Chromosome aneuploidy analysis in embryos derived from in vivo and in vitro matured human oocytes.

BACKGROUND: In vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) is being increasingly approached in assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study aimed to evaluate the quality of embryos generated by in-vitro matured immature follicles, as a guideline for further clinical decision-making. METHODS: A total of 52 couples with normal karyotypes underwent in vitro fertilization, and 162 embryos were donated for genetic screening. Embryos in IVF group were generated by mature follicles retrieved during gonadotrophin-stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. And embryos in IVM group were fertilized from IVM immature oocytes. RESULTS: The average age of the women was 30.50 ± 4.55 years (range 21-42 years) with 87 embryos from IVF group and 75 embryos from IVM group. The rate of aneuploid with 28 of the 87 (32.2%) embryos from IVF group and 21 of the 75 (28%) embryos from IVM group, with no significant difference. The frequency of aneuploid embryos was lowest in the youngest age and increased gradually with women's age, whether in IVF group or IVM group and risen significantly over 35 years old. The embryos with morphological grade 1 have the lowest aneuploidy frequency (16.6%), and increase by the grade, especially in IVF group. In grade 3, embryos in IVM group were more likely to be euploid than IVF group (60% vs 40%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IVM does not affect the quality of embryos and does not increase the aneuploidy rate of embryos. It is clinically recommended that women more than 35 years have a high aneuploidy rate and recommended to test by PGS (strongly recommended to screened by PGS for women more than 40 years). Women aged less than 35 years old for PGS according to their physical and economic conditions. Embryo with poor quality is also recommended to test by PGS, especially for grade III embryos.

Effects of different sperm sources on the clinical outcomes of in vitro oocyte maturation cycles combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Objectives: To evaluate the embryonic developments and clinical outcomes of different sperm sources with cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro maturation (IVM). Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the hospital ethics committee and conducted in the hospital in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic. From January 2005 to December 2018, 239 infertile couples underwent IVM-ICSI cycles and were divided into three groups according to different sperm sources. Group 1 comprised patients with percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA; n = 62, 62 cycles), group 2 comprised patients with testicular sperm aspiration (TESA; n = 51, 51 cycles), and group 3 comprised patients with ejaculated sperm (n = 126, 126 cycles). We calculated the following outcomes: 1) outcomes per IVM-ICSI cycle: fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and embryo quality; 2) outcomes per embryo transfer cycle: endometrial thickness, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate. Results: There was no difference in basic characteristics among the three groups, such as the female partner's age, basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), basal luteinizing hormone (LH), and antral follicle count (p > 0.1). There were no statistically significant differences according to the IVM-ICSI cycle among the three groups in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and rate of good-quality embryos (p > 0.05). The results were similar among cycles regarding the number of transfer embryos and endometrial thickness per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups (p > 0.05). There were also similar clinical outcomes per embryo transfer cycle among the three groups, such as the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Different sperm sources, percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, testicular sperm aspiration, and ejaculated sperm, do not affect the embryo and clinical outcomes after IVM-ICSI cycles.

[Activation of astrocytes effects changes of substance P in cornu dorsal medullae spinalis in chronic prostatitis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes of substance P in cornu dorsal medullae spinalis effected by activation of astrocytes in rats with pain from chronic prostatitis. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomized into three groups: the control group (n=20), the chronic prostatitis pain model group (n=20) and the interference group (n=20). The model was induced by injection of complete Freund adjuvant and 3% carrageenan into the prostate. Propentofylline was given with PE-10 in the spinal cord of the rat models. The activation of astrocytes and the distribution of substance P in the spinal cord were detected with immunofluorescence and the changes of substance P observed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The activation of astrocytes was significantly increased in the models compared with controls, but significantly reduced in interfered group in comparison with the pain model group (P < 0.01), and such was the case with substance P (P <0.01). CONCLUSION: The activation of astrocytes was one important reason for the changes of substance P excreted from cornu dorsal medullae spinalis in the chronic prostatitis rats.

Effects of androgen on immunohistochemical localization of androgen receptor and Connexin 43 in mouse ovary.

Androgens have essential roles in the regulation of follicular development and female fertility. Androgen excess is the leading defect in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and involved in the ovarian dysfunction. The aim of this study was to elucidate the regarding regulatory role of androgen in the follicular development of female mouse. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analyses were performed to detect androgen receptor (AR) and Connexin 43 (Cx43) expression in ovaries from both control and testosterone-treated group mice. In this study, localizations of AR and Cx43 were dramatically altered in testosterone-treated mouse ovaries. In addition, AR expression was significantly increased, whereas Cx43 expression was markedly decreased after testosterone treatment. Alterations of AR and Cx43 expression by testosterone with concomitant reduction of MII oocytes. Overall, these results suggest the involvement of androgen in the regulation of AR and Cx43 localizations in mouse ovary. Alterations of AR and Cx43 expression by testosterone may affect normal folliculogenesis. Together these findings will enable us to begin understanding the important roles of AR and Cx43 actions in the regulation of follicular development, as well as providing insights into the role of AR and Cx43 actions in the androgen-associated reproductive diseases such as PCOS.

HPV16E7-specific siRNA inhibits cell proliferation in CaSki cells.

High-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the main cause for the genesis of cervical carcinomas. After infection, E6 and E7 genes of HPV were integrated to the genome of the cervical epithelium. Continued expression of the transforming oncoproteins E6 and E7 not only drives the neoplastic progression in cervical epithelium, but also plays an important role in maintaining the malignant phenotype of cervical cancer cells. The aim of this study is to explore the effects of liposomal transfection of HPV16E7 siRNA on the proliferation of cervical carcinoma cell line CaSki. The siRNA interfering HPV16E7 gene was synthesized and transfected into CaSki cells by liposome to observe the cell morphology changes under microscope. The cell proliferation index was detected by flow cytometry; HPV16E7 mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR and its protein level was determined by Western blot. After transfection of the CaSki cell by siRNA, cell proliferation was inhibited significantly, and the expression of HPV16E7 mRNA and protein level of HPV16E7 decreased. HPV16E7 siRNA is able to inhibit growth of CaSki cells. HPV16E7 might become a new target for genetic therapy of cervical carcinoma.

Relation between the testicular sperm assay and sex hormone level in patients with azoospermia induced by mumps.

This study aimed to investigate the relation between the testicular sperm assay (TESA) and sex hormone level or testicular volume in patients with azoospermia induced by mumps. Samples from 52 patients with mumps-induced azoospermia were subjected to TESA, and then the sperm activity was observed microscopically. The sex hormone level was detected with an electrochemical assay, and ultrasound was used to calculate the testicular volume. Of the 52 azoospermia patients, 38 were found to have active sperms through testicular sperm extraction from the opened testis; furthermore, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone levels were obviously higher in the non-sperm group than in the sperm group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the testicular volume was smaller in the non-sperm group than in the sperm group; however, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). With the FSH value as a standard, the quantity of sperms was found to be within two times of, or more than two-fold of the normal range. With the testicular volume as a standard, sperms were found in testes with a volume of > 6 mL or < 6 mL. The FSH value and the testicular volume were indicators of the ability of the TESA to obtain sperms. To allow the performance of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, all patients need to undergo TESA.

Infertility treatment for azoospermic patients with a history of infectious parotitis (mumps) using combined techniques.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of in vitro maturation-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVM-ICSI) technique on the treatment of azoospermic patients with a history of infectious parotitis (mumps). METHODS: Spermatozoa were obtained from the testes of azoospermic patients with a history of mumps and fertilized by ICSI. Eggs were retrieved from the spouse of patients in the natural cycle. Fertilized embryos were transferred into the uterus of patients' respective spouses. RESULTS: Live sperm were retrieved from 16 of out of 24 (67%) azoospermic patients with a history of mumps. Using IVM-ICSI, the normal fertilization rate was 71.2%. A total of 23 treatment cycles were completed in the spouses of 16 patients and of these, 9 patients' spouses became pregnant (a pregnancy rate of 39.1%). The success rate for infertility treatment of mumps patients was equally high at 56.3% (9/16). CONCLUSION: The IVM-ICSI technique is a simple, effective and economic method for infertility treatment in azoospermic patients with a history of mumps.