Design and expression of FGF23 inhibitor in Pichia pastoris / 药学学报

Hypophosphatemia is a common metabolism disease in humans. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) inhibits phosphate reabsorption by targeting on the renal tubules. FGF23C-tail contains 73 amino acids from C-terminus of FGF23, serves as an inhibitor of FGF23, and can increase phosphate reabsorption. Therefore, FGF23C-tail is an important drug for hypophosphatemia. In this paper, we constructed a fusion protein of FGF23C-tail with HSA, and investigated the expression of the fusion protein in the Pichia pastoris system. The recombinant gene was constructed by fusion PCR. A high-yield strain was selected by G418 resistance and fermentation yield, and the expression yield was 43.7 mg·L-1 in flask. In 5 L fermenters, the highest expression yield could reach 265.6 mg·L-1. FGF23C-tail-HSA could be used as an inhibitor for FGF23, and could significantly increase blood phosphorus levels in rats. The procedures for care and use of animals were approved by the Ethics Committee of YiChun University. This paper provided a basis research for further studying physiological activity of FGF23C-tail-HSA.

Repeated superovulation induction after failure in previous IVF-ET cycles with the ultra-long protocol: Analysis of outcomes of clinical pregnancy / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To analyze the clinical outcomes of repeated superovulation induction in patients with adenomyosis or moderate to severe pelvic endometriosis after failure in previous IVF-ET cycles with the ultra-long protocol.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data about 37 patients with adenomyosis or moderate to severe pelvic endometriosis in our center from 2009 to 2013, who underwent repeated IVF-ET after failure in the previous cycles with the ultra-long protocol, namely by injection of 2－6 ampoules of 3.75 mg gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a). All the patients met the following requirements: hCG-negative at 14 days after transfer, within 3－7 days after menstruation, and properly down-regulated serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (<10 mIU/ml), luteinizing hormone (LH) (<10 mIU/ml), estradiol (E2) (<30 pg/ml), follicle diameter (<10 mm) and endometrial thickness, and received GnRH (Gonal-F, Serono) for ovulation induction. We compared the clinical and laboratory data and pregnancy outcomes between the first and repeated cycles before and after ovulation induction.@*RESULTS@#The repeated cycles, as compared with previous ones, showed significant increases in the antral follicle count (AFC) on the first day of stimulation (7.55 ± 1.86 vs 6.45 ± 2.5, P<0.05), number of follicles =≥14 mm in diameter on the hCG trigger day (7.81 ± 3.6 vs 5.56 ± 3.68, P<0.05), level of E2 (［2 362.15 ± 1 210.49］ vs ［1 749.22 ± 1 139.44］ pg/ml, P<0.05), and numbers of oocytes retrieved (7.51 ± 3.23 vs 4.78 ± 3.41, P<0.05) and embryos transferred (2.00 ± 0.33 vs 1.50 ± 0.67, P<0.05), exhibited a remarkably reduction in the dose of GnRH (［1 791.65 ± 1 889.41］ vs ［3 439.56 ± 1 836.53］ IU, P<0.05), and achieved a clinical pregnancy rate of 62.16%.@*CONCLUSIONS@#With proper reduction of the FSH, LH and E2 levels and follicle diameter, repeated superovulation induction for IVF-ET can improve the ovarian response and pregnancy outcomes of the patients with adenomyosis or moderate to severe pelvic endometriosis after failure in the previous IVF-ET cycles with the ultra-long protocol.

Incidence of polynuclear zygotes and pregnancy rate after short coincubation of gametes in in vitro fertilization / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship of the incidence of polynuclear zygotes with clinical pregnancy after short coincubation of gametes in in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 3 862 cases of short gamete coincubation IVF, which were divided into six groups according to the percentage of polynuclear zygotes: 0,1-10%, 11-20%, 21-30%, 31-50%, 41-50%, and > or = 51%. We compared the rates of clinical pregnancy, implantation and abortion among the six groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No statistically significant differences were found in the patients'age, dose of gonadotropin, peak E2, number of follicles at the hCG trigger, and number of oocytes retrieved among the six groups. The 1-10% group showed higher rates of pregnancy and implantation, while the > or = 51% group exhibited lower rates of pregnancy and implantation but a higher rate of abortion than the other groups, none with significant differences (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The incidence of polynuclear zygotes after short coincubation of gametes in IVF cannot serve as a prognostic indicator of the outcome of clinical pregnancy.</p>

Effectiveness of ICSI in patients with a high incidence of triploidy in a previous IVF cycle / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effectiveness of ICSI in overcoming the high incidence of tripronucleates zygotes resulting from insemination in a previous IVF cycle.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the matched-pair cycles in 37 patients with a > 35 % incidence of tripronucleate zygotes in an IVF cycle, with ICSI used in the subsequent cycle, evaluated the incidences of diploid (2PN) and triploid (3PN) zygotesand the number of normal embryos obtained, and compared the rates of clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation between the IVF and ICSI groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of the ICSI group was significantly older than that of the IVF group, while the ampules of gonadotropin and peak E2 showed no remarkable difference between the two. The numbers of follicles at hCG trigger, retrieved oocytes and mature oocytes were markedly lower in the former than in the latter. The percentage of 2PN was significantly higher while that of 3PN significantly lower after ICSI than after IVF (74.24% vs 34.42%; 11.57% vs 51.04%, P < 0.01), and more normal diploid embryos were obtained with ICSI (3.83 +/- 2.08 vs 2.52 +/- 1.71, P < 0.01). Four singletons were achieved in 31 IVF embryo transfer cycles, in comparison with 11 singletons and 3 twins in 36 ICSI embryo transfer cycles. The ICSI group showed significantly higher rates of clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation than the IVF group (38.89% vs 12.90%; 28.33% vs 7.41%, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For women with a high incidence o triploidy in a previous IVF cycle, ICSI can effectively increase the number of normal diploid zygotes.</p>

Pregnancy outcomes of repeated cycles of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the pregnancy outcomes of repeated IVF-ET cycles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed 702 repeated IVF-ET cycles (503 cases) performed in our center from 2006 to 2008, among which 191 cycles (Group A) had failed previously in other hospitals and 511 (Group B) in ours, focusing on the relationship of pregnancy outcomes with the number of repeated IVF-ET cycles and the age of the patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Group A, there were no significant differences in pregnancy rates among the patients with 1, 2 or > 2 previously failed cycles (56.56% vs 66.67% vs 61.54%), while the numbers of oocytes obtained were significantly decreased (8.51 +/- 4.60 vs 8.48 +/- 3.32 vs 4.86 +/- 2.96) and the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) remarkably increased ([7.31 +/- 3.66] mIU/mL vs [6.83 +/- 2.35] mIU/mL vs [11.58 +/- 11.40] mIU/mL) in those with > 2 previous failures. In Group B, the results of the first IVF-ET cycle in our center showed that the number of oocytes obtained and the E2 level on the day of hCG injection were markedly decreased in the patients with 2 previously failed cycles (6.66 +/- 4.58 vs 9.59 +/- 4.30 and 2 396.87 +/- 1 602.02 vs 4 061.17 +/- 2 255.63), and so were the pregnancy rate, oocyte number, intimal thickness and essential FSH level in those with > 2 previous failures, but no significant differences were found in the rate of pregnancy, number of oocytes obtained, number of embryos transplanted and rate of abortions in those with 1 previous failure. The pregnancy and implantation rates of the repeated IVF-ET cycles were significantly reduced in the female patients aged < 38 years and with > 3 previously failed cycles, as well as in those aged > 38 years and with 1 - 4 previous failures, but not in those aged < 38 years and with < 3 previous failures in Group B.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The pregnancy outcome of repeated IVF-ET cycles was not correlated with the number of the cycles, but maybe directly with different protocols in different reproductive centers. The rate of pregnancy was obviously decreased in patients that underwent over 4 repeated IVF-ET cycles, but had no obvious correlation with the number of cycles in those that received 1 - 3 cycles in the same reproductive center. The age of the patient influences the results of repeated IVF-ET cycles, and both pregnancy and implantation rates may decrease in those aged > 38 years.</p>

Early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection: safe for complete IVF failure / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety of early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for complete failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted early rescue ICSI for 105 conventional IVF cycles and follow-up evaluation of the clinical outcomes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 64 neonates were born, and no significant differences were found in the sex ratio, birth weight and birth defects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Early rescue ICSI can significantly improve the clinical outcome in patients with complete IVF failure, but does not increase the clinical risk.</p>

Efficient treatment of severe teratozoospermia by ICSI with testicular spermatozoa: a report of 5 cases / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of treating severe teratozoospermia (the abnormity rate of ejaculated or epididymal sperm > or = 99%) by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular sperm so as to improve the outcome of assisted reproductive technology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 5 patients with severe teratozoospermia (epididymal: n=4; ejaculated: n=1) treated by ICSI with sperm from different sources, and compared the rates of fertilization, cleavage, quality embryos, pregnancy and implantation between the testicular and non-testicular sperm groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four ongoing clinical pregnancies were achieved by ICSI with testicular sperm, but none with ejaculated (or epididymal) sperm. The rates of pregnancy and implantation were significantly higher in the testicular than in the non-testicular sperm group (P < 0.01), and there were no significant differences in the rates of fertilization, cleavage and quality embryos between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ICSI with testicular sperm could efficiently improve the therapeutic outcome for men with severe teratozoospermia.</p>

Comparison of 3 techniques for artificial shrinkage of blastocoelic cavity before vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an effective pretreatment method for the vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts by comparing 3 techniques for the artificial shrinkage of the blastocoelic cavity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The blastocoelic cavity was artificially shrunk by micro-needle aspiration, pipetting or laser drilling prior to the vitrification of the expanded blastocysts. The rates of survival and hatching achieved with the three techniques were compared with those of the non-shrinkage group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of survival were 72.9, 72.0 and 94.0%, and those of hatching were 64.6, 32.0 and 62.0% in the three shrinkage groups, obviously higher than in the nonshrinkage group (40.0 and 16.0%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Artificial shrinkage of the blastocoelic cavity was an effective pretreatment technique for the vitrification of expanded mouse blastocysts, especially by micro-needle aspiration and laser drilling.</p>

Establishment of a method for quantifying tuberous sclerosis complex 2 mRNA in mouse single oocyte and preimplantation embryo / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method for quantifying gene expressions in the mouse single oocyte and preimplantation embryo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We quantified the message RNA (mRNA) expression of the TSC2 gene in the single oocyte and preimplantation embryo by capillary electrophoresis using the exogenic mutation TSC2 gene as the reference and amplification by competition polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We successfully established the method for quantifying the mRNA expression of the TSC2 gene, with good linear relations between the mRNA level of the TSC2 gene and the dilution degree of the reference gene (r = -0.987).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of the mouse TSC2 gene expression can be effectively quantified by competition PCR and capillary electrophoresis, which has provided a molecular base for evaluating the quality of human oocytes and preimplantation embryos.</p>

Combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation and early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection after total failure of in vitro fertilization / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the outcome of the combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation with early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after complete failure of in vitro fertilization (IVF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation and overnight fertilization for the oocytes obtained from 10 IVF-ET cycles, and compared the fertilization results and embryo quality. We conducted polar body observation following short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation for 105 conventional IVF cycles, and evaluated the clinical outcome of early rescue ICSI for total fertilization failure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were noted in fertilization outcome and embryo quality between the 3 h short-period and overnight fertilizations (P > 0.05). The combined strategy achieved a clinical pregnancy rate of 53.3%, an implantation rate of 38.0%, with 64 babies born, of whom 44.8% were taken home.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The combination of short-period sperm-oocyte coincubation with early rescue ICSI can significantly improve the clinical outcome in patients who have experienced complete failure of in vitro fertilization.</p>

Effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of fertilization methods and sperm sources in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) on the developmental capacity of surplus embryos.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed the blastocyst formation of the surplus embryos from 2 135 patients, who were divided according to fertilization methods into an IVF (n=1803) and an ICSI group (n=332), the former again allocated to a normal fertilization (n=1642) and a rescue fertilization group (n=161), and the latter, according to sperm sources, to an ejaculated (n=248), an epididymal (n=70) and a testicular sperm group (n=14). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were compared between different fertilization methods and sperm sources.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1884 blastocysts (28.87%) formed from 6525 surplus embryos of the patients after sequential culture, of which 974 (51.70%) were good-quality ones. The blastocyst formation rate of surplus embryos was significantly higher in the IVF (30.14%) than in the ICSI group (21.40%, P < 0.05), the rate of good-quality blastocysts was also higher in the former (52.44%) than in the latter (45.54%), but with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The rates of blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocysts were significantly higher in the normal (31.04% and 53.28%) than in the rescue fertilization IVF group (20.38% and 38.54%, P < 0.05), and in the testicular sperm ICSI group (30.23% and 53.85%) than in either the epididymal (18.36% and 42.11%) or the ejaculated sperm ICSI group (21.76% and 45.70%) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The development potential of surplus embryos was higher in IVF than in ICSI, in the normal than in the rescue fertilization IVF group, and in the testicular than in the epididymal and ejaculated sperm ICSI groups.</p>

Sperm DNA damage and assisted reproductive technology / 中华男科学杂志

With the introduction of assisted reproductive technology (ART), sperm assessment has developed progressively, from conventional semen routine tests to novel cellular and molecular measures. Sperm DNA damage is a new marker of male fertility, whose genetic mechanism involves abnormal package and segregation of chromatin, oxidative stress, abnormal cell apoptosis, etc. Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) is one of the common techniques to measure sperm DNA damage. Sperm DNA damage might be associated with the pregnancy outcome of ART, recurrent spontaneous abortion and potential genetic risk of ICSI offspring. Some treatment strategies might reduce the percentage of sperm DNA damage and increase the success rate of ART, including oral administration of antioxygen drugs, ICSI with testis sperm, sperm freezing and preservation, removing of etiological factors, traditional Chinese medicine, and so on. This review focuses on the mechanism and detection of sperm DNA damage, its association with reproductive outcomes, and relevant treatment strategies in assisted reproductive technology.

Application of GnRH-antagonist to IVF-ET for patients with poor ovarian response / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the outcomes achieved by GnRH-antagonist and GnRH-agonist in IVF-ET for patients with poor ovarian responses, and to find out a better protocol for ovulation stimulation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) Patients with poor ovarian responses were assigned to an experimental (n = 63) and a control group (n = 58), treated respectively with GnRH-Ant and oral contraceptive plus micro-dose GnRH-a (OC + GnRH-a), and comparisons were made of the medication doses, laboratory results and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. (2) Twenty of the patients were treated first with GnRH-Ant and then with OC + GnRH-a, and the same comparisons were made between the two protocols.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Between the experimental and the control groups, there were no significant differences in the dose of Gn and number of retrieved oocytes and transplanted embryos (P > 0.05), nor in the pregnancy rate of transplantation cycles (37.29% vs 35.29%). The cycle cancellation rate was lower in the experimental than in the control group (6.35% vs 12.07%), with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The cycle duration was significantly different between the two groups ([9.65 +/- 1.60] d vs [19.05 +/- 3.94] d) (P < 0.05). As for the comparison of GnRH-Ant with GnRH-a, no significant differences were observed in the dose of Gn and the numbers of retrieved oocytes and transplanted embryos (P > 0.05). GnRH-Ant achieved a higher pregnancy rate of transplantation cycles but a significantly lower cancellation rate than GnRH-a (38.09% vs 17.64% and 0% vs 15%) (P > 0.05 and P < 0.01), respectively. The cycle duration of the former was statistically shorter than that of the latter ([9.91 +/- 2.49] d vs [27.74 +/- 25.39] d) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with micro-dose GnRH-a, GnRH-Ant can shorten the cycle duration and reduce the cancellation rate in IVF-ET for patients with poor response. And for those who have failed to respond to GnRH-a, GnRH-Ant may be tried in another attempt at IVF-ET.</p>

Establishment of human embryonic stem cell line NJGLLhES1 / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the derivation and characterization of a new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line NJGLLhES1.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From the inner cell mass of frozen-thawed human embryos and with ICR mouse embryonic fibroblasts as the feeder layer, we established a new human embryonic stem cell line, which was named NJGLLhES1. We detected the karyotype of the cell line, determined the expressions of alkaline phosphatase, the specific cell surface antigens SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 and the marker gene Oct-4, and examined the formation of embryoids and teratomas.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NJGLLhES1 was maintained for over 1 year in vitro, with the morphological characteristics of hESC, a normal karyotype, positive expressions of alkaline phosphatase and specific cell marker genes, and the potential of forming embryoids and teratomas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A new human embryonic stem cell line NJGLLhES1 was successfully established, which remains karyotypically and phenotypically stable, undifferentiated and capable of self-renewal and pluripotential differentiation.</p>

Laser-assisted immobilization causes no direct damage to sperm DNA / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether laser-assisted immobilization of sperm damages sperm DNA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three semen samples were selected from an IVF program. Then normal spermatozoa were obtained by swimming-up method and immobilized with the tail by 0.45 ms pulse laser. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) were used to detect sperm DNA damage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference either before and after laser treatment in the percentage of TUNEL-positive spermatozoa ([1.32 +/- 0.61]% vs [1.41 +/- 0.51]%, P > 0.05) or in SCGE ([1.59 +/- 0.70]% vs [1.83 +/- 0.68]%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Laser-assisted sperm immobilization may cause no direct damage to the sperm DNA.</p>

Establishment of autologous endometrial coculture and sequential system for human early embryo culture / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a coculture and a sequential system for human early embryo culture.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The endometrial tissue was digested enzymatically and cultured to achieve generated and cryo-thawed endometrial monolayer cells. The generated and cryo-thawed monolayer cells were cocultured with human 2PN embryos and transferred to sequential medium every 48 hours.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Human endometrial cells had viability in vitro culture. The autologously generated and cryo-thawed monolayer cells were successfully obtained, and 74.04% of the cryo-thawed cells were successfully used in coculturing human early embryos. The embryos developed well, with the clinical pregnancy rate of 68.83% and the implantation rate of 44.23%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The autologous endometrial cell coculture and sequential culture system for human early embryo development provides a feasible method for studying human embryo development and implantation so as to improve embryo quality.</p>

Influence of two different vitrification cryopreservation methods on spindles of mouse oocytes / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of two different vitrification cryopreservation methods on the spindles of mouse M II oocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three groups were included in the experiment, Group A, Group B and the control ( fresh oocytes). Mouse oocytes were vitrified by using cryoloop, with ethylene glycol( EG) in Group A and with EG + dimethyl sulphoxide ( DMSO) in Group B as cryoprotectants, and then the oocytes were placed directly into liquid nitrogen. Three hours after the frozen oocytes were thawed they were fixed, and the microtubule and chromosome were stained by indirect immunofluorescent method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The survival rates of the oocytes after treated by the two vitrification cryopreservation methods had no difference ( 80. 3% vs 87. 5% , P > 0. 05) . The rate of the intact spindles in Group A was much lower than that of the control and Group B ( 15. 2% vs 78.7% , 15. 2% vs 77. 5% , P < 0. 05). But there was no difference between the latter two groups (78. 7% vs 77. 5% , P >0. 05). The oocytes with normal chromosome in Group A were much less than in the control and Group B (17.4% vs 76. 6% , 17. 4% vs 72. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups(76. 6% vs 72. 5% , P >0. 05) ; The oocytes with abnormal chromosome were more in Group A than in the control and Group B (82. 6% vs 19. 1% , 82. 6% vs 27. 5% , P <0. 05) , with no difference between the latter two groups (19.1% vs 27.5% , P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The changed vitrification cryopreservation method helps conserve the intact spindle configuration of mouse oocytes.</p>

The application of quality control system in reproductive medicine center / 中华男科学杂志

Uniform standards are required for evaluating the quality of reproductive medicine center engaged in vitro-fertilization and embryo transfer. Clinic pregnancy rates in common use are not in evaluation focus. More internationalized standard methods should be used to assess the quality of IVF center.

Morphological observation of metaphase I arrested oocytes in IVF-ET cycles / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe morphological characteristics and in-vitro maturation ratio of all metaphase I arrested oocytes in IVF-ET cycles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In two IVF-ET cycles, maturation culture in vitro was performed and we evaluated morphological characteristics of all oocytes arrested in metaphase I.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Metaphase I arrested oocytes presented with uniform cytoplasm, compact zone and no space between oocyte and zone. Incompact association was observed between granule cell and zone without radiated structures. There was no markedly alterations in morphological characteristics after 24, 48, 72 hours of maturation culture, respectively. All oocytes were arrested in Metaphase I and no polar growed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All metaphase I arrested oocytes possess of unique morphological characteristics and fail to mature following current culture assay in IVF-ET cycles.</p>

Influence of female age on the pregnancy and obstetric outcome in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of female age on the pregnancy and obstetric outcome of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, expecting to select the most suitable strategy for women with different ages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One thousand three hundred and one IVF-ET cycles from January 2002 to May 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. All the cycles were divided into five groups by female age: < or = 25, 26 to approximately 29, 30 to approximately 34, 35 to approximately 39 and > or = 40 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pregnancy rate was significantly lower( 58.2%, 60.0%, 52.3%, 45.7% and 29.41% respectively, P < 0.05), and implantation rate was significantly lower too(40.8%, 39.72%, 33.78%, 29.6% and 13.9% respectively, P < 0.05). But the abortion rate increased dramatically (5.3%, 6.8%, 9.7%, 11.6% and 26.7% respectively) and multiple pregnancy rate decreased (57.9%, 45.5%, 41.9%, 46.5% and 6.7% respectively). There were no significant differences about the obstetric results (premature delivery, gestational age, birth weight, caesarean).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the age growing, the implantation rate, pregnancy rate and multiple rate decreased, while the abortion rate increased, especially when the age over 40. Suitable controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimens and improving oocyte quality were described for elder women. For younger women, suitable transfer strategy should be advised to decrease multiple pregnancy without decrease in the ongoing pregnancy rate.</p>