S100P regulates trophoblast-like cell proliferation via P38 MAPK pathway.

S100P was originally isolated from the placenta, and is expressed in very high levels in trophoblast cells, but its role on trophoblast cells proliferation has not yet been studied. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of S100P in human placental development, and the impact of its expression regulation on cellular function as well as molecular mechanisms involved in trophoblast-like cells. We found that the expression of S100P in first trimester placenta was significantly reduced in spontaneous abortion patients with respect to normal pregnant women. Up-regulation of S100P in JAR cells promoted JAR cells proliferation, and increased the expression of phosphorylated P38 (p-P38) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and p-ERK MAPK. However, the effects of S100P on JAR cells proliferation were prevented by P38 inhibitor-SB203580, but not by ERK inhibitor-PD98059. These results showed that S100P may have a physiological role in normal pregnant development, and regulate trophoblast-like cell proliferation via modulating the P38 MAPK pathway.

Slow freezing should not be totally substituted by vitrification when applied to day 3 embryo cryopreservation: an analysis of 5613 frozen cycles.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare slow freezing (SF) and vitrification (VT) techniques for day 3 embryo cryopreservation in infertile couples. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 5613 infertile patients, with 7862 frozen-thawed day 3 embryos and 3845 vitrified-warmed day 3 embryos, from 2010 to 2014, at a single center. The rates of embryo survival, pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth, and live birth weight were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 5613 cycles with 5520 transfers were analyzed. Using SF, the rates of overall embryo survival and fully intact blastomeres were lower than those in VT (91.5 vs. 97.4 % and 68.7 vs. 92.3 %, respectively). The rate of good quality embryos after thawing/warming was lower in SF than in VT. In single frozen embryo transfer cycles (FETs), the pregnancy and implantation rates were similar between the two groups (35.0 vs. 40.8 % and 34.6 vs. 35.9 %, respectively). In double FETs, the pregnancy rate per cycle was also similar between the groups (58.8 vs. 58.4 %). The implantation rate per embryo transfer was significantly higher with SF than with VT (38.8 vs. 34.6 %). With adjustment for maternal age and the number of good quality embryos, differences in implantation rate remained significant (adjusted P value, SF vs. VT P < 0.05). No independent effect was found for the method of cryopreservation on the pregnancy rate. No significant differences in the rates of miscarriage, live birth, and live birth weight were observed between the two techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the significantly low embryo survival rate, fully intact blastomere rate, and good quality embryo rate in SF, the pregnancy and implantation rates were not adversely affected in single and double FETs. SF yielded an equivalent miscarriage rate, live birth rate, and live birth weight compared with VT. The SF protocol to cryopreserve day 3 embryos still should be considered.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Fertilization Rate Does Not Depend on the Proportion of Round-headed Sperm, Small-acrosomal Sperm, or Morphologically Normal Sperm in Patients with Partial Globozoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Generally, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be the preferable method to treat partial globozoospermia, but whether there exist some correlations between ICSI fertilization rate and the proportion of round-headed sperm or morphologically normal sperm remains open. This study was to explore the correlation between ICSI fertilization rate and the sperm morphology in patients with partial globozoospermia. METHODS: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with partial globozoospermia accepted the following assisted fertilization treatments - 2 cases accepted in-vitro fertilization (IVF) alone, 26 cases accepted ICSI alone, and 6 accepted split IVF/ICSI. Detailed morphological characteristics were described using Diff-Quik rapid staining. Sixty cases accepting IVF or ICSI treatment in our reproductive center were considered as the control group after being matched by relevant criteria. Fertilization rate, embryo quality, embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were calculated. RESULTS: Besides very high proportion of round-headed sperm, partial globozoospermia also showed very high proportion of small-acrosomal sperm and very low proportion of morphologically normal sperm. Fertilization rate of IVF (IVF alone plus split IVF) was very low in partial globozoospermia (25.4% ± 17.4%), but ICSI (ICSI alone plus split ICSI) achieved satisfying fertilization rate compared with the control group (66.2% ± 22.5% vs. 68.8% ± 29.4%, P > 0.05). In patients with partial globozoospermia, there were no correlations between ICSI fertilization rate and the proportion of round-headed sperm, small-acrosomal sperm, or morphologically normal sperm. CONCLUSIONS: There was high proportion of small-acrosomal sperm in partial globozoospermia. For patients with partial globozoospermia, ICSI is more preferable than IVF. ICSI fertilization rate does not depend on the proportion of round-headed sperm, small-acrosomal sperm, or morphologically normal sperm.

[Calmodulin antagonists are involved in mouse sperm capacitation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible involvement of calmodulin in mouse sperm capacitation. METHODS: Calmodulin antagonists W7 at the concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L and calmidazolium (CZ) at the concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 micromol/ L, were coincubated with mouse sperm for 2 hours, respectively. The percentage of pattern B sperm was measured by chlorotetracycline staining. Then the sperm were coincubated with 100 micromol/L W7 or 10 micromol/L calmidazolium (CZ) before acrosome reaction was induced by 5 micromol/L progesterone and evaluated by the same method. RESULTS: After the treatment of the sperm with different concentrations of CZ or W7, the percentages of pattern B sperm decreased in a dose-dependent manner, significantly different from the control (P < 0.05). There was a statistic difference in the rate of acrosome reaction between the experiment and the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Calmodulin is a key protein involved in mouse sperm capacitation.