ABSTRACT
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
ABSTRACT
Background: The majority of male patients with spinal cord injury [SCI] suffer from infertility. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors NOD-like receptors [NLRs] are a kind of receptors that corporate in the inflammasome complex. Recent studies have introduced the inflammasome as the responsible agent for secreting cytokines in semen. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is one of the elements that trigger inflammasome activation. Genital infections in SCI can lead to ROS generation. We investigated the relation between lipid peroxidation and inflammasome complex activity in testicular tissue of SCI rats
Methods: Adult male rats [n=20], weighting 200- 250 g, were included and divided into four groups: three experimental groups, including SCI1, SCI3, and SCI7, i.e. the rats were subjected to SCI procedure and sacrificed after one, three, and seven days, respectively and a control group. We performed a moderate, midline spinal contusion injury at thoracic level 10. The animals were anesthetized, and testes were collected for measurement of gene expression by real-time PCR. Caudal parts of epididymis were collected for malondialdehyde [MDA] measurement
Results: No NLRP1a mRNA overexpression was seen in the testes of control and SCI groups. After seven days from SCI surgery, NLRP3 mRNA expression was significantly increased in SCI7 animals [p
Conclusion: NLRP3 overexpression occurs due to the increased ROS production in testis tissue of SCI rats
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Infertility , Lipid Peroxidation/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein , Reactive Oxygen Species , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Gene Expression , Testis , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Background: A decrease in aneuploidy rate following a prolonged co-culture of human blastocysts has been reported. As co-culture is not routinely used in assisted reproductive technology, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the prolonged single culture on the rate of diploid cells in human embryos with aneuploidies
Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] to reanalyze surplus blastocysts undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis [PGD] on day 3 postfertilization. They were randomly studied on days 6 or 7 following fertilization
Results: Of the 30 analyzed blastocysts, mosaicism was observed in 26[86.6%], while 2[6.7%] were diploid, and 2[6.7%] were triploid. Of those with mosaicism, 23[88.5%] were determined to be diploid-aneuploid and 3[11.5%] were aneuploid mosaic. The total frequency of embryos with more than 50% diploid cells was 33.3% that was lower on day 7 in comparison with the related value on day 6 [P<0.05]; however, there were no differences when the embryos were classified according to maternal age, blastocyst developmental stage, total cell number on day 3, and embryo quality
Conclusion: Although mosaicism is frequently observed in blastocysts, the prolonged single culture of blastocysts does not seem to increase the rate of normal cells
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ISM1 culture medium on embryo development, quality and outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection [IVF/ICSI] cycles. This study compares culture medium commonly used in the laboratory setting for oocyte recovery and embryo development with a medium from MediCult. We have assessed the effects of these media on embryo development and newborn characteristics. In this prospective randomized study, fertilized oocytes from patients were randomly assigned to culture in ISM1 [MediCult, cycles: n=293] or routine lab culture medium [G-1[TM]v5; Vitrolife, cycles: n=290] according to the daily media schedule for oocyte retrieval. IVF or ICSI and embryo transfer were performed with either MediCult media or routine lab media. Embryo quality on days 2/3, cleavage, pregnancy and implantation rates, baby take home rate [BTHR], in addition to the weight and length of newborns were compared between groups. There were similar cleavage rates for ISM1 [86%] vs. G-1[TM] v5 [88%]. We observed a significantly higher percentage of excellent embryos in ISM1 [42.7%] compared to G-1[TM] v5 [39%, p<0.05]. Babies born after culture in ISM1 had both higher birth weight [3.03 kg] and length [48.8 cm] compared to G-1[TM] v5 babies that had a birth weight of 2.66 kg and a length of 46.0 cm [p<0.001 for both]. This study suggests that ISM1 is a more effective culture medium in generating higher quality embryos, which may be reflected in the characteristics of babies at birth
ABSTRACT
Nitric oxide [NO] involves in polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], a cause of infertility in women during the reproductive age. The PCOS is now categorized as an inflammatory phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of NO, a proinflammatory agent, in this syndrome at histological and biochemical levels. In this experimental study, animals were female Wistar rats [weighing 200-250 g] kept under standard conditions. L-Arginine [50-200 mg/kg], a precursor of NO, was injected intra-peritoneally [i.p.] through a period ranging from 9 to14 days/ once a day. The rats' estrous cycle was studied using Papanicolaou test; those showing phase of Diestrous were grouped into experimental and control groups. The control group solely received saline [1 ml/kg, i.p.] throughout all experiments. To evaluate the inflammatory effect of NO, the rats were treated an anti-inflammatory agent, naloxone hydrochloride [0.4 mg/kg, i.p.], prior to L-arginine. At the end of the treatment period all animals' ovaries were assessed for histopathological and histochemical investigations. Also, activation of NO synthase [NOS] in the experiments was studied using NADPH-diaphorase technique. The ovaries of rats treated with L-arginine showed polycystic characteristics in contrast to those collected from control or naloxone pretreated groups, based on image analysis. A difference in enzyme activation was also shown in the sections that belonged to the groups that received L-arginine when compared with the pre-naloxone and control groups. Based on these results, we believe that NO may play a major role in the pathophysiology of PCOS
ABSTRACT
DEHP [di[2-ethylhexyl] phthalate]] is widely used in plastic industry and some reproductive toxicity has been shown with it. So, this study was designed to evaluate DEHP effects on resumption of meiosis and in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes as well as development of embryos resulted from them. Mice of 4-6 weeks old were administered daily doses of 50, 100, 200 microl of 2.56 micro M DEHP solution for 12 days. Immature mouse oocytes were recovered from all experimental groups and matured in MEM-alpha medium containing 5% FCS with and without 7.5 IU hCG and 100 mIU rFSH. IVF was performed T6 medium. Resumption of meiosis and in vitro maturation were significantly lower in all experimental groups in culture media without hormones compared to controls. Fertilization and embryo development were also significantly decreased in both culture media [with and without hormones]. This study showed the adverse effects of DEHP on in vitro maturation and embryo development in a dose dependent manner