The dynamic expression of SOX17 in germ cells from human female foetus and adult ovaries after specification.

Background: SOX17 has been identified as a critical factor in specification of human primordial germ cells, but whether SOX17 regulates development of germ cells after sex differentiation is poorly understood. Methods: We collected specimens of gonadal ridge from an embryo (n=1), and ovaries of foetuses (n=23) and adults (n=3). Germ cells were labelled with SOX17, VASA (classic germ cells marker), phosphohistone H3 (PHH3, mitosis marker) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3, meiosis marker). Results: SOX17 was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus of oogonia and oocytes of primordial and primary follicles from 15 to 28 gestational weeks (GW). However, it was exclusively expressed in cytoplasm of oogonia at 7 GW, and in nucleus of oocytes in secondary follicles. Co-expression rates of SOX17 in VASA+ germ cells ranged from 81.29% to 97.81% in foetuses. Co-staining rates of SOX17 and PHH3 or SCP3 were 0%-34% and 0%-57%, respectively. Interestingly, we distinguished a subpopulation of SOX17+VASA- germ cells in fetal ovaries. These cells clustered in the cortex and could be co-stained with the mitosis marker PHH3 but not the meiosis marker SCP3. Conclusions: The dynamic expression of SOX17 was detected in human female germ cells. We discovered a population of SOX17+ VASA- germ cells clustering at the cortex of ovaries. We could not find a relationship between mitosis or meiosis and SOX17 or VASA staining in germ cells. Our findings provide insight into the potential role of SOX17 involving germ cells maturation after specification, although the mechanism is unclear and needs further investigation.

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes after programmed frozen embryo transfer with or without GnRH agonist for polycystic ovary syndrome: secondary analysis results from a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported higher risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, after programmed frozen embryo transfer, especially in cycles with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment. It remains unclear if GnRH agonist pretreatment before programmed frozen embryo transfer further increases the risk for obstetrical complications among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the obstetrical and neonatal complications of singleton and twin pregnancies after programmed frozen embryo transfer with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone-a pretreatment among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of a single-center, randomized controlled trial comparing the live birth rate and cost-effectiveness of programmed cycle-prepared frozen embryo transfers with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The analysis was restricted to women with polycystic ovary syndrome, aged 24 to 40 years, who delivered live neonates after frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer. The obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were compared between programmed cycles with and those without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment. The adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and adjustments were made for relevant confounders. RESULTS: The maternal and neonatal complications associated with 177 live single births and 38 twin births (253 newborns in total) were analyzed. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of obstetrical complications, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, between the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment and no pretreatment group for both singleton and twin pregnancies. However, there was a significantly greater incidence of having a low birthweight neonate among singleton infants born after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment when compared with no pretreatment (10.2% vs 1.3%; P=0.042), and a low birthweight among singleton infants was still more likely after adjusting for confounders (relative ratio, 3.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-7.11; P=.024). Other neonatal complications were all comparable between the pretreatment and no pretreatment groups for both singleton and twin pregnancies. CONCLUSION: For women with polycystic ovary syndrome, programmed frozen embryo transfer cycles with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist pretreatment could lead to a greater risk of having a low birthweight singleton neonate.

Pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who conceived after single thawed blastocyst transfer: a propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an independent risk factor for pregnancy complications in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. For the integrative treatment of PCOS patients, it is still important to investigate the pregnancy outcomes of PCOS patients after adjusting for potential biases, such as body mass index, embryo quality and endometrial preparation method. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study ultimately included a total of 336 PCOS patients who conceived after single thawed blastocyst transfer in the PCOS group and 2,325 patients in the control group from January 2018 to December 2020. A propensity score matching (PSM) model was used, and 336 PCOS patients were matched with 336 patients in the control group. RESULTS: Before PSM, no differences in the miscarriage rate, pregnancy complication rate, preterm birth rate, or live birth rate were found between the PCOS group and the control group. After PSM, the late miscarriage rate of the PCOS group was significantly higher than that of the control group (3.3% vs. 0.6%, P = 0.040), although the early miscarriage rates were similar (14.0% vs. 13.7%). The rates of pregnancy complications, preterm birth and live birth in the PCOS group were comparable to those in the matched control group (P = 0.080, P = 0.105, P = 0.109, respectively). The neonatal weights of male infants and female infants were similar between the two groups (P = 0.219, P = 0.169). Subgroup analysis showed that PCOS patients with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels ≥ 2.49 had a significantly increased risk of preterm birth compared with those with HOMA-IR levels < 1.26 and 1.26 ≤ HOMA-IR levels < 2.49 (26.0% vs. 6.0% vs. 9.8%, P = 0.005). PCOS patients with total testosterone levels ≥ 0.7 ng/ml had a higher early miscarriage rate but a lower late miscarriage rate than those with total testosterone levels < 0.7 ng/ml (29.4% vs. 12.3%, 0% vs. 3.6%, respectively, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: PCOS is an independent risk factor for late miscarriage in patients conceived after a single thawed blastocyst transfer, even after adjusting for biases. Among PCOS patients, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism are associated with a higher risk of preterm birth and early miscarriage, respectively.

Is it worth reducing twins to singletons after IVF-ET? A retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching.

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have shown that multifetal reduction of high-order multiple pregnancies results in improved pregnancy outcomes. However, whether conducting elective fetal reduction from dichorionic twins after in vitro fertilization (IVF) is worthwhile remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether elective fetal reduction of dichorionic twins after IVF and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) is associated with increased take-home baby rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 3600 dichorionic twin pregnancies after IVF-ET. The reduced group included 71 women with transvaginal elective fetal reduction between 7 and 8 weeks of gestation. The control group (n = 3529) comprised women who were managed expectantly. Propensity score matching was conducted before pregnancy outcomes were compared. RESULTS: The take-home baby rate was significantly lower in the reduced group (83.1% vs 92.8%, P = 0.004). The total miscarriage rate was significantly higher in the reduced group (12.7% vs 6.2%, P = 0.04). Although preterm delivery rate was lower in the reduced group (P < 0.001), over 90% were over 32 weeks, whereas the proportions were equal in the reduced group. CONCLUSIONS: In dichorionic twin pregnancies after IVF-ET, elective fetal reduction to singleton significantly decreased the chance of taking home live babies.

Influence of spontaneous fetal reduction on dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy outcomes after in vitro fertilization: a large-sample retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of spontaneous fetal reduction during dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and its influence on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 4447 DCDA twin pregnancies and 14,551 singleton pregnancies after IVF-ET at a single center between 2009 and 2015. The spontaneous pregnancy reduction (SPR) group included 759 women. The remaining 3688 women with DCDA twins showing no spontaneous reduction were included in the non-SPR group. Outcomes were compared to a singleton group (n = 14,551) treated over the same period. The overall rate of spontaneous reduction and frequency distribution across gestational epochs were determined and pregnancy outcomes were compared among the three groups. Further regression analysis was conducted to investigate whether spontaneous reduction was an independent risk factor for decreased take-home baby rate. RESULTS: The overall rate of spontaneous DCDA twin reduction after IVF-ET was 17.1%, with most cases (89.8%) occurring in the first trimester. Pregnancy outcome measures, including miscarriage rate, premature delivery rate, live birth rate, take-home baby rate, gestational age of delivery, and neonatal birth weight, were significantly better in the SPR group than the non-SPR group. Live birth rate, take-home baby rate, neonatal birth weight, and other primary outcome measures in the SPR group were not inferior to the singleton group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the take-home baby rate was significantly lower in the non-SPR group (OR =0.73, 95%CI: 0.44-0.92, p = .008) and that SPR did not decrease the take-home baby rate. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous pregnancy reduction is common in DCDA twin pregnancy after IVF-ET, but has little adverse influence on pregnancy outcomes and does not reduce the probability of taking home live babies.