Investigation of the association of idiopathic male infertility with polymorphisms in the methionine synthase (MTR) gene / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Spermatogenesis is a complex process that is regulated by a number of genes, some of which are involved in folate-dependent 1-carbon metabolism. Methionine synthase (encoded by MTR) is a key enzyme participating in this pathway. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of the MTR 2756A > G polymorphism with idiopathic male fertility in the Iranian population. METHODS: The participants of this study included 100 men with idiopathic infertility and 100 healthy men as the control group. Genotyping of MTR 2756A > G was performed using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20.0 with a level of confidence of p G single-nucleotide polymorphism is not a predisposing factor for idiopathic infertility in men.

Supplementation of L-carnitine during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes affects expression of genes involved in oocyte and embryo competence: an experimental study

Background: oocyte developmental competence is one of the key factors for determining the success rate of assisted reproductive technique

Objective: the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of L-carnitine [LC] supplementation during in vitro maturation [IVM], on preimplantation embryo development and expression of genes involved in embryo competence derived from oocytes selected with brilliant cresyl blue [BCB] test

Materials and Methods: cumulus-oocyte complexes [COCs] were obtained from NMRI mice ovaries. COCs were stained with BCB and then BCB+ [colored cytoplasm] oocytes cultured in IVM medium supplemented with 0.3 or 0.6 mg/ml LC. COCs untreated with LC were used as control. Fertilization rate and blastocyst development rate were determined after in vitro fertilization. In addition, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to measure relative genes expression related with development [Ccnb1, Mos, Ces5, and Dppa2] and apoptosis [Bax and Bcl-xL] in oocytes and embryos

Results: oocytes treated with both LC concentrations showed higher blastocyst development rate compared with untreated oocytes [p<0.01]. Moreover, fertilization rate was increased in oocytes treated with 0.6 mg/ml LC [p<0.01]. Treatment of oocytes with both LC concentrations increased [p<0.01] the level of Ccnb1 mRNA in MII oocytes. The two-cell stage embryos and blastocysts derived from LC-treated oocytes [0.6 mg/ml] showed increased the expression levels of Dppa2 and Bcl-xl mRNA, respectively [p<0.01]

Conclusion: the results of the present study show that adding of LC to the IVM medium of BCB+ oocytes can ameliorate reproductive success following in vitro fertilization

DNA methylation and histone acetylation patterns in cultured bovine adipose tissue-derived stem cells [BADSCs]

Many studies have focused on the epigenetic characteristics of donor cells to improve somatic cell nuclear transfer [SCNT]. We hypothesized that the epigenetic status and chromatin structure of undifferentiated bovine adipose tissue-derived stem cells [BADSCs] would not remain constant during different passages. The objective of this study was to determine the mRNA expression patterns of DNA methyltransferases [DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b] and histone deacetyltransferses [HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3] in BADSCs. In addition, we compared the measured levels of octamer binding protein-4 expression [OCT4] and acetylation of H3K9 [H3K9ac] in BADSCs cultures and different passages in vitro. In this experimental study, subcutaneous fat was obtained from adult cows immediately post-mortem. Relative level of DNMTs and HDACs was examined using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction [q-PCR], and the level of OCT4 and H3K9ac was analyzed by flow cytometry at passages 3 [P3], 5 [P5] and 7 [P7]. The OCT4 protein level was similar at P3 and P5 but a significant decrease in its level was seen at P7. The highest and lowest levels of H3K9ac were observed at P5 and P7, respectively. At P5, the expression of HDACs and DNMTs was significantly decreased. In contrast, a remarkable increase in the expression of DNMTs was observed at P7. Our data demonstrated that the epigenetic status of BADSCs was variable during culture. The P5 cells showed the highest level of stemness and multipotency and the lowest level of chromatin compaction. Therefore, we suggest that P5 cells may be more efficient for SCNT compared with other passages

[Schizophrenia and ventricular system]

Background: Regarding to the limited clinical possibilities for schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment and the importance of cerebrospinal fluid in it seems study of the relative structures of ventricular system can lead us to the new diagnostic points

Materials and Methods: For this review article we have used through Pub. Med, Yahoo and Google sites following keywords schizophrenia-ventricular system-lat ventricle -third ventricle -fourth ventricle -sylvian canal-cerebrospinal fluid-mesencephalic duct-caudate nucleus-amygdaloid between 1 99Oand 2001 years. The study was focused on anatomical findings

Results: In the related structures of ventricular systems cytological changes in thalamus , basal ganglia and hipochampus, fractional anizotropy induction in corpus callosum, cerebellar supersensitivity was found

Conclusion: Regard to recent new findings of periventricular spaces theses anatomical focuses may be useful for new research on diagnosis and treatment of shizophrenia

[Schizophrenia and ventricular system]

Backgroud: Regarding to the limited clinical possibilities for schizophrenia diagnosis and treatment and the importance of cerebrospinal fluid in it, it seems study of the relative structures of ventricular system can lead us to the new diagnostic points

Materials and Methods: For this review article we have used through Pub. Med, Yahoo and Google sites following keywords: schizophrenia-ventricular system-lat ventricle -third ventricle -fourth ventricle -sylvian canal-cerebrospinal fluid-mesencephalic duct-caudate nucleus-amygdaloid between 1990 and 2001 years. The study was focused on anatomical findings

Results: In the related structures of ventricular systems cytological changes in thalamus , basal ganglia and hipochampus, fractional anizotropy induction in corpus callosum, cerebellar supersensitivity was found

Conclusion: Regard to recent new findings of periventricular spaces theses anatomical focuses may be useful for new research on diagnosis and treatment of shizophrenia