Comparison of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in infertile men with spermatogenic impairment of differing severity / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The extent of spermatogenic impairment on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes and the risk of major birth defects have been little assessed. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between various spermatogenic conditions, sperm origin on ICSI outcomes, and major birth defects. A total of 934 infertile men attending the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Ren Ji Hospital (Shanghai, China) were classified into six groups: nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA; n = 84), extremely severe oligozoospermia (esOZ; n = 163), severe oligozoospermia (sOZ, n = 174), mild oligozoospermia (mOZ; n = 148), obstructive azoospermia (OAZ; n = 155), and normozoospermia (NZ; n = 210). Rates of fertilization, embryo cleavage, high-quality embryos, implantation, biochemical and clinical pregnancies, abortion, delivery, newborns, as well as major birth malformations, and other newborn outcomes were analyzed and compared among groups. The NOA group showed a statistically lower fertilization rate (68.2% vs esOZ 77.3%, sOZ 78.0%, mOZ 73.8%, OAZ 76.6%, and NZ 79.3%, all P < 0.05), but a significantly higher implantation rate (37.8%) than the groups esOZ (30.1%), sOZ (30.4%), mOZ (32.6%), and OAZ (31.0%) (all P < 0.05), which was similar to that of Group NZ (38.4%). However, there were no statistically significant differences in rates of embryo cleavage, high-quality embryos, biochemical and clinical pregnancies, abortions, deliveries, major birth malformations, and other newborn outcomes in the six groups. The results showed that NOA only negatively affects some embryological outcomes such as fertilization rate. There was no evidence of differences in other embryological and clinical outcomes with respect to sperm source or spermatogenic status. Spermatogenic failure and sperm origins do not impinge on the clinical outcomes in ICSI treatment.

Pre-freezing equilibration improves post-thaw human semen parameters / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of pre-freezing equilibration on the cryo-survival of human sperm and to optimize the protocol of direct fumigation for the freeze-thawing of human sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected 50 semen samples from healthy donors, each subjected to cryopreservation with 3 different methods: non-equilibration freezing (Group A), 10-min equilibration at room temperature before freezing (Group B), and 10-min equilibration at 4 degrees C before freezing (Group C). We examined all the post-thaw semen samples by computer-assisted semen analysis for the sperm motility parameters, and detected the sperm vitality and deformity index (SDI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recovery rate of progressive sperm motility was (61.88 +/- 16.94)% in Group C, remarkably higher than in A ([48.61 +/- 16.44]%) and B ([49.41 +/- 13.77]%) (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two. And there were no significant differences in sperm vitality and SDI among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ten-minute equilibration at 4 degrees C before freezing can evidently improve the progressive motility of sperm in addition to its advantages of easy operation and controllable experimental condition.</p>

Desert hedgehog regulates the proliferation and differentiation of Leydig cells: an update / 中华男科学杂志

Hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating the development of endocrine glands. Desert hedgehog (Dhh) has become a recent focus for its regulation of testis development, especially of Leydig cells. Dhh, as a Sertoli cell product, regulates the proliferation and differentiation of Leydig cell lineage and functions to secrete testosterone through a paracrine signaling mechanism. Testosterone, as the most important sex hormone of the male, plays a critical role in testis development, spermatogenesis and maintenance of normal masculinization. Therefore, normal Dhh signaling pathway ensures normal spermatogenic function. Researches on the Hedgehog signaling pathway in the testis have a potential significance for studying the pathophysiological mechanisms of androgen deficiency and dyszoospermia, as well as for the clinical treatment of these diseases.

Reconstructed seminiferous tubules from ectopic grafting of testicular cells / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the ectopic grafts of mouse testicular cells by observing the reconstruction of seminiferous tubules, colonization of spermatogenic cells and spermatogenesis using immunodeficient mice as recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The testes of newborn male ICR mice were digested to obtain single cell suspension. The cells were then mixed with matrigel and subcutaneously grafted into the dorsal region of the male nude mice. The mice were castrated after the operation and the grafts were dissected from 5 of the nude mice at 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks, respectively. The success rates of transplantation and the graft diameters were calculated, and the structure of the reconstituted seminiferous tubules, colonization of the germ cells and spermatogenesis were observed by HE staining and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the mice recipients survived after the testicular cell transplantation. Within 10 weeks after the operation, tissue masses could be observed, with the diameter increased from (3.91 +/- 0.71) mm at 4 weeks to (6.69 +/- 0.50) mm. Neovascularization was detected at the surface of the masses and seminiferous tubule structures found in the grafts. The germ cells that developed from spermatogonia to round spermatids were observed, but with no sperm in the tubules. Germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells were identified by immunochemical detection of Mvh, Gata4 and P450Scc in the grafts at 8 weeks.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Seminiferous tubules could be ectopically reconstructed from suspension of neonatal mouse testicular cells. Ectopic grafting provided a preferable model for the studies on testis tissue engineering and interactions between testicular cells during testicular development and spermatogenesis.</p>