ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is the most common complaint of pregnancy in females with a prevalence of 5%. Numerous documents have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms are able to change miRNA transcription and/or maturation, which may alter the incidence of disorders such as RPL. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of miR-146aC > G (rs2910164) and miR-196a2T > C (rs11614913) with RPL susceptibility in Iranian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 214 women who had experienced at least two consecutive spontaneous miscarriages (case) and 147 normal individuals without a history of miscarriage (control). MiR-146aC > G and miR-196a2T > C genotypes were evaluated via the restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. RESULTS: The genotypes incidence did not show a significant difference in pre-miR-146aC > G polymorphism CC vs CG + GG (p = 0.854; OR = 0.933; 95% CI) and CC + CG vs GG (p = 0.282; OR = 1.454; 95% CI). Also, no significant difference was observed between pre-miR-196a2T > C polymorphism TT vs TC + CC (p = 0.862; OR = 0.938; 95% CI) and TT + TC vs CC and (p = 0.291; OR = 1.462; 95% CI) in both the case and control groups. CONCLUSION: The results showed that although the distribution of miR-146aC > G and miR-196a2T > C was different between the unknown RPL and control groups, these variances were not statistically significant.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Since sperm abnormalities are known to be a major reason for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), any defects in DNA structure and chromatin condensation can place embryos at risk in the early stage of development and implantation. As antioxidants such as vitamin C may play a protective role against the destruction of protamine genes in sperm chromatin, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin C on chromatin and the expression of protamine genes in the male partners of couples with RPL. METHODS: Twenty male partners of couples with RPL were selected as the intervention group and received vitamin C supplementation (250 mg daily for 3 months). Healthy fertile men (n=20) were included as controls. Sperm chromatin, DNA integrity, and the expression levels of protamine genes were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, and apoptosis between the two groups and before and after vitamin C administration. A significant change was found in mRNA levels of PRM1, PRM2, and the PRM1/PRM2 ratio after treatment. CONCLUSION: Daily oral administration of vitamin C may improve human sperm parameters and DNA integrity by increasing protamine gene expression levels in the male partners of couples with RPL. The beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation as an antioxidant for the male partners of couples with RPL could lead to improved pregnancy outcomes in these cases.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Asthenozoospermia is one of the etiologies for male factor infertility. It was shown that any abnormality in protamines genes, reduction of protamines transcript and protamines deficiency may play a key role in asthenozoospermia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was the evaluation of protamine-1 and 2 genes (PRM1 and PRM2) polymorphisms in asthenozoospermic men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, the samples were corresponded to asthenozoospermic specimens of infertile men. The normozoospermic samples were considered as the control group. DNA sequence amplification was performed using four PRM1 and PRM2 primers, designed from 5' to 3' flank regions. The human PRM1 and PRM2 gene sequences were screened in search of potential mutations in highly prevalent polymorphism regions in asthenozoospermia versus normozoospermia. RESULTS: Totally, nine highly prevalent polymorphism regions between the forward and reverse primers were screened. Three of them corresponded to PRM1 and six to PRM2. The most prevalent polymorphism regions in PRM1 were related to 102G>T (rs35576928), 49C>T (rs140477029) and 139C>A (rs737008). In the PRM2, 6 highly prevalent polymorphisms regions were screened, including 248C>T (rs779337774), 401G>A (rs545828790), 288C>T (rs115686767), 288G>C (rs201933708), 373C>A (rs2070923), and 298G>C (rs1646022). The allele frequencies of three upper mentioned single nucleotide polymorphisms in asthenozoospermic men including 373C>A, 298G>C and 139C>A was higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicated that the frequency of some altered genotypes in asthenozospermia was slightly higher than control group. We proposed more extensive studies to be sure that; these genotypes can precisely be related to diagnosis of asthenozoospermia, as the molecular markers.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The quality of oocyte is often considered as a limiting factor for fertility, especially IVF. Some mitochondrial mutations, particularly the 4977-bp deletion increase with the age. Thus, this mutation can serve as a marker for cell aging, which indicates the reduced quality of the oocytes for fertilization. It has been suggested that this can also be investigated in the blood cells of women with IVF failure. OBJECTIVE: 1-Determination of the frequency of 4977-bp deletion in women with IVF failure, 2-Investigation of the relationship between 4977-bp deletion and the age of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the 4977-bp deletion in blood samples of 52 IVF failure women and 52 women who had at least one healthy child. After polymerase chain reaction with deleted and wild-type primers, the products were examined using agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: 48.07% of women with IVF failure and 34.62% of healthy women had a mitochondrial 4977-bp deletion, with p=0.163 and OR: 1.749. Also, in association with the age of these patients and the frequency of 4977-bp mutation, p and OR were obtained 0.163 and 1.749, respectively and frequency of this mutation was higher in patients over 35 yr old compared to other subgroups (Patients ≥35: 57.69). CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, there is no a significant relationship between the frequency of mitochondrial 4977-bp mutation and failure in IVF.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates different cellular activities related to spermatogenesis. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 (TNFR1) mediates TNF-α activity and polymorphism in TNFR1 could lead to gene dysfunction and male infertility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the association of TNFR1 36 A/G polymorphism with the idiopathic azoospermia in Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 108 azoospermic and 119 fertile men. This research investigated the frequency of TNFR1 36 A/G polymorphism in cases who were idiopathic azoospermic men referred to Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Iran in comparison with controls. polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to investigate the polymorphism in both case and control groups. PCR fragments were digested by Mspa1I enzyme and products were appeared by gel electrophoresis. The abundance of AâG was calculated in the azoospermic and healthy men. RESULTS: According to the present study, GG and AG genotypes frequency in the azoospermic men group were higher than the control group (OR= 2.298 (1.248-4.229), p=0.007), (OR=1.47 (0.869-2.498, p=0.149). Our findings also showed that G allele frequency in azoospermic men had significant difference compared to the control group (OR=2.302 (1.580-3.355), p<0.001). CONCLUSION: It seems that the GG genotype and G allele have an association with increased risk of non-obstructive azoospermia.
