Effects of strontium chloride activation on the cleavage rate and somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a suitable protocol for activating mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos with strontium chloride (SrCl2).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We constructed and identified mouse nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. After nuclear injection, we activated the NT embryos using the following chemical activation methods: exposing the NT embryos to 5 and 10 mmol/L SrCl2 strontium for 1 -8 h, activating the NT embryos with 1-20 mmol/L SrCl2 strontium at 4 and 6 h, treating the NT embryos with 10 mmol/L SrCl2 strontium in different activating media, and exposing the NT embryos to 10 mmol/L SrCl2 strontium combined with 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) and cytochalasin B (CB). After activation, the NT embryos were cultured in vitro in the cleavage medium.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the NT embryos were treated with SrCl2 at the concentration of 5 mmol/L, the cleavage rate was remarkably higher at 6 h (38.9%) than at 1 h (6.7%), 2 h (22.8%), 3 h (22.8%) and 4 h (25.6%) (P < 0.05), but with no significant differences from those at 5 h (28.9%), 7 h (34.4%) and 8 h (28.9%) (P > 0.05). When the NT embryos were treated with SrCl2 for 6 h, the rates of cleavage and blastulation were 68.9% and 7.2% at 10 mmol/L, markedly higher than at 1 mmol/L (28.3% and 0%), 2.5 mmol/L (35.6% and 0%), 5 mmol/L (37.8% and 1.1%), 7.5 mmol/L (60.6% and 2.2%), 15 mmol/L (51.7% and 1.1%), and 20 mmol/L (41.7% and 1.1%) (P < 0.05). The cleavage rate of the NT embryos cultured in the Ca2+ and Mg2+ KSOM medium was 27.8%, significantly lower than in the Ca(2+)-free KSOM (69.4%), Ca2+/Mg(2+)-free KSOM (66.1%), and Ca2+/Mg(2+)-free + EDTA KSOM (68.3%) (P < 0.05). The total cell blastocyst number was significantly larger in the NT embryos treated with SrCl2 + CB (45.40 +/- 2.23) than in those treated with SrCl2 (30.15 +/- 1.12), 6-DMAP (34.95 +/- 1.38), and 6-DMAP + CB (37.45 +/- 1.43) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Six-hour treatment with 10 mmol/L SrCl2 in Ca2+ alone or in combination with CB can well activate NT embryos in mice.</p>

Results of requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate on the day of oocyte pick-up in assisted reproductive technology / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the results of requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate in order to reduce ICSI cycles by PESA or TESE on the day of oocyte pick-up in assisted reproductive technology (ART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected 68 semen samples as a second consecutive ejaculate from 34 men, compared the semen volume and sperm concentration, motility and total count between the first and the second ejaculation, and analyzed the laboratory results and clinical outcomes of fertilization with the mixed sperm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 34 males ejaculated twice within 4 hours by masturbation, with an interval of 26-183 (94.9 +/- 39.8) minutes between the first and second ejaculation. The volume of the first ejaculate was (2.0 +/- 1.4) ml, significantly higher than that of the second ([1.5 +/- 0.9] ml) (P = 0.007), although the numbers of motile sperm and grade a + b sperm of the first ([40.8 +/- 25.3]% and [30.9 +/- 22.4]%) were significantly lower than those of the second ([52.2 +/- 21.1]% and [39.9 +/- 17.5]%) (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the sperm concentration or total sperm count between the two ejaculates (P > 0.05). The ICSI, IVF + ICSI, and IVF cycles were 3, 3 and 28 respectively among the 34 couples undergoing ART. The number of retrieved oocytes, normal fertilization rate, high quality embryo rate and frozen cycles/fresh transfer cycles ratio were 15.5 +/- 8.7, 57.0% (247/433), 58.7% (145/247) and 20/24 for the IVF cycle, 21.7 +/- 8.3, 61.5% (40/65), 67.5% (27/40) and 3/2 for the ICSI cycle, and 10.0 +/- 2.6, 72.4% (21/29), 66.7% (14/21) and 3/3 for the IVF + ICSI cycle. Fourteen live births were achieved out of the 18 pregnancies, including 6 healthy boys and 9 healthy girls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A clinical pregnancy rate of >30% can be achieved by requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate on the day of oocyte pick-up in order to collect more sperm and/or increase the total number of motile sperm for ART. And this method can avoid other invasive sperm processing techniques and the need of unnecessary micromanipulative fertilization.</p>

Effect of platelet-activating factor on sperm function / 中华男科学杂志

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a unique and novel signaling phospholipid that has pleiotropic biologic properties in addition to platelet activation. Recent studies show that this novel compound plays a significant role in male reproduction and sperm function. PAF binds surface special receptors inducing the formation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) and increasing intracellular calcium. The concentrations of sperm-derived PAF may help predict sperm motility and fertilization potential, which may serve as a valuable marker for assessing male fertility. Exogenous PAF can improve sperm motility, acrosome reaction and pregnancy rates in human intrauterine inseminations.

Identification of G6PD mutations in Guangxi by combination of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography, DNA sequencing and restriction endonuclease analysis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore new genotypes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Guangxi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>G6PD mutations were identified by combination of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), DNA sequencing and restriction endonuclease assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three cases (10.0%) of G6PD Viangchan (871G-->A, 1311C-->T) and one case (3.3%) of G6PD Union (1360C -->T) were first identified in China mainland. G6PD Ganton (1376G-->T, 30.0%) was the commonest mutation, followed by Kaiping (1388G-->A, 26.7%), and Gaohe (95A-->G, 23.3%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Besides G6PD Ganton, Kaiping and Gaohe, there are G6PD Viangchan and Union in Guangxi. G6PD Viangchan and Union is reported for the first time in China mainland.</p>