ABSTRACT
A variety of natural and artificial cryoprotectant extenders have been explored to enhance sperm recovery following cryopreservation-thawing process.The current investigation is aimed at evaluating the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine on human spermatozoa and reactive species oxygen (ROS) level after freezing-thawing process.The spermatozoa were collected from 35 male patients diagnosed as having asthenospermia.The cryopreservation of human spermatozoa treated with acetyl-L-camitine at different concentrations (group B:2.5 mmol/L,group C:7.5 mmol/L,group D:15 mmol/L) was compared with control (group A:no acetyl-L-carnitine given).For the frozen-thawed spermatozoa,the viability,motility and DNA integrity were measured by comet assay,acrosome integrity by FITC-PNA staining and ROS level was determined in each group.The results showed that there were no significant differences in motility and viability between group A and group B,while the motility and viability of spermatozoa in group C and group D were significantly increased as compared with those in group A.As compared with group A,the values for DNA integrity parameters including comet rate (CR),tail DNA percentage (TD),tail length (TL) and Oliver tail moment (OTM) were significantly reduced in group C and group D.Group C and group D also displayed a higher proportion of intact acrosome than group A.No significant difference in ROS level was found between group A and group B,while with the increase in acetyl-L-camitine concentration,the ROS level in groups C and D was significantly reduced as compared with that in group A.In conclusion,acetyl-L-camitine at a concentration of 7.5 mmol/L is an effective antioxidant against cryo-damage on post-thawed human spermatozoa.
ABSTRACT
The impact of prior cesarean section (CS) on the pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) was investigated.A retrospective analysis was performed on 144 patients with prior CS between January 2013 and December 2015.The pregnancy,delivery,and neonatal outcomes of patients who had previous CS delivery and received IVF-ET were analyzed.The control group comprised 166 patients who had only previous vaginal delivery (VD) and received IVF-ET during the same period.The results showed that the basal follicle stimulating hormone level,estradiol level on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) day,gonadotrophin dosage,duration of stimulation,retrieved oocytes,fertilization rate,high-quality embryo rate,multiple birth rate,abortion rate and ectopic pregnancy rate had no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).The pregnancy rate (40.28％ vs.54.22％) and implantation rate (24.01％ vs.34.67％) were significantly lower (P＜0.05),and the ratio of embryo difficulty transfer (9/144 vs.0/166) was significantly higher in CS group than in VD group.The risk of pernicious placenta previa and postpartum hemorrhage in twin deliveries was significantly increased in CS group as compared with that in VD group (P＜0.05),and gestational age and neonatal birth weight were significantly reduced in twin deliveries as compared with singleton deliveries in both groups (P＜0.05).It was suggested that the existence of CS scar may impact embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy outcome,and increase the difficulty of ET.We should limit the number of transfer embryos to avoid multiple pregnancies and strengthen gestational supervision in patients with cesarean scar.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the abnormal expression of ATP synthase β-subunit (ATPsyn-β) in pancreas islets of rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM),and the secretion function changes after up-regulation of ATP5b.Sixty female SD rats were divided into three groups randomly and equally.The rat model of PCOS with T2DM was established by free access to the high-carbohydrate/high-fat diet,subcutaneous injections of DHEA,and a single injection of streptozotocin.The pancreas was removed for the detection of the ATPsyn-β expression by immunohistochemical staining,Western blotting and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).The pancreas islets of the rats were cultured,isolated with collagenase Ⅴ and purified by gradient centrifugation,and the insulin secretion after treatment with different glucose concentrations was tested.Lentivirus ATP5b was successfully constructed with the vector of GV208 and transfected into the pancreas islets for the over-expression of ATPsyn-β.The insulin secretion and intracellular ATP content were determined after transfection of the PCOS-T2DM pancreas islets with Lenti-ATP5b.The results showed that the expression of ATPsyn-β protein and mRNA was significantly decreased in the pancreas of PCOS-T2DM rats.The ATP content in the pancreas islets was greatly increased and the insulin secretion was improved after the up-regulation of ATPsyn-β in the pancreas islets transfected with lenti-ATP5b.These results indicated that for PCOS,the ATPsyn-β might be one of the key factors for the attack of T2DM.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and underlying mechanisms of Zhuyun Recipe (ZR) on the endometrial receptivity in ovarian stimulation (OS) and blastocyst implantation dysfunction (BID) mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 200 normal female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, i. e., the control group (Group A), the OS group (Group B), the OS + ZR group (Group C), the BID group (Group D), the BID + ZR group (Group E), and the ZR group (Group F). The pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were intraperitoneally injected to mice in Group B. Mifepristone was subcutaneously injected to mice in Group D at 9:00 am on the 4th gestation day. Corresponding medications were given to mice in Group C, E, and F at 1.5 mL/100 g by gastrogavage at 8:00 am from the first to the 4th gestation day. Eight uterus samples were collected at 9:00 pm on the 4th gestation day and fixed. The expression levels of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and integrin beta3 were detected using immunohistochemical assay. The pregnant mice were sacrificed at 9:30 pm on the 8th gestation day, and their uterus were taken out. The number of blastocysts was counted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with Group A, the pregnant rate was 6.67% (1/15 cases) in Group B and 18.75% (3/16 cases) in Group D, the mean OD value of LIF was 0. 18 +/- 0.02 in Group B and 0.23 +/- 0.02 in Group D, and the mean OD value of integrin beta3 was 0.20 +/- 0.05 in Group B and 0.19 +/- 0. 02 in Group D, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The pregnant rate was 54.55% (12/22 cases) in Group C and 65. 22% (15/23 cases) in Group E, the mean OD value of LIF was 0.37 +/- 0. 09 in Group C and 0.39 +/- 0.02 in Group E, and the mean OD value of integrin beta3 was 0.34 +/- 0.04 in Group C and 0.38 +/- 0.08 in Group E, showing statistical difference when compared with those of Group B and Group D respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>OS and BID had negative effects on the endometrial receptivity and hindered the blastocyst implantation. ZR could improve the uterine receptivity and elevate the pregnant rate by up-regulating the expressions of endometrial LIF and integrin beta3.</p>