ABSTRACT
Background: Paracrine disruption of growth factors in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] results in production of low quality oocyte, especially following ovulation induction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin [MET], N-acetylcysteine [NAC] and their combination on the hormonal levels and expression profile of GDF-9, BMP-15 and c-kit, as hallmarks of oocyte quality, in PCOS patients
Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial aims to study the effects of MET, NAC and their combination [MET+NAC] on expression of GDF-9, BMP-15 and c-kit mRNA in oocytes [10 at the germinal vesicle [GV] stage, 10 at the MI stage, and 10 at the MII stage from per group] derived following ovulation induction in PCOS. Treatment was carried out for six weeks, starting on the third day of previous cycle until oocyte aspiration. The expression of GDF9, BMP15 and c-kit were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction [RT-qPCR] and western blot analysis. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA
Results: The follicular fluid [FF] level of c-kit protein significantly decreased in the NAC group compared to the other groups. Significant correlations were observed between the FF soluble c-kit protein with FF volume, and rostenedione and estradiol. The GDF-9 expression in unfertilized mature oocytes were significantly higher in the NAC group com- pared to the other groups [P<0.001]. Similar difference was not observed between the MET, NAC+MET and control groups. The c-kit expression in unfertilized mature oocytes were significantly lower in the NAC group compared to the other groups [P<0.001]. Similar difference was not observed between the MET, NAC+MET and control groups [Registration number: IRCT201204159476N1]
Conclusion: We concluded that NAC can improve the quality of oocytes in PCOS
ABSTRACT
Background: Chlamydia trachomatis [CT] infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world that can persist and also ascend in the genital tract. This intracellular and silent infection is related to some adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriage. The aims of this study were to explore the best CT screening tests using blood and vaginal samples and to investigate the correlation between CT infection and the incidence of miscarriage
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was done in October 2013 through June 2014, using purposive sampling from 157 female participants with or without a history of miscarriage. The samples were taken after each participant had signed a letter of consent and had completed a questionnaire. To achieve the objectives of this study, polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] tests were performed on vaginal swabs and blood samples, respectively
Results: PCR results showed a significantly higher CT infection rate in the miscarriage group compared to the control group [11.3 vs. 0%, P=0.007]. Anti-CT IgG and IgA antibodies were found in 4.2 and 2.1% of cases in the miscarriage group, and in 1.7 and 6.7% of cases in the control group, respectively [P>0.05]. Despite lower humoral responses in this study, positive samples were detected only by one of the following techniques; PCR, ELISA IgA and ELISA IgG. It also should be noted that PCR worked best in terms of detection
Conclusion: Based on the obtained data, there is a strong association between molecular evidence of CT infection and miscarriage. A higher rate of CT detection in molecular tests compared to serological assays suggests that PCR could be used as the first-choice assay for detection of C. trachomatis. However, the importance of serological tests in detecting potential past CT infection or upper genital infection not amenable to sampling is undeniable
ABSTRACT
Objective: Due to recent progress in production of human embryonic stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells [hESC-OPCs] for ameliorating myelin disease such as multiple sclerosis [MS] and the role of purinergic signaling in OPCs development, we avaluated the profile of purinergic receptors expression during development of OPCs from hESC
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we used reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction [RT-qPCR] to obtain more information about potential roles of purinergic receptors during in vitro production of hESC-OPCs. We first determined the expression level of different subtypes of purinergic receptors in hESCs, embryoid bodies [EBs], and hESC-OPCs. The effects of A1adenosine receptor [A1AR] activation on hESC-OPCs development were subsequently examined
Results: hESCs and OPCs had different mRNA expression levels of the AR subtypes. ARs mRNA were expressed in the EB stage, except for A2AAR. We observed expressions of several P2X [P2X1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7] and P2Y [P2Y1, 2, 4, 6, 11-14] genes in hESCs. hESC-OPCs expressed different subtypes of P2X [P2X1, 2, 3,4,5,7] and P2Y [P2Y1, 2, 4, 6, 11-14]. Except for P2X1 and P2X6, all other P2X and P2Y purinergic receptor subtypes expressed in EBs. We also indicate that A1AR might be involved in modulating gene expression levels of cell cycle regulators in an agonist and/or dose-dependent manner
Conclusion: Elucidation of the expression pattern of purinergic receptors and the effects of different subtypes of these receptors in hESC-OPCs may have a promising role in future cell-based therapy or drug design for demyelinating disease
ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs [miRNAs] are small non-coding single stranded RNA molecules that are physiologically produced in eukaryotic cells to regulate or mostly down-regulate genes by pairing with their complementary base-sequence in related mRNA molecules in the cytoplasm. It has been reported that other than its function in many physiological cell processes, dysregulation of miRNAs plays a role in the development of many diseases. In this short review, the association between miRNAs and some male reproductive disorders is surveyed. Male factor Infertility is a devastating problem from which a notable percentage of couples suffer. However, the molecular mechanism of many infertility disorders has not been clearly elucidated. Since miRNAs have an important role in numerous biological cell processes and cellular dysfunctions, it is of interest to review the related literature on the role of miRNAs in the male reproductive organs. Aberrant expression of specific miRNAs is associated with certain male reproductive dysfunctions. For this reason, assessment of expression of such miRNAs may serve as a suitable molecular biomarker for diagnosis of those male infertility disorders. The presence of a single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] at the miRNAs' binding site in its targeted mRNA has been reported to have an association with idiopathic male infertility. Also, a relation with male infertility has been shown with SNP in the genes of the factors necessary for miRNA biogenesis. Therefore, focusing on the role of miRNAs in male reproductive disorders can further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of male infertility and generate the potential for locating efficient biomarkers and therapeutic agents for these disorders
ABSTRACT
Background: Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of metformin [MTF] in reducing insulin resistance and N-acetyl cysteine [NAC] in inhibiting oxidative stress which are involved in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS]. We aimed to compare the effects of MTF and NAC combination on serum metabolite and hormonal levels during the course of ovulation induction in PCOS individual candidates of intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]
Materials and Methods: In this prospective randomized clinical trial, placebo con- trolled pilot study, 80 patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome at the age of 25-35 years were divided into 4 groups [n=20]: i. NAC=treated with N-acetyl cysteine [600 mg three times daily], ii. MTF=treated with metformin [500 mg three times daily], iii. MTF+NAC=treated with N-acetyl cysteine plus metformin [the offered doses] and iv. placebo [PLA]. A total number of 20 patients [6 from MTF group, 4 from NAC group, 6 from MTF+NAC group and 4 from PLA group] were dropped of the study. The drugs were administrated from day 3 of menses of previous cycle until ovum pick-up
Results: Serum levels of luteinizing hormone [LH], total testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride, insulin and leptin significantly reduced in the MTF and NAC groups compared to the placebo [p<0.01]. But levels of LH, total testosterone, cholesterol and triglyceride had no significant reduction in the MTF+NAC groups compared to the placebo. The serum levels of malonyldialdehyde [MDA], insulin and leptin reduced significantly after treatment in the MTF+NAC group compared to the placebo [p<0.05]
Conclusion: Considering the adverse effect of combination therapy, we proposed the conadministration might have no beneficial effect for PCOS patient during course of ovulation induction of ICSI [Registration Number: IRCT201204159476N1]
ABSTRACT
Background: This study evaluated the impact of body mass index [BMI], total calorie intake and physical activity [PA] as energy expenditure related factors on oxidative stress [OS] in follicular fluid [FF]
Materials and Methods: This prospective study conducted on 219 infertile women. We evaluated patients' BMI, total calorie intake and PA in their assisted reproduction treatment cycles. Malondialdehyde [MDA] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] in pooled FF at oocyte retrieval were additionally assessed
Results: There was no relation between OS biomarkers to total calorie intake and PA. The TAC levels in FF adjusted for age, duration of infertility, etiology of infertility, number of used gonadotrophin and PA showed a positive relation to BMI [p=0.001]. The number of used gonadotrophin and PA had a negative relation to duration of infertility [p=0.03] and anovulation disorder as an etiology of infertility. The MDA level in FF had a positive association with anovulation disorder as the etiology of infertility [p=0.02]. MDA in FF was unaffected by BMI
Conclusion: Increasing age, BMI and PA do not affect OS in FF. In women with longtime infertility and those with anovulation disorder as an etiology of infertility, decreased potent antioxidant defense in the follicular microenvironment may contribute to ovarian function. Therefore antioxidant supplements may be beneficial for these groups of women
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluated the effect of beta-mercaptoethanol on resumption of meiosis, in vitro maturation of immature mouse oocytes and resulting embryo development with and without BSO [DL-Buthionine sulfoximine] Material and Germinal vesicle [GV] were recovered from 6-8 weeks old NMRI ovaries and cultured in maturation medium in MEMalpha supplemented with 7.5IU/ml hCG, 100mIU/ml rhFSH, 5% FCS [control group] and adding 100 micro m beta-mercaptoethanol [group 1] or with 5mM BSO + 100 micro m beta-mercaptoethanol [group 2] for 24h. The matured oocytes then were fertilized and cultured for 5 days. Fertilization and development were accomplished in T6 medium.The percentage of GV oocytes reaching to metaphase I [or undergo GVBD] were 78.5%, 85%, 86% in control group, group 1 and group 2 respectively, that no significant difference was detected between groups. The proportion of oocytes that progressed to the metaphase II [MII] stage was minimum within 5mM BSO group [group 2] and maximum within beta-mercaptoetanol group [group 1] with significant difference comparing with control and each other [P<=0.05]. The percentage of embryos reaching to morula stage within beta-mercaptoetanol group was significantly higher than the control group [5% and 12.2% respectively]. None of oocytes treated with BSO could pass the 8 cell stage. beta-mercaptoetanol enhances IVM and improves embryo development. While adding BSO into the maturation medium even with beta-mercaptoetanol decreases maturation and declines the embryo development
Subject(s)
Animals , Buthionine Sulfoximine , Mice , Embryonic Development , Oxidative Stress , Apoptosis , OocytesABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of human sperm MTT viability assay on outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection. MTT is a tetrazolium salt, routinely used for cell proliferation and cytotoxicity assays.Material and 50microl of processed semen was treated with MTT solution, while the remaining used as the control. Meanwhile, 109 donated human oocytes [metaphase II] obtained from 12 patients were divided into two groups. Fifty five oocytes were injected using MTT positive sperms, while 54 oocytes were injected with sperms from the control group. Then the injected oocytes were cultured and observed at 18, 42, 66, 90, and 114 hours pos- ICSI. Finally, the fertilization and embryo development rates were compared in both groups.No significant differences were observed between fertilization and embryo development rates in the MTT and control groups.In future studies after approving that the MTT has not cytotoxic or teratogenic effects, then sperm MTT viability assay might be useful for ICSI in patients with absolute or severe asthenospermia or in patients with highly deformed sperm tails