ABSTRACT
Objective: Infertility is a common human disorder which is defined as the failure to conceive for a period of 12 months without contraception. Many studies have shown that the outcome of fertility could be affected by DNA damage. We attempted to examine the association of two SNPs [rs1127354 and rs7270101] in ITPA, a gene encoding a key factor in the repair system, with susceptibility to infertility
Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study of individuals with established infertility. Blood samples were obtained from 164 infertile patients and 180 ethnically matched fertile controls. Total genomic DNA were extracted from whole blood using the standard salting out method, and stored at -20 C. Genotyping were based on mismatch polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] method in which PCR products were digested with the XmnI restriction enzyme and run on a 12% polyacrylamide gel
Results: All genotype frequencies in the control group were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A significant association [in allelic, recessive and dominant genotypic models] was observed between infertile patients and healthy controls based on rs1127354 [P=0.0001], however, no significant association was detected for rs7270101. Also, gender stratification and analysis of different genotype models did not lead to a significant association for this single- nucleotide polymorphis [SNP]
Conclusion: ITPA is likely to be a genetic determinant for decreased fertility. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating this association, however, given the small sample size and other limitations, genotyping of this SNP is recommended to be carried out in different populations with more samples
ABSTRACT
Background: The role of the screening protocol for viral hepatitis and human immuunodeficiency virus [HIV] infections among infertile couples were seldom investigated
Objective: The present study was performed to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B virus [HBV], hepatitis C virus [HCV] and HIV infections among infertile couples referring to infertility clinic of Royan Institute
Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 21673 infertile couples referring to infertility clinic of Royan Institute between 2009 and 2014. Serological findings for viral hepatitis B, C and HIV infection were gathered herewith demographic data of the study participants through the study checklist. Ultimately, 302 couples who had at least one positive result in their serological tests were included in the statistical analysis
Results: The HBV and HCV infections prevalence among study participants were 0.57% and 0.148% respectively; only two cases had HIV infection. HBV and HCV infections prevalence had significant association with the gender of participants, but there was no significant relationship between these infections and infertility types
Conclusion: Viral hepatitis infections screening among infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive techniques needs more attention
ABSTRACT
Previous studies have indicated that fish oil intake will improve semen quality in some mammals and birds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fish oil on reproductive performance in ram. Eight Zandi rams were divided into two groups and fed either a control diet or a supplemented diet with fish oil. Both of the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and formulated according to AFRC [1995]. Semen samples were weekly collected from September to December of 2007 by artificial vagina. Semen characteristics were evaluated. Reaction times, frequency of tail rasing and mounting, and testicular circumference were recorded every two weeks. Live weight was recorded every three weeks. At the end of trial. blood samples were obtained and plasma concentrations of testostrone and cholesterol were determined. Fish oil supplementation improved progressive motility of sperm, percentage of motile sperm. sperm concentrations, total sperm number and mounting frequency. There were no significant differences between two groups in testicular circumference, body weight and blood parameters [p>0.005]. Semen volume frequency of tail raising and reaction times were not affected by dietary treatment. The results suggested that feeding of fish oil could attenuate the decreased reproductive performance which induced by non breeding season during late autumn in Zandi rams