Role for anti-Müllerian hormone in congenital absence of the uterus and vagina.

Molecular genetic techniques were used to determine if mutations in the genes encoding anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (also known as Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS)) and its receptor (AMHR) are commonly present in patients with congenital absence of the uterus and vagina (CAUV). Twenty-two CAUV patients and 96 control subjects from diverse ethnic groups were studied after obtaining informed consent. Genomic DNA samples prepared from leukocytes were digested separately with several different restriction enzymes, and the resultant fragments were analyzed for restriction fragment melting polymorphisms (RFMPs) by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments which were 200-700 base pairs in length was compared using polyacrylamide gels that included linear gradients of denaturing solvents designed to separate DNA fragments according to sequence-dependent variation in thermal stability. Two RFMPs were found in the AMH gene in both patients and normal control subjects. One RFMP in the AMHR gene was present at low frequencies in both patients and normal control subjects. No RFMPs specific to CAUV patients were found in either gene. Because no mutations or rare DNA sequence polymorphisms were detected in the AMH and the AMHR genes in this group of CAUV patients, it is unlikely that either gene commonly has an etiologic role in CAUV.

Syndrome of genital, renal, and middle ear anomalies: a third family and report of a pregnancy.

Two sisters with multiple congenital anomalies are described. They are felt to represent the third affected sibship with the rare syndrome of genital, renal, and middle ear anomalies. A term pregnancy is also reported in the younger of the affected sisters.

Canalization failure of the müllerian tract.

A patient is described with canalization failure of the müllerian system. This patient presented with primary amenorrhea and absence of the vagina. At the time of laparotomy, a uterus of normal size and shape was found with two small areas of canalization. This syndrome, associated with absence of the vagina, appears to result from a defect occurring later in development than does classical müllerian aplasia. Pathological examination of the patient's uterus supports the tenant that canalization begins after fusion and at various places along the line of fusion.

Gender bias in the disposition of frozen embryos.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the gender differences found among couples when choosing the disposition of their frozen embryos. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: University affiliated in vitro fertilization (IVF) center. PATIENTS: Couples undergoing their first cycle of assisted reproductive technology (ART). INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Choice of disposition of gametes and embryos. RESULT(S): Gender bias is found when couples choose the disposition of their frozen embryos, but not when they choose the disposition of their gametes. CONCLUSION(S): Gender bias was found in couples who made decisions regarding the disposition of their frozen embryos.

Rubella susceptibility of an infertile population.

The recent trend reported by the CDC reaffirms that rubella continues to be a health care issue and should be a concern particularly for those who care for women in the childbearing age group. Immunization of all susceptible women will not only offer them protection but reduce the pool of susceptible individuals that can transmit the disease.

Further study and characterization of the yellow pigments in follicular fluid that are related to oocyte quality.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the 455-nm (yellow) absorbing pigments in human follicular fluid (FF). DESIGN: Serum and FF samples obtained from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization were analyzed for carotenoids, bilirubin, and beta-glucuronidase concentrations. Spectrophotometric analysis in the visible spectrum was performed on FF samples, and the delta OD455 absorbance was calculated. RESULTS: Thin-layer chromatography confirmed the presence of beta-carotene and bilirubin in FF. The mean (+/- SD) contribution of bilirubin and carotenoids to the FF delta OD455 absorbance was 64% +/- 9.6% and 22.7% +/- 12.1%, respectively. Bilirubin fractions in serum and FF samples were then compared. The median unconjugated bilirubin concentration in FF was lower than that in the serum (0.130 versus 0.288 mg/dL; P < 0.0001). The median conjugated bilirubin concentration was higher in the FF when compared with the serum (0.129 versus 0.101 mg/dL; P = 0.0018). beta-Glucuronidase levels in the FF were significantly lower when compared with serum concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Bilirubin is the major contributor to the FF 455-nm spectrophotometric peak. The higher levels of conjugated bilirubin noted in the FF could in part be explained by the lower levels of beta-glucuronidase.

Congenital absence of the uterus and vagina is not commonly transmitted as a dominant genetic trait: outcomes of surrogate pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the inheritance pattern of congenital absence of the uterus and vagina in affected women undergoing surrogacy IVF with this disorder. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: A hospital-based reproductive endocrinology and infertility center. PATIENT(S): Women diagnosed with congenital absence of the uterus and vagina undergoing IVF with subsequent transfer of embryos to a surrogate uterus. INTERVENTION(S): Questionnaires were sent to all infertility treatment centers performing surrogate procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number, gender, and frequency of congenital anomalies in progeny. RESULT(S): Thirty-two of 53 surveyed programs responded (60%). One hundred sixty-two IVF cycles were performed, and 34 liveborn children were delivered (half female). No congenital anomalies were found, except for one male child with a middle ear defect and hearing loss. CONCLUSION(S): These results strongly suggest that congenital absence of the uterus and vagina, if genetically transmitted, is not inherited commonly in a dominant fashion.

The effects of single-dose luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on ovulatory menstrual function: support for a single luteinizing hormone- and follicle-stimulating hormone-releasing factor.

Ten ovulatory women were followed with gonadotropin and steroid determinations through two cycles. They were given 500 micrograms of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) during the periovulatory period of the second cycle to determine whether ovulation could be facilitated without altering corpus luteum function. Successive cycles demonstrated concordance for patterns of gonadotropin and steroid secretion when studied as group means. Two control cycles and one treatment cycle were consistent with luteal phase defects. The use of a supramaximal dose of LH-RH in these women neither facilitated ovulation nor adversely affected luteal function. A significant linear correlation was noted between peak LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) values for the spontaneous surges. This same linear relationship was maintained for the LH and FSH responses to 500 micrograms LH-RH. The present data produce further evidence demonstrating that the secretion of LH and FSH appears to be modulated by gonadal steroids and under the permissive control of a single gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

The efficacy of bromocriptine in patients with ovulatory dysfunction and normoprolactinemic galactorrhea.

The response to bromocriptine therapy of 12 infertile women with ovulatory dysfunction and euprolactinemic galactorrhea was studied. Four of the subjects had anovulation, four had oligo-ovulation, and four had delayed ovulation. Serum PRL levels in all 12 subjects were less than 20 ng/ml. Normal ovulation occurred at least once in all of the patients on bromocriptine therapy and in 38 of 41 (92%) of the cycles. Seven patients (58%) conceived promptly with bromocriptine therapy, and all subjects had cessation of galactorrhea within 1 month of the onset of therapy. The seven pregnancies included five normal term vaginal deliveries, one premature vaginal delivery, and one tubal pregnancy. The results of this study should be considered preliminary but suggest that the presence of euprolactinemic galactorrhea in patients with ovulatory dysfunction may still represent a covert disorder of PRL physiologic factors. The prompt correction of these ovulation disturbances gives supporting evidence for this hypothesis and suggests that a short trial of bromocriptine therapy may be warranted after minimal blood sampling. The differential outcome between our group of patients produces further evidence that variable mechanisms may be operative.

Serum and peritoneal lavage fluid CA-125 levels in endometriosis.

Serum and peritoneal lavage fluid CA-125 levels were assayed in 20 women with endometriosis and 20 control women at the time of laparoscopy. Serum levels of CA-125 were significantly higher in women with endometriosis. Peritoneal lavage fluid CA-125 levels were significantly higher than serum levels but showed no significant difference between control and endometriosis patients. Peritoneal lavage fluid CA-125 did not follow expected dilution curves when attempts were made to validate the assay. Serum CA-125 levels were a more sensitive indicator of endometriosis, than peritoneal lavage fluid CA-125 levels.

A cytogenetic and endocrinologic study of a set of monozygotic isokaryotic 45,X/46,XY twins discordant for phenotypic sex: mosaicism versus chimerism.

Newborn monozygotic twins with phenotypic sexual discordance were diagnosed with 45,X/46,XY gonadal dysgenesis. Cytogenetic studies of peripheral blood (serial), skin, and gonad were performed. Serial comparative gonadotropin data and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation tests were obtained. A phenotypically normal male twin was found to have a significant number of 45,X cells only in lymphocytes and was considered endocrinologically intact. The sexually ambiguous twin sister demonstrated a significant number of 45,X cell lines in all tissues and was considered endocrinologically agonadal. These data demonstrate the role of the 45,X karyotype on abnormal gonadal formation and function and make possible different etiologies for the 45,X cell line in both twins. While mosaicism is likely for both, chimerism is possible for the normal male.

Dominant transmission of imperforate hymen.

OBJECTIVE: Imperforate hymen is an uncommon anomaly of the reproductive tract, occurring in approximately 0.1% of newborn females. The familial occurrence of imperforate hymen in a child, her mother, and her mother's monozygotic twin is reported. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): Three affected family members. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Karyotype and pedigree analysis. RESULT(S): The proband, presenting with peritonitis, was evaluated at age 12 for imperforate hymen because this condition was diagnosed in her mother at age 14. At age 14, the mother's monozygotic twin was asymptomatic except for primary amenorrhea and was also demonstrated to have imperforate hymen. No other reproductive system abnormalities were known to be present in the remaining family members. Chromosomal structural analysis confirmed that the mother of the proband had no chromosomal abnormalities. CONCLUSION(S): The occurrence of imperforate hymen in two consecutive generations of a family is consistent with a dominant mode of transmission, either sex-linked or autosomal. Previously reported examples of siblings with imperforate hymen suggested a recessive mode of inheritance. Taken together, these cases suggest that imperforate hymen can be caused by mutations in several genes. This case highlights the importance of evaluating all family members of affected patients. Familial examples of other developmental anomalies of the female reproductive tract also suggest a multifactorial genetic etiology.

Ultrasound prediction of follicle volume: is the mean diameter reflective?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 2 dimensional sonographic measurement of ovarian follicles and their actual volume. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: The in vitro fertilization (IVF) program of a University based, tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Sonographic categorization by shape, and measurement of 96 individual ovarian follicles immediately prior to aspiration for IVF. Each follicle was aspirated under direct ultrasound guidance and the volume recorded. The 96 follicles were visualized in a total of 14 patients from whom 2 to 27 oocytes were obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Total volume of each follicle. RESULTS: Round and polygonal follicles exhibited a highly significant relationship between sonographically measured mean diameter and total follicle volume. The volume of follicles that were categorized as ellipsoid was not predicted by measurement of the longest diameter, shortest diameter or mean diameter. CONCLUSION: The mean diameter of round and polygonal follicles accurately predicts total follicular volume. However, clinical decisions in ovulation induction should be modified when the follicle shape is predominantly ellipsoid because the traditionally held belief that the sonographic measurement of the follicular diameter correlates with the follicular volume does not apply in those circumstances.

Aberrant estradiol flare despite gonadotropin-releasing hormone-agonist-induced suppression is associated with impaired implantation.

Our results confirm the previous report that rapid suppression by GnRH-a is favorable relative to delayed suppression (1). They further indicate that the pattern of E2 production during GnRH-a-induced ovarian suppression may be predictive of cycle outcome. We suggest that imperfect pituitary suppression of bioactive LH as indicated by an aberrant rise in E2 during GnRH-a down-regulation may compromise oocyte quality and ultimately impair implantation. Further study of follicular phase E2 response to GnRH-a suppression may provide a prognostic marker for implantation.

Administration of progesterone before oocyte retrieval negatively affects the implantation rate.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of two clinically accepted methods of progesterone supplementation during IVF. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: A university-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): Three hundred fourteen stimulated IVF cycles between January 1993 and October 1994. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were assigned to one of two luteal phase progesterone regimens by a random permuted block design. In protocol A, 12.5 mg of IM progesterone was given 12 hours before oocyte retrieval; in protocol B, 25 mg of IM progesterone was given on the day of oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy. RESULT(S): Patient demographic characteristics, including age, diagnosis, number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized, and number of embryos transferred, were not different between the two groups. There was no difference in the rate of cycle cancellation between the groups. One hundred forty ETs were performed in patients assigned to protocol A and 142 in patients assigned to protocol B. The clinical pregnancy rate in group A was 12.9% compared with 24.6% in group B. CONCLUSION(S): The administration of progesterone before oocyte retrieval is associated with a lower pregnancy rate than the administration of progesterone after oocyte retrieval.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-associated peptide gene sequences in women with hyperprolactinemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if mutations in the structural gene for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-associated peptide are present in women with hyperprolactinemia. DESIGN: Patients with hyperprolactinemia and controls were studied retrospectively for GnRH-associated peptide gene mutations. SETTINGS: Patients seen in a clinical setting were studied at a medical school laboratory setting. PATIENTS: Fifteen women with hyperprolactinemia and two fertile controls with normal prolactin levels were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from each patient and subjected to Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For Southern blot analysis, DNA was digested with EcoRI, XbaI, BglII, PstI, and BamHI and hybridized to two DNA probes for GnRH-associated peptide. Exons II to IV, which encode for the structural gene, were amplified by PCR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fragment sizes from autoradiographs were compared among patients and controls. Amplified PCR products of exons II to IV of the GnRH-associated peptide were also compared. RESULTS: No large deletions, insertions, or polymorphisms were identified in women with hyperprolactinemia or controls by Southern blotting. Each of the exons was present and of normal size by PCR in the study patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS: No large deletions of the GnRH-associated peptide gene appear to be present in our patients with hyperprolactinemia. Small deletions, insertions, or point mutations are not excluded by this analysis.

Familial gonadotropin-releasing hormone resistance and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a family with multiple affected individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the phenotype of idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to compound heterozygous GnRHR gene mutations (Arg262Gln/Tyr284Cys). DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. PATIENT(S): Family containing four siblings (three female and one male) with complete idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. INTERVENTION(S): Baseline and stimulated laboratory studies. One patient received GnRH treatment and one received human menopausal gonadotropins. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical phenotype vs. genotype is assessed by endocrine studies, karyotype, pedigree, and review of pathology slides of ovarian neoplasm. RESULT(S): With GnRH stimulation, two patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism had maximum LH < 10 mIU/mL, and two others had peak LH > 10 mIU/mL. With repeated GnRH stimulation 24 hours later, gonadotropin levels in all patients were increased. Stimulation of thyroid-releasing hormone and tests for insulin-induced hypoglycemia were normal. One affected patient did not ovulate after GnRH treatment, but her sister ovulated with gonadotropin treatment. Another affected sibling had bilateral oophorectomy for seromucinous cystadenomas, and her hypogonadotropic state remained after castration. The man with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and his unaffected brother had a ring chromosome 21. CONCLUSION(S): All patients with complete idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism had the same GnRHR mutations, but clinical presentations and endocrinologic responses were heterogeneous. Gonadotropin levels remained low in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism after castration, and ring chromosome 21 was present, suggesting that sequences from this chromosome could affect the idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism phenotype.

Mutation analysis of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if GnRH receptor mutations occur in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. DESIGN: Patients and controls were studied by molecular genetic analysis. SETTING: A tertiary medical center setting. PATIENT(S): Twenty-four patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and 20 controls. INTERVENTION(S): Deoxyribonucleic acid from all individuals was analyzed by Southern blot analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Genomic DNA was digested with restriction enzymes, and Southern blots and denaturing gradient gel blots were constructed. Blots were hybridized with the GnRH receptor complementary DNA probe. The DNA sequencing was performed on samples from two representative patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene structure was ascertained by comparing fragments from autoradiographs in patients and controls. Individual nucleotides were ascertained from DNA sequencing gels. RESULT(S): No GnRH receptor gene deletions or polymorphisms were identified by Southern blot analysis. New restriction-fragment melting polymorphisms using the enzymes DpnII, RsaI, and HaeIII were identified by denaturing gradient gel blots in patients and controls. CONCLUSION(S): Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor gene deletions or rearrangements were not observed in our idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism patients. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis failed to identify single-base differences unique to patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, dramatically reducing the likelihood that point mutations of the GnRH receptor gene are present in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Failed fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection: the extent of paternal and maternal chromatin decondensation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of paternal and maternal chromatin decondensation in unfertilized eggs after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Eggs that failed to show two pronuclei (2-PN) 48 hours after ICSI were studied at two different time intervals: at ICSI program inception (group A) and after 8 months (group B). PATIENT(S): Forty-nine patients undergoing IVF cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The unfertilized eggs were studied by chromatin staining. RESULT(S): The average fertilization rate from all ICSI cycles in these two groups was 45%. The fertilization rates in groups A and B were 35% and 59%, respectively. In group A, 65% of the unfertilized eggs were characterized by condensed sperm chromatin with 11% showing partial decondensation. In group B, only 28% of the unfertilized eggs demonstrated condensed sperm chromatin, whereas 45% were partially decondensed. In these two groups, no sperm chromatin was detected in 24% of the unfertilized eggs. The maternal chromatin remained at metaphase II in 84% of all unfertilized eggs analyzed. CONCLUSION(S): These observations suggest that the technical problem of deposition of the sperm inside the egg is not the major cause of failure of fertilization rates in ICSI cycles. Rather, it is likely to be the failure to complete both the maternal and paternal chromatin transitions that occur with normal fertilization.