Downregulation of extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecules in cumulus cells of infertile polycystic ovary syndrome women with and without insulin resistance

Objective: The extracellular matrix [ECM] of the cumulus oocyte complex [COC] is composed of several molecules that have different roles during follicle development. This study aims to explore gene expression profiles for ECM and cell adhesion molecules in the cumulus cells of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] patients based on their insulin sensitivity following controlled ovarian stimulation [COS]

Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study enrolled 23 women less than 36 years of age who participated in an intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] program. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups: control [n=8, fertile women with male infertility history], insulin resistant [IR] PCOS [n=7], and insulin sensitive [IS] PCOS [n=8]. We compared 84 ECM component and adhesion molecule gene expressions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction array [qPCR-array] among the groups

Results: We noted that 21 of the 84 studied genes differentially expressed among the groups, from which 18 of these genes downregulated. Overall, comparison of PCOS cases with controls showed downregulation of extracellular matrix protein 1 [ECM1]; catenin [cadherin-associated protein], alpha 1 [CTNNA1]; integrin, alpha 5 [ITGA5]; laminin, alpha 3 [LAMA3]; laminin, beta 1 [LAMB1]; fibronectin 1 [FN1]; and integrin, alpha 7 [ITGA7]. In the IS group, there was upregulation of ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 8 [ADAMTS8] and neural cell adhesion molecule 1 [NCAM1] compared with the controls [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Downregulation of ECM and cell adhesion molecules seem to be related to PCOS. Gene expression profile alterations in cumulus cells from both the IS and IR groups of PCOS patients seems to be involved in the composition and regulation of ECM during the ovulation process. This study highlights the association of ECM gene alteration as a viewpoint for additional understanding of the etiology of PCOS

Oxidative stress statues in serum and follicular fluid of women with endometriosis

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the levels of two oxidative stress [OS] markers including lipid peroxide [LPO] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] in both serum and follicular fluid [FF] of women with endometriosis after puncture

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total number of sixty-three women younger than 40 years old with laparoscopy [gold standard for endometriosis diagnosis] indication underwent in vitro fertilization [IVF] program in the Royan Institute, Tehran, Iran from September 2013 to October 2014. About forty-three patients were diagnosed with endometriosis after laparoscopy. Blood and FF from the leading follicle in each stimulated ovary were obtained at the time of egg retrieval; samples were centrifuged and frozen until assessment. At the time of sample assessment, serum and FF samples were evaluated for the levels of LPO and TAC on spectrophotometery

Results: We observed that women with endometriosis had significantly higher LPO and lower TAC levels in the serum and FF as compared with the control group [P<0.05]

Conclusion: It has observed that FF of women with endometriosis, regardless of disease stage, increases the proliferation power of endometrial cells in vitro, we presume that inflammatory reactions-induced OS in ovary may be responsible for proliferation induction ability in FF obtained from women with endometriosis

overview of the available methods for morphological scoring of pre-implantation embryos in in vitro fertilization

Assessment of embryo quality in order to choose the embryos that most likely result in pregnancy is the critical goal in assisted reproductive technologies [ART]. The current trend in human in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer [IVF/ET] protocols is to decrease the rate of multiple pregnancies after multiple embryo transfer with maintaining the pregnancy rate at admissible levels [according to laboratory standards]. Assessment of morphological feathers as a reliable non-invasive method that provides valuable information in prediction of IVF/intra cytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI] outcome has been frequently proposed in recent years. This article describes the current status of morphological embryo evaluation at different pre-implantation stages

Reproductive performance of mouse oocyte after in vivo exposure of the ovary to continuous wave ultrasound

There is a lack of studies regarding the effects of ultrasound [US] and replication of its exposure on pre-implantation events in mammals. Thus, this study assesses the reproductive performance of mouse oocytes that have been obtained from ovaries irradiated with US waves versus non-irradiated ovaries. Also comparision of their parthenogenesis, ovulation, fertilization, and pre-implantation development rates. In this experimental study, we divided extracted ovaries into three experimental groups that received the same dosage, but different replicates of radiation for each group. Results were compared with the control and sham groups. Continuous wave [CW] US, at a spatial average intensity of 355 mW/cm[2] and a frequency of 3.28 MHz, was administered for 5 minutes to the ovaries at an interval between pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG] and human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] injections. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA test and the level of significance was determined to be 0.05. Data collection was based on microscopic visualization. According to the obtained results, metaphase II [MII] oocyte numbers and the percentage of blastocysts significantly reduced in the US exposed groups versus the unexposed groups. Fertilization rate was comparable between groups while parthenogenesis was significantly higher in the US-exposed groups compared to the unexposed groups. Structural damage to cells, intracellular organelles and proteins, as well as changes in signaling pathways induced by US may be reasons for some of the observed adverse effects in groups that have received more US exposure.

[Effect of ultrasound on parthenogenic activation of mouse oocyte]

Artificial stimulation of mouse oocyte, in the absence of sperm contribution, can induce its parthenogenic activation of oocyte. Ultrasound is one of the newest methods for artificial activation of mammal oocytes, and its successful utilization in pig oocyte activation has been recently reported. Our objective was to assess the effect of ultrasound on mouse oocyte activation. Our groups included1 control group, 3 experimental groups consisting of 1, 2 and 3 repetitions of ultrasound exposure, and 3 sham groups handled similar to experimental groups but ultrasound system was off during treatments. In experimental groups, adult female NMRI mice at the interval between pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG] and human corionic gonadotropin [hCG] injections, were exposed to continuous ultrasound with 3.28 MHz frequency and peak intensity [I pk]=355 mW/cm2. Sixteen hours after injection of hCG, the mice were euthanized and their oocytes were collected; thereafter, parthenogenic oocytes were counted. Data analysis using the ANOVA test shows a significant increase in the number of parthenogenic oocytes in mice with 3 overall exposures to ovarian ultrasound [p<0.05]. A significant decrease in the number of metaphase II [MII] oocytes numbers was also seen in mice treated with ultrasound [p<0.05]. Ultrasound is thought to induce pores generation in oocyte membranes and provides an easier inward transport of Ca++ into oocytes. This phenomenon can induce meiosis resumption in immature oocytes. With increased exposure repetitions from 1 to 3 times and greater Ca++ arrival, oocytes can be parthenogenetically activated