Nitric oxide levels and total antioxidant capacity in the seminal plasma of infertile smoking men

Cigarette is a rich source of oxidants and reactive nitrogen species. Nitric oxide [NO] in high concentration has deleterious effects on human sperm function. Antioxidant defense system in seminal plasma protects spermatozoa from the attack of reactive oxygen metabolites. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between cigarette smoking with the NO levels and the total antioxidant capacity [TAC] of the seminal plasma in infertile smoker men and to compare severity of oxidative stress [OS] in them with fertile and infertile non-smoking men. In this cross sectional study, a total of 95 male participants attended the Infertility Clinic of the Fatehmeh-zahra Hospital in Babol, Mazandaran Province, Iran, between 2010 and 2011. They were divided into three groups: I. fertile non-smokers [F.ns; n=32], II. infertile non-smokers [IF.ns; n=30] and III. infertile smokers [IF.s; n=33] according to semen analysis World Health Organization guidelines [WHO, 2001] and smoking data. TAC concentration and NO levels of seminal plasma were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP] method and the Griess reagent, respectively. Standard sperm parameters were significantly higher in the fertile group than those in the infertile groups, but these differences between the IF.ns and IF.s were not statistically significant. The mean TAC in the seminal plasma was higher in the F.ns>IF.ns>IF.s, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant among three groups [p= 0.096]. In contrast, the mean NO level in the seminal plasma was lower in the F.ns

In vitro maturation of germinal vesicle oocytes in stimulated intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles

This study evaluated in vitro maturation [IVM] of oocytes in the germinal vesicle [GV] stage in stimulated intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] cycles. A total of 26 women, aged 18-37 years, who were candidates for ICSI at the Fatemeh Zahra Infertility and Health Reproductive Research Center in 2007 were recruited for this study. We used the standard long protocol for ovarian stimulation. Follicles>11 mm were punctured 36-38 hours after administration of 10000 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin [hCG]. Immature oocytes were cultured for 24-30 hours. Oocytes that liberated polar bodies were injected by sperm prepared within the previous day. IVM fertilized oocytes were cultured an additional 24-30 hours for cleavage. The rates of maturation, fertilization and cleavage in IVM oocytes were recorded and statistically compared to in vivo matured sibling oocytes. There were 279 collected oocytes [mean +/- SD: 10.73 +/- 6.2], of which 4.08 +/- 2.79 were subjected to IVM. An average of 2.73 +/- 2.15 GV oocytes [70%] developed to metaphase II [MII]. Although the maturation rate significantly differed between the IVM and in vivo MII sibling oocyte groups [p=0.027], the numbers of fertilized oocytes [p=0.795] and cleaved embryos [p=0.529] were not significantly high in the in vivo group. Transfer of IVM embryos occurred in only three cases with one pregnancy that resulted in the delivery of a healthy baby. This study shows that culturing GV oocytes can produce acceptable numbers of four-cell embryos on the transfer day. The developmental competence of oocytes is not significantly different between early stage IVM and in vivo sibling embryos

[Comparison of sperm parameters in swim up method with single and double washing]

There are different methods to improve sperm parameters including swim up. Sperm washing is a basic step in this method during 2007. It seems that two times washing cause better result especially in high viscosity sample and sample it is not liqufy. The aim of this study is to compare the single and double washing swim up method on sperm parameters. This study was carried out on 50 semen samples referred to Fatemeh-Alzahra infertility center of Babol University of Medical Sciences during 2007. Semen samples had the following characteristics: volume 2-5ml, count > 20 million/ml, motility > 50% and normal morphology > 14%. Sampling condition were completely considered. Sperm parameter analysis carried out after two times washing. Data entered to SPSS-10 and analyzed by repeated measurement and paired T-Test and p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Semen volume mean was 4.050 +/- 1.006. Mean sperm motility is one and two times washings increased [P<0.05], but there was not statistically significant differences between one and two times washing. In grading analysis, by increasing the washing, grade III, IV increase and grade I decrease [P< 0.05]. Sperm morphology mean increased with washing but it is not statistically different between one and two times washing. This study showed that swim up method is effective method for sperm preparation and two times washing cause recuperation of sperm parameters