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@#Background: Vitrification is a routine procedure in assisted reproductive technique (ART) lab. However, there is widespread variability between protocols of different centres. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates between one-day embryo culture and immediate transfer for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods: In this cohort retrospective study, 366 FET cycles were divided into two groups: Group A, the embryos were warmed one day before transfer, and were cultured overnight; Group B, the embryos were warmed on the same day of transfer, at least were cultured 1 h before embryo transfer (ET). Chemical and clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were compared between two groups. Results: The chemical pregnancy was higher in group A than B (37.9% versus 28.9%), but this difference was not significant (P = 0.07). Clinical pregnancy (30.8% versus 24.1%) and live birth (19.8% versus 22.05%) were similar in group A and B, (P = 0.15), and (P = 0.8). Conclusion: In conclusion, overnight culture and confirmation of mitosis resumption was not essential for FET cycles in vitrification method.
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Background: methamphetamine [MA] was shown to have harmful effects on male reproductive system
Objective: to investigate probable effects of daily administration of MA on sperm parameters and chromatin/DNA integrity in mouse
Material and Methods: thirty-five NMRI male mice were divided into five groups including low, medium, and high dosage groups which were injected intraperitoneally with 4, 8 and 15 mg/kg/day for 35 days, respectively. Normal saline was injected in sham group and no medications were used in control group. Then, the mice were killed and caudal epididymis of each animal was cut and placed in Ham's F10 medium for sperm retrieval. To evaluate sperm chromatin abnormalities, the aniline blue, toluidine blue and chromomycine A3 were used. For sperm DNA integrity and apoptosis, the acridine orange, sperm chromatin dispersion, and TUNEL assay were applied. For sperm morphology, Papanicolaou staining was done
Results: normal morphology and progressive motility of spermatozoa decreased in medium and high dosage groups in comparison with the control group [p=0.035]. There was a significant increase in rate of aniline blue, toluidine blue, and chromomycine A3 positive spermatozoa in high dosage group. In a similar manner, there was an increase in rates of acridine orange, TUNEL and sperm chromatin dispersion positive sperm cells in high dosage group with respect to others
Conclusion: MA abuse in a dose-dependent manner could have detrimental effects on male reproductive indices including sperm parameters and sperm chromatin/DNA integrity in mice
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OBJECTIVE: Embryo loading (EL) is a major step in embryo transfer (ET) and affect on the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aimed to compare the effect of two different EL techniques on the rates of pregnancy and delivery in IVF/ET cycles. METHODS: 207 fresh ET and 194 Frozen-thawed ET (FET) cycles were included in this retrospective study. Two groups (A and B) were defined based on the EL technique used. In group A, the entire catheter was flushed with Ham's F-10 medium. The embryos were then drawn into the catheter using one air bracket. In group B, 70 microL of air was aspirated into the syringe and the catheter was flushed using Ham's F10 medium. The medium, air, embryos, air, and finally another layer of medium were then sequentially drawn into the catheter. The main outcome measures were the pregnancy and delivery rates. RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to the etiology of infertility, the source of spermatozoa, the quality of the embryos, the type of EL catheter, and the ease of transfer. The pregnancy rate was similar between two groups. In fresh ET cycles, a higher delivery rate was observed in group B than it group A (78.1% vs. 60%, p=0.1). In FET cycles, the rate of delivery was significantly higher in group B than in group A to a nonsignificant extent (88.9% vs. 58.8%, p=0.06). CONCLUSION: EL techniques did not have a significant impact on the delivery rate in either fresh or FET cycles.
Subject(s)
Pregnancy , Catheters , Embryo Transfer , Embryonic Structures , Fertilization in Vitro , Infertility , Live Birth , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pregnancy Rate , Retrospective Studies , Spermatozoa , SyringesABSTRACT
Cyclophosphamide is a chemo-therapeutic agent used in the treatment of various cancers and autoimmune diseases. This composition has cytotoxic and clastogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of methanol extracts of Thymus vulgaris L. against DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide in mouse bone marrow cells by the micronucleus test. The extract concentrations of 375, 750, 1500 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally [Ip] into mice for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the last injection, cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg Ip was injected. 24 hours after cyclophosphamide injection, the animals were killed and the samples of bone marrow were prepared and stained using the standard methods. For each sample, 1000 cells of polychromatic erythrocytes [PCE] and the same number of normochromatic erythrocyte [NCE] and the cells containing their micronucleus were counted. Cyclophosphamide increased the frequency of micronuclei polychromatic erythrocytes [MnPCE] and decreased cell proliferation [PCE/PCE+NCE]. All doses of extracts significantly reduced the micronucleus frequency ratio [P<0.05]. The cells proliferation ratio [PCE/PCE+NCE] was also increased. The best effect in reducing the micronucleus frequency was at 1500 mg/kg dosage. Thymus extract is able to reduce the clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of cyclophosphamide, due to its antioxidant properties, playing a protective role
ABSTRACT
In vitro maturation [IVM] of immature oocytes collected from ovary has been proposed for fertility preservation. In addition, quality of oocytes post IVM is one of the factors determining its developmental competence. By using the non-invasive Polscope system, both meiotic spindle [MS] and zona pellucida [ZP] can be assessed in living oocytes. The aim was to investigate the developmental potential of immature oocytes retrieved from ovarian tissue after IVM, as a method for fertility preservation, in patients with gynecological diseases. The ovarian cortex from 26 patients with malignant and benign diseases [21-45 years old], were obtained directly from collaborating hospitals, and transported to the IVF center on ice. In total 61 immature oocytes were aspirated, of which 18 [29.5%] were degenerated and discarded. The remaining 43 [70.5%] healthy oocytes were cultured in IVM culture media for 48 hr. The rate of maturity was assessed, and the ZP birefringence and MS were imaged with Polscope technology. Overall 43 immature oocytes underwent IVM technology, of which 30.2% reached viable metaphase II [MII] oocytes. The ovarian tissues of 9 [34.6%] women were lacking oocytes at any stage. During polarized light microscopy examination, MS could be visualized only in one of the MII oocytes, but high ZP birefringence's were observed in the majority of the oocytes post IVM [61.5%]. Oocytes maturation post IVM from unstimulated ovaries showed a good developmental competence in gynecologic patients. Further studies should be performed to advance the oocyte maturation program, such as co-culture system, for fertility preservation
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Saccharin is an artificial non-caloric sweetener that used to sweeten products such as drinks, candies, medicines, and toothpaste, but our bodies cannot metabolize it. Sodium saccharin is considered as an important factor in tumor promotion in male rats but not in humans. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of saccharin consumption on sperm parameters and apoptosis in adult mice. Totally 14 adult male mice were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 served as control fed on basal diet and group 2 or experimental animals received distilled water containing saccharin [0.2% w/v] for 35 days. After that, the left cauda epididymis of each mouse was cut and placed in Ham's F10. Swimmed-out spermatozoa were used to analyze count, motility, morphology [Pap-staining] and viability [eosin-Y staining]. Sperm DNA integrity, as an indicator of apoptosis, was assessed by SCD [sperm chromatin dispersion] and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TUNEL] assay. Following saccharin consumption, we had a reduction in sperm motility with respect to control animals [p=0.000]. In addition, the sperm count diminished [17.70 +/- 1.11 in controls vs. 12.80 +/- 2.79 in case group, p=0.003] and the rate of sperm normal morphology decreased from 77.00 +/- 6.40 in control animals into 63.85 +/- 6.81 in saccharin-treated mice [p=0.001]. Also, we saw a statistically significant increase in rates of sperm DNA damage and apoptosis in experimental group when compared to control one [p=0.001, p=0.002 respectively]. Saccharin consumption may have negative effects on sperm parameters, and increases the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in mice
ABSTRACT
In vitro maturation [IVM] is a promising treatment option for certain infertile women. Nowadays, with the aid of PolScope, it has become possible to evaluate zona pellucida [ZP] characteristics as a parameter of oocyte quality. Moreover, quality of oocytes can be influenced by many factors, such as patient's age. The PolScope system is a non-invasive technique to assess birefringent structures such as the meiotic spindle and ZP in living oocytes. The aim was to determine the influence of the woman's age on ZP birefringence, a sign of oocyte quality, and morphology of in-vitro matured human oocytes using non-invasive polarized light [PolScope] microscopy. ZP birefringence and morphology were determined in 105 retrieved oocytes from 58 women undergoing ICSI in two age groups [>/= 30 years and <30 years]. The immature oocytes were selected and after IVM, the quality of metaphase II [MII] oocytes was assessed. The oocytes abnormalities were classified as intracytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic abnormalities. Oocyte maturation rates were significantly reduced in >/= 30 year's women [56%] in comparison with other age group [80.7%]. In addition, the ZP birefringence was significantly higher in MII oocytes in the younger group compared with the older group [76.2% vs.38.1%; p=0.00]. Following morphologic assessment, the rates of oocytes with extracytoplasmic [p=0.02] and both abnormalities [extra- and intracytoplasmic] [p=0.01] were higher in aged versus the younger women. There was a positive relationship between advanced maternal age with decreased ZP birefringence and oocyte morphological quality in in-vitro matured human oocytes