Combined effect of trolox and EDTA on frozen-thawed sperm quality

The freezing and thawing process not only is associated with serious damage to sperm such as damage to the plasma membrane and the acrosomal membrane but also changes the membrane permeability to some ions including calcium. Also, the generation of oxygen free radicals is increased during the freezing-thawing process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate of the effects of Trolox as an antioxidant and edetic acid [EDTA] as a calcium chelator on frozen-thawed [FT] sperm and compare these effects with those on fresh sperm. This study was done on these men of 25 healthy men, who referred to Shiraz Infertility Centerbetween 2012 and 2013. Normal samples were transferred to the ReproductivePhysiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz. The samples were divided into two groups randomly: fresh and FT sperm groups. Each group was divided into five subgroups: control group, the solvent group [0.1%dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]], Trolox group [200microM], EDTA group [1 .ImM], and Trolox+EDTA group. The percentages of motility, viability, and acrosome-reacted sperm were tested. The percentages of motility and viability in the FT sperm were lower than those in the fresh sperm. The progressive motility of the FT sperm was improved nonsignificantly with Trolox+EDTA. However, the effect of Trolox+EDTA on the progressive motility of the FT sperm was much more than that on the fresh sperm. The fewest acrosome-reacted sperm were observed in the EDTA-containing FT sperm. Antioxidant supplementation or omission of extracellular calcium may partly improve motility and also reduce acrosomal damage in FT sperm

Reproductive outcome following thawed embryo transfer in management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

The purpose of the study was to compare clinical pregnancy and delivery rates with fresh and frozen embryo transfer in patients admitted to Shiraz- Human Assisted Reproductive Center with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome [OHSS]. OHSS patients randomly divided in two groups, group A [n=50] with fresh embryo transfer and group B [n=50] with frozen embryo transfer. We used vitrification method for freezing the embryos. Patient age, combination of female and male factors, total number of retrieved oocytes, number of cryopreserved embryo, number of transferred embryos, clinical pregnancy and delivery rates were recorded for all patients. All statistical calculations were done using SPSS software. Generalized linear model was used to adjust the confounding factors to compare the clinical pregnancy and delivery rates between two groups. The p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean [ +/- SD] ages of these patients were 26.78 +/- 3.5 and 28.42 +/- 4.2 yrs in fresh [A] and frozen [B] embryo transfer groups respectively. Combinations of male and female factors were 28.3% and 32.1% respectively. Average numbers of oocytes retrieved in two groups were 22.14 +/- 4.3 and 21.02 +/- 4.9, and after fertilization, embryos cryopreserved per patient yielded averages of 13.82 +/- 3.5 and 12.5 +/- 4.3. Thaw and ET were performed and the means for transferred embryos were 3.22 +/- 0.6 and 4.1 +/- 0.7. We didn't find any significant differences in implicit parameters between the two groups. The pregnancy and delivery rates in OHSS patients were significantly higher in frozen embryo transfer, 63.1% and 45.6%, compared with fresh embryo transfer, 55.1% and 35.4%, respectively. The pregnancy and delivery rates in OHSS cases, both fresh and subsequently with frozen embryo transfer, were exceptionally high. There was statistically significant difference of pregnancy and delivery rates between fresh and frozen embryo transfer. As a result, an elective embryo freezing policy to moderate the severity and duration of OHSS has compromising outcomes for women at risk of OHSS

effects of laser assisted hatching on pregnancy rates

For infertile women aged over 35 years, failure of the ZP [zona pellucida] to rupture is believed to be associated with a decreased implantation rate in vitro fertilization [IVF] or intra cytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]. In this research, laser assisted hatching [LAH] was offered to patients with advanced maternal age to evaluate a possible benefit. Nine hundred thirty two cycles of IVF/ICSI in females were analyzed. Women included in this study were allocated in 4 groups. In group I and II, embryos were cultured and transferred with and without LAH in women aged /= 35. Laser manipulations were performed using a suturn-Tm3 system using 2-3 pulses of 0.8 millisecond with 400 voltage duration. The size of the hole made in the zona was measured to be 5-10 micro m, depending on the zona thickness of each individual embryo. The performance of LAH significantly increased clinical pregnancy rates in all patients. In group I and II, the chemical [50.99% and 31.61% respectively], clinical [50% and 30.69% respectively] and multiple pregnancies [22.27% and 5.94% respectively] significantly differ between these groups. In the patients with advanced female age >/= 35 the performance of LAH significantly increased chemical [30.12%] and clinical pregnancy [27.71%] rates compared to whom without LAH [18.96% and 16.37% respectively]. Our data demonstrate in the patients who were less than 35 years old, multiple pregnancy rates were significantly increased compared to other groups who aged over 35 years old. In addition benefit of LAH in improving pregnancy rates after IVF or ICSI in women of advanced age [>/= 35] was shown