in vitro comparative study of growth media, sera and FSH effects on the growth and maturation of Syrian mice preantral follicles and enclosed-oocytes

Developing a culture system for preantral follicles has important biotechnological implications due to the potential to produce a large number of oocytes for embryo production and transfer. To accomplish this goal, the present study was aimed to culture preantral follicles in the presence of different media, sera and FSH concentrations. Six-week-old preantral follicles [95 +/- 5 micro m] were cultured in North Carolina State University medium 23 [NCSU23], tissue culture medium 199 [TCM199] and leibovitz-15 medium [L-15] for 6 days. Tissue culture medium 199 showed a significant increase in the follicle diameter [115 micro m], survival [39%], oocyte maturation [32%] and germinal vesicle breakdown [GVBD] [29%] rates as compared to L-15 and NCSU23 [P<0.05]. A 6-day culture showed increased follicular growth as compared to 2, 4 and 8-days [P<0.05]. When the experiment was run with 1, 2, 5 and 10% fetal calf serum [FCS], prepubertal gilt serum [PGS], embryonic stem cell fetal calf serum [ESFCS] and hypogonadal mouse serum [hpgMS], the 5% FCS showed increased follicle diameter [134 micro m], survival [52%], oocyte maturation [49%] and GVBD [45%] as compared to control and other types of sera used [P<0.05]. While 100 mIU/ml FSH + 5% FCS in TCM199 showed a significant increase in follicle diameter [197 micro m], survival [96%], oocyte maturation [91%] and GVBD [67%: P<0.0001]. So, it is concluded that the TCM199 medium, with the addition of 100 mIU/ml FSH and 5% FCS, is appropriate for the optimal in vitro growth of Syrian mice preantral follicles and enclosed oocytes

[Status of inheritance pattern of blindness in blind people supported by yazd province's welfare organization]

It is estimated that 148 million people worldwide, the vast majority of them in developing countries, are suffering from blindness or severe visual disorders. Understanding of the different kinds of blindness epidemiology and its inheritance pattern, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis are important factors in prevention and treatment of blindness. This survey was designed based on the above facts. This cross-sectional study was done on 109 blind people. The individuals were interviewed based on standard genetic counseling procedure. Blood samples were collected from the cases with inheritance pattern and then stored in a DNA bank. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software and ?2 test. From the total of 109 individuals, 73 were male [67%] and 36 were female [33%]. More than half of them [53.2%] were detectable in patients aged less than one year old. The most common cause of blindness and low vision was retinitis pigmentosa in 35 cases [32.1%] followed by globe dysgenesis in 18 cases [16.5%]. Consanguinity in different degrees and a positive familial history of blindness were detected in 76 and 66 patients respectively. There was no genetic pattern in ten pedigrees. In the rest, the genetic patterns were as follows 6.4% autosomal dominant, 33.9% autosomal recessive, and 11.1% X-linked recessive. In total the inheritance pattern was detected in 56 familial pedigrees which suggested single gene disorder with the relative frequency of 51.4% in the studied population. This study may help physicians and genetic counselors to understand the importance of genetic inheritance in blindness and low vision. In addition, we believe our findings will possibly shed a new light on the future plans involving diagnosis and prevention of visual blindness

Correlation between sperm DNA integrity and IVF success rate in infertile couples

Assisted reproductive technologies have been used for the treatment of a considerable number of infertile couples. Conduction of several cycles of treatment, spending a lot of time, money and energy and the probable complications accompanying repeated anesthesia have made researchers find ways to predict the outcome of different methods used for the treatment of infertility. Male factor infertility is accountable for fifty percent of infertilities. Although semen analysis is an initial test to evaluate male fertility potentials but the results do not always predict fertilization outcomes. Sperm function tests have been suggested to predict the fertilization rate in ART treatment cycles. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of double-stranded DNA in fertilization rate predictions. 100 infertile men were randomly selected. Based on WHO's 1999 criteria, semen analysis for each case was performed. DNA evaluation was performed by using Acridine orange. According to the fertilization rates [FR], the cases were divided into 3 groups: group I with FR>50%, group II with FR<50% and group III with a total fertilization failure [TFF]. The results were analyzed by using ANOVA, correlation coefficient, and calculation of the area under receiver operating characteristic [ROC] plot. The level of significance was considered 5%. For the prediction of DNA normality likelihood and the best cut-off points for the variables, calculation of the area under the ROC plot was employed. There were no significant differences between fertilization rates [FR] and sperm parameters in IVF treatment cycles. Only a weak correlation was observed between tail defects and FR. Regression analysis showed a correlation between double-stranded DNA and fertilization rates [p=O.O4]. The analysis of variance for the mean of double-stranded DNA in cases with FR>50%, FR

[Predictability power of acrosome reaction test in IVF treatment cycles]

It is well known that one of the powerful sperm function tests is the acrosome reaction [AR], which is a prerequisite in the fertilization process. The predictability of sperm fertilizing ability using AR has been suggested for IVF treatment cycles. The aim of study was to assess the power of AR using human follicular fluid [hFF] to predict the fertilization rate [FR] in IVF cycles. This investigation was experimental. During 9 month, 54 different semen samples were collected from infertile men exactly before insemination of retrieved oocytes. Each sample was divided into 4 aliquots and semen analysis [SA] was done on the first aliquot. For Acrosomal reaction, the sperm samples were washed with Ham'sf10 culture media and after 2 hours in 37C[degree sign] incubator, the samples were divided into 3 tubes. The first tube was control, DMSO 1mg/ml was added to the second tube and follicular fluid was added to the third one. The acrosome was stained by double staining method and acrosomal status was examined. The data analysis showed that there are no significant relationships between fertilization, sperm count, fast moving sperms, slow moving sperms, overall sperm motility and morphology. The results also showed that the mean of acrosome reactions in groups with rate 50% were significant [p<0.05]. In addition, using ROC analysis, with cut-off value of 45% for fertilization, a cut-off value of 10.5% was achieved. In order to have a more accurate selection of the method of fertilization, predict the success rate of IVF and prevent possible complications, it is advisable to use acrosome reaction test