus and E. coli during in vitro fertilization cycles (p<0.001). In addition, the presence of S. saprophyticus and E. coli in semen samples was associated with a lower likelihood of clinical pregnancy in couples with various factors of male infertility. @*Conclusion@#Poor results of assisted reproductive techniques may be correlated with semen samples infected with two common bacteria in northern Iran.
ABSTRACT
Background: it is important to protect oocytes and embryos from oxidative stress in the culture medium. Melatonin has been shown to be a direct free radical scavenger
Objective: Effect of melatonin during in vitro oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development of mouse oocytes was evaluated
Materials and Methods: oocytes from supper-ovulated mouse were divided to two groups: cumulus oocyte complexes [COCs, group I] and denuded COC [d-COCs, group II]. The oocytes were cultured in maturation medium with different doses of melatonin [1×10[1]-10[5] nM] The cumulus expansion and nuclear status were evaluated after 24 h of in-vitro maturation. The oocytes were used for in-vitro fertilization. The fertilized oocytes were cultured in medium supplemented with different doses of melatonin
Results: the expansion [86.79%] and maturation [80.55%] rate of COCs increased in supplemented medium with 10 nM of melatonin vs. control group [73.33%], p=0.006 and p=0.026 respectively], but oocytes without cumulus cells indicated higher maturation rate at higher melatonin doses [10 and 100 ?M, 84.34% and 79.5% respectively[ vs. 69.33% in control group [p=0.002]. Fertilization rate was higher in treated medium with 1 [micro]M of melatonin [93.75%, p=0.007]
The rate of cleavage and blastocyst formation was promoted in medium supplemented with 10 and 100 nM of melatonin [92.37% and 89.36% vs. 81.25% in control group, p=0.002] We observed a dose dependent response to melatonin treatment in this experiment
Conclusion: exogenous melatonin can promote cumulus cell expansion, in vitro oocyte maturation, and embryo development. However we investigated a dose-dependent response in different stages of maturation and development. It may reflect sensitive rate of oocytes and embryos to culture conditions
ABSTRACT
Abnormal oocyte morphology has been associated with the hormonal environment to which the gametes are exposed. In this study, we evaluated the oocytes morphology, fertilization rate, embryos quality, and implantation rate resulted of retrieved oocytes in different times after human chorionic gonadotrophin [HCG] administration. A total of 985 metaphase II oocytes were retrieved 35, 36, 37 and 38 h after the injection of HCG as groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Oocyte morphology was divided into [I] normal morphology, [II] extracytoplasmic abnormalities, [III] cytoplasmic abnormalities and [IV] intracytoplasmic vacuoles and in each group, oocytes were evaluated according to this classification. Extracytoplasmic abnormalities were encountered in 17.76% and 31.1% of these oocytes [groups 3 and 4 respectively, p=0.007] in comparison with 12.23% group 2. Cytoplasmic abnormalities in group 4 were higher than other groups. 23.88% [p=0.039] and 43.25% [p=0.089] of resulted 2PN [two pronucleus] from groups 3 and 4 showed grade Z3 respectively in comparison to group 2 [16.44%]. Normal and various categories of abnormal oocytes did not differ regarding fertilization and cleavage rates [p=0.061]. However, group 4 showed significant difference in the rate of embryos fragmentation [grade III and IV embryo] in comparison with group 2 [40.96% vs. 24.93%, p=0.078]. The pregnancy rate was higher in G2 and G3 groups [28.5 and 24.13% respectively]. Oocyte retrieval time following HCG priming affected on oocyte morphology, 2PN pattern and embryos qualities subsequently. Both good quality embryo formation and pregnancy outcomes were noticeably higher when oocytes were retrieved 36 h after HCG priming in ART program
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Chorionic Gonadotropin , Oocytes , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted , Embryonic StructuresABSTRACT
We designed this study to detect the cryoinjury rate on human sperm after serial freezing and thawing, taking into consideration the effects of using cryovials and straws. In this experimental study, semen specimens obtained from 15 subjects were divided into normozoospermic and oligozoospermic groups. Each of the normozoospermic and oligozoo spermic semen specimens were additionally divided into two groups: i. washed and ii. unwashed. Specimens were repeatedly freeze-thawed by using cryovials and straws with the fast liquid nitrogen vapor method, until no motile sperm remained. Sperm motility, recovery, and morphology rate were then determined after thawing, and compared between the groups while taking into consideration the effects of using cryovials and straws. Motile spermatozoa were observed in all normozoospermic samples up to thaw 6 with both cryovials and straws while in oligozoospermic specimens up to thaw 4 [straw] and thaw 3 [cryovial] in the freeze-thawing cycle. Normozoospermic sample analysis showed no significant difference in morphology rate. There was a significant increase in motility and recovery percentages for washed samples, which was observed with straws in compared to the unwashed groups. Oligozoospermic sample analysis indicated a significant increase in motility, recovery [p<0.01], and morphology [p<0.001] rates in washed specimens compared to unwashed specimens using straws. The importance of washing sperm was obvious for oligozoospermic specimens. Normozoospermic sperm resisted freezing longer than oligozoospermic sperm. Use of straws and cryovials made significant differences in motility, recovery, and morphology of sperm in each thaw. This difference was slightly higher for oligozoospermic specimens. Results indicated that the percentage of motility was higher for washed normozoospermic specimens in each thaw when straws were used, whereas the percentage of motility, recovery, and morphology were promoted after frozen oligozoospermic specimens were washed using straws.
ABSTRACT
Melatonin is a scavenger agent that has been used to promote in vitro embryo development. This study was designed to show the effects of melatonin on the quality and quantity rate of preimplantation mouse embryo development and pregnancy. In this experimental study, super ovulated, mated mice were killed by cervical dislocation to collect two-cell zygotes from the oviduct of pregnant 1 day NMRI mice. Zygotes were cultured to the hatching blastocyst stage and the numbers of embryos at different stages were recorded under an inverted microscope. The cleavage rates of two-cell zygotes were assayed until the blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stage in drops of T6 medium that contained either melatonin [1, 10, and 100×10[6], 10 and 100×10[9] M] or no melatonin. The cell numbers of blastocysts were determined by differential staining, implantation outcomes were studied, and development and pregnancy rate were compared by the Chi-square [development] and Fisher's exact [pregnancy rate] tests. The addition of 10 and 100 nM melatonin to the embryo culture media promoted the development of the two-cell stage embryos to blastocyst and hatching blastocysts [p<0.01] and caused a significant increase in total cell number [TCN], trophoectoderm [TE], and inner cell mass [ICM] of the blastocysts [p<0.01]. A difference was observed in the percentage of transferred embryos that were successfully implanted between the control and treatment groups [p<0.05]. The data indicate that 10 and 100 nM of melatonin positively impact mouse embryo cleavage rates, blastocyst TCN, and their implantation. Therefore, melatonin at low concentrations promotes an embryonic culture system in mice