Electroacupuncture decreases the progression of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model.

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of electroacupuncture treatment on preventing early ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and the potential mechanisms involved using an induced rat model. The ovarian response was examined by measuring ovary weight, vascular permeability, levels of inflammation (interleukin-6), tumour necrosis factor alpha, chemokine ligand 2 (also known as monocyte chemoactic protein 1), vascular endothelial growth factor and hormone concentrations (oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin). Sprague-Dawley female rats underwent ovarian stimulation to induce OHSS. Hyperstimulated rats received consecutive electroacupuncture treatment from 3 days before the beginning of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin treatment or the time point of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin treatment respectively, and last until 3 days after HCG administration. Electroacupuncture treatment reduced ovary weight and vascular permeability in hyperstimulated rats. Electroacupuncture treatment also reduced the levels of serum steroid hormones (progesterone and testosterone), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor alpha and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in hyperstimulated rats. The results indicate that electroacupuncture can modulate endocrine hormone secretion and affect the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor, and thus prevent the progress of OHSS. Electroacupuncture may provide a simple and effective method for the prevention and treatment of OHSS.

[Application of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval].

OBJECTIVE: To observe analgesic effect and safety of acupuncture compound anesthesia in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. METHODS: Three hundred and sixteen cases undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly allocated to an acupuncture compound anesthesia group (n = 146) and a simple Pethidine group (n = 170). They received respectively electroacupuncture combined with intramuscular injection of Pethidine and simple intramuscular injection of Pethidine 30 min before oocyte retrieval. RESULTS: The acupuncture compound anesthesia group was significantly better than the simple Pethidine group in the pain rating and pain score (P < 0.01); the incidence rate of abdominal pain at 1 h and 2-5 h after oocyte retrieval in the acupuncture compound anesthesia group was lower than that in the simple Pethidine group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval, acupuncture compound anesthesia has the advances of safety, high effectiveness, rapid recovery after oocyte retrieval, and few side effects.

[Sperm DNA damage and assisted reproductive technology].

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.