ABSTRACT
Ovulation induction by gonadotropin in in-vitro fertilization [IVF] program results in luteal phase defect [LPD]. Luteal support therapies are considered to be important treatment to support the implantation of transferred superovulated and IVF embryos. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect luteal support protocols [LSP] on embryo implantation of 2-cell, 4-cell, and 8-cell and morulae following superovulation and embryo transfer as an animal model for human embryo transfer. Mature healthy hamsters were superovulated by human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG] and human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG]. Embryo transfer was performed on day 6 of the cycle. The LSP consisted of 0.04 mg progesterone [P]/day, injected intramuscularly [LM, protocol one] and 0.04 mg P plus 2.5 international units [I. U.] hCG/72 hours [Protocol two] and 0.04 mg P plus 2.5 IV plus 0.20 mg/ day intraperitoneal injection of aspirin. All the luteal support protocols started from day 5 to day 16 of the cycle. The animals were divided in to a control and treated groups. The control and treated groups were subdivided into subgroups according to embryo developmental stages [2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell and morulae]. Superovulation [SO] caused a significant [P<0.01] increase in the number of morphologically abnormal embryos compared to the control group. The implantation rates of the SO embryos were significantly [P<0.05] decreased compared to the control group. The implantation rates of the 8-cell and morula embryos of the SO group were significantly higher than the 1-cell and 2-cell embryos in protocol's one, two and three. Significantly higher implantation rates of all the embryo stages were observed in protocol three compared to protocols two and one. It was concluded from the results of the study that SO markedly affected luteal function of the corpus luteum and reduced embryo implantation. Luteal support protocols particularly supplementation of progesterone with HCG and aspirin resulted in significant improvements in the implantation of 2-cell, 4-cell, 8-cell and morula embryos
ABSTRACT
The infertility affects about 20% to 28% of Iraqi population and the primary and secondary infertility cover 80% and 20% of infertility cases respectively. It has been shown that the major male infertility factors include oligospermia, astheno-spermia, teratospermia and azoospermia. The objective of this study was to compare the fertilizing capacity, in vitro embryonic developmental rate and embryo implantation following the use of epididymal, testicular, and ejaculated sperm in azoospermic and severely teratospermic men. The males in experiment one were divided into three groups, severely teratospermic group [STSG, n=44], azoospermic-epididymal group [ASEG, n=35] and azoospermic-testicular group [ASTG, n=40]. In experiment two the azoospermic patients were divided into two groups, obstructive [OASG, n=35] and non-obstructive [NASG, n=42]. Both groups were underwent testicular extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [TESE-ICSI] treatments. Concentration of FSH, LH, prolactin was significantly higher in non-obstructive group compared to obstructive group [P<0.001]. The concentrations of testosterone and the volume of the testes were significantly higher in the obstructive group versus non-obstructive group [P <0.01]. Percentages of the fertilizable oocytes and the number of the transferred embryos per patient in the ASTG group were significantly lower compared to STSG and ASEG groups. The pregnancy and implantation rates were not significantly different in the STSG, A[S]SEG, and ASTG groups. ICSI rate and embryo developmental rate and the number of the transferred embryos per patient were significantly lower in the non-obstructive group [NASG] compared to the obstructive group [OASG] Pregnancy and viable fetus percentages were similar between both groups [P>0.05]. Sources of sperm retrieval found to have no effect on embryo implantation and pregnancy rates when viable sperm are available for ICSI. Pregnancy and viable gestation sac percentages were not affected by the etiology of azoospermia in either obstructive, or nonobstructive with focal areas of spermatogenesis were present in testes of azoospermic men