[Effect of PPAR gamma His447His polymorphism on oocytes and fertilization in IVF]

Genetic factors play an important role in women fertility and embryonic development which may contribute to the efficacy of assisted reproduction techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPAR gamma] His447His polymorphism on oocytes and fertilization in women undergoing IVF. Blood samples were obtained from 98 IVF patients referred to Tabriz Alzahra Hospital. Samples were analyzed for the PPAR gamma gene polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based methods. Multivariate analyses were used to test the independence of associations between the number of mature oocytes and the number of oocytes fertilized as outcome variables and polymorphism of PPARy gene. Correlation analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between the age of women and the number of mature oocytes retrieved [r=-0.37, P<0.001] and oocytes fertilizaed [r=-0.25, P=0.015]. The ratio of the number of mature oocytes to oocytes fertilizaed was significantly [P<0.05] increased in carriers of the rare alleles than homozygous wild-type genotypes. The association of His447His polymorphism [P=0.003] remained statistically significant after adjustment for confounding factors in the multivariate analyses. This study presents evidences that the His447His polymorphism of PPAR gamma plays an important independent role in fertilization in vitro and thus possibly in female fertility

Serological ELISA test [IgM and IgG] for prospective study of cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection in pregnant women

Cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection is associated with significant maternal and fetal consequences. The aim of present study was to determine the current prenatal CMV seroprevalence in Eastern Azerbaijan and evaluate the routine laboratory diagnostic techniques of anti-CMV immunoglobulin M [IgM] and immunoglobulin G [IgG]. During the present prospective cross-sectional study, 125 women referred to No.1 Laboratory of Specialized Clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and seeking prenatal care were evaluated during 2003-2006. CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were determined with ELISA techniques. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package version 13.0. Eight four percent of the subjects were seropositive. Out of 20 subjects with primary seronegativity, 12 [9.6%] remind seronegative during reexaminations and follow up, but eight [6.4%] subjects showed primary infection in the second to third trimesters of gestation. In two [1.6%] of these eight subjects, IgM was persisted for more than 20 months. Results showed a similar seroprevalence of CMV in Eastern Azerbaijan. Also, we found that ELISA IgM test was not an appropriate method for differentiation of past or recent CMV infections especially in the pregnant women

Morphometrie study of GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG effects on infrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium in early luteal phase

GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG administration are common protocol for ovulation induction in assisted reproductive technology [ART]. Since implantation rate in stimulated ART cycles is lower than unstimulated cycles and as endometrium plays an important role in embryo receptivity, effect of this protocol on the ultrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium was studied at LH 4 [embryo transfer time]. In this research endometrial biopsies were obtained from fertile women as well as infertile women who had undergone this protocol at LH 4. Quantitative and qualitative studies on endometrial glandular epithelium was performed by transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and morphometry and the results were statistically compared between the two groups. Qualitative results revealed presence of nuclear channel system [NCS], sub vacuole of glycogen and giant mitochondria [GM] in both groups. Similarly, in quantitative analysis, the volume fractions [Vv] of glycogen, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum to cell and also the Vv of euchromatin to nucleus were statistically not different [P> 0.05]. These results suggest that ovulation induction by GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG are not associated with advanced endometrial development and consequently, embryo transfer at this stage [before advanced endometrial development which occurs normally at LH 7 to LH 10] may cause a lower rate of implantation

Effects of IL 6 on steroidogenesis of human granulosa cells in vitro

Recent studies suggest that in addition to gonadotropins, immunological factors, such as cytokines play an important role in production of steroid hormones. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of IL-6 on basal and FSH stimulated secretions of estradiol and progesterone in the presence of androstendione by human granulosa cells [GC] in vitro. Graunlosa cells were harvested at the time of follicular aspiration after ovarian hyperstimulation according to standard protocols with hMG from patients undergoing IVFET. The cells [2 X 10[4] viable cells per well] were cultured with HAM and # 101; s F-10 without any supplements [control] or increasing concentrations of recombinant human [rh] IL-6, [8,16,32,64,128 pg/ml] added in the absence or presence of FSH [96 IU/ml]. Media were collected after 24,48,72 and 96 hours at a 24h interval and estradiol and progesterone levels were measured by an enzyme immunoassay [EIA] with automated system. Results of this study showed that leuteinized GC in the absence of FSH and the presence of androgen was able to produce estradiol and progesterone in vitro. This production was significantly increased in the presence of FSH. Basal and FSH stimulated productions of estradiol were significantly [P < 0.05] inhibited by increasing amounts of IL-6. Although this inhibitory effect on basal production of progesterone was not significant. IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner significantly [P < 0.05] inhibited FSH stimulated production of progesterone by GC. These results suggest that IL-6 may play an important role in the production of estradiol and progesterone and any disorders in level of IL-6 may cause estradiol and progesterone release disturbances

Tense factors and coping strategies in infertile women referring to alzahra training clinical center of Tabriz [1998]

Infertility problem in today world has become a social anxiety and many couples experience infertility problem in some way in their fertility ages. This can cause psychological shock to couples and affect marital life, interpersonal and social relation. For this reason this research which is descriptive study has been designed to investigate the tense factors and coping strategies of infertile women who were admitted to Alzahra Educational and Treatment Center of Tabriz in 1998. The purpose of this research is to investigate physical, psychological and social tense factors and coping strategies concerning affective on infertile woman. In this research 150 infertile women have been chosen on basis of convenient sampling. Data were collected by regular interview using a questionnaire including 3 main parts. The first part was related to sociopersonal characteristic, used diagnosis and treatment ways and cause of infertility, the second part was about physical and psychosocial tense factors and the third part was about determination of coping strategies of infertile women. For evaluation of findings of the research, chi-square test statistics was used. The results of this study showed that fatigue of frequent come and go to clinic was the most physical tense factor [67/3%] with high level. Main psychosocial tense factor was wordiness about achievement of treatment with high and very high level [87/3%]. Among coping strategies praying was the always-used coping strategy [79/3%] of participant. Amongst coping strategies 79.3% of participant in research used always praying. Most common coping strategy focusing affective was praying with 79.3% of replying always and accepting the situation with 74% of always reply, was the most used coping strategy focusing on used solution

[Serum and follicular fluid IL-6 and sex steroid hormone levels and their correlation of undergoing IVF-ET with endometriosis and pregnancy rate in women.]

Cytokines Not only do rcgulate physiological processes, but also play important roles in immunopathological reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between IL-6 and sex hormone levels with endometriosis and pregnancy rate at the time of oocyte retrieval. In infertile women undergoing IVF-ET Eighty patients received ovulation induction drugs and underwent IVF-ET. IL-6 levels in serum and follicular fluid [FF] were measured by ELISA and FSH. estradiol and progesterone by RIA. In 36 out of 80 patients embryos were transferred and pregnancy rate were evaluated after two weeks. The result showed no significant correlation between serum and FF levels of estradiol. progesterone and FSH with pregnancy rate in IVF patients. Similar levels of lL-6 in serum and FE of pregnant and non pregnant patients after embryo transfer were observed [P> 0.05]. However there was a significant correlation between FF levels of IL-6 in pregnant and non pregnant endometriosis patients [P<0.05]. These results indicate that increase of FE levels of IL-6 may be accompanied by pregnancy rate reduction in endometriosis patients