microRNAs as A Biomarker to Predict Embryo Quality Assessment in In Vitro Fertilization.

Embryo selection for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is an effort to increase the success rate of embryo implantation. Factors influencing the success of embryo implantation include embryo quality, endometrial receptivity, embryo characteristics, and maternal interactions. Some molecules have been found to influence these factors, but their regulatory mechanisms are unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are reported to play an essential role in the embryo implantation process. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs consisting of only 20 nucleotides that play an essential role in the stability of gene expression regulation. Previous studies have reported that miRNAs have many roles and are released by cells into the extracellular environment for intracellular communication. In addition, miRNAs can provide information related to physiological and pathological conditions. These findings encourage research development in determining the quality of embryos in IVF to increase the implantation success rate. Moreover, miRNAs can provide an overview of embryo-maternal communication and potentially be noninvasive biological markers of embryo quality, which could increase assessment accuracy while reducing mechanical damage to the embryo itself. This review article summarizes the involvement of extracellular miRNAs and the potential applications of miRNAs in IVF.

Insight into magnesium ions effect on chromosome banding and ultrastructure.

Magnesium ion (Mg2+ ) plays a fundamental role in chromosome condensation which is important for genetic material segregation. Studies about the effects of Mg2+ on the overall chromosome structure have been reported. Nevertheless, its effects on the distribution of heterochromatin and euchromatin region have yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Mg2+ on the banding pattern and ultrastructure of the chromosome. Chromosome analysis was performed using the synchronized HeLa cells. The effect of Mg2+ was evaluated by subjecting the chromosomes to three different solutions, namely XBE5 (containing 5 mM Mg2+ ) as a control, XBE (0 mM Mg2+ ), and 1 mM EDTA as cations-chelator. Chromosome banding was carried out using the GTL-banding technique. The ultrastructure of the chromosomes treated with and without Mg2+ was further obtained using SEM. The results showed a condensed chromosome structure with a clear banding pattern when the chromosomes were treated with a buffer containing 5 mM Mg2+ . In contrast, chromosomes treated with a buffer containing no Mg2+ and those treated with a cations-chelator showed an expanded and fibrous structure with the lower intensity of the banding pattern. Elongation of the chromosome caused by decondensation resulted in the band splitting. The different ultrastructure of the chromosomes treated with and without Mg2+ was obvious under SEM. The results of this study further emphasized the role of Mg2+ on chromosome structure and gave insights into Mg2+ effects on the banding distribution and ultrastructure of the chromosome.

Effect of egg yolk of free-range chicken and methanol as a cryoprotective agent for the sperm preservation of cyprinid fish, Neolissochilus soroides (Valenciennes, 1842).

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum concentration of egg yolk of free-range chicken as a cryoprotective agent on cyprinid fish, Neolissochilus soroides sperm after 48 h frozen. One level of methanol (10%) combined with six levels of egg yolk solution (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) were tested. Fish Ringer's solution was used as an extender. The diluted sperm was equilibrated for 10 min at 5 °C, then kept at -10 °C temperature for 48 h. Sperm was thawed for 1 min at 40 °C. Spermatozoa viability, abnormality, and fertilization rates were analysed afterwards. The one-way ANOVA showed that the combination methanol with several concentrations of egg yolk solution had a significant effect on spermatozoa viability, abnormality, and fertilization rates (P < 0.05) by improving semen character. The study revealed that the 5% egg yolk solution combined with 10% methanol resulted in the highest rates of viability (82.13 ± 1.75%) and fertility rates (92.96 ± 1.94%), with the lowest abnormality (25.25 ± 2.22%). A 5% egg yolk solution was identified as the best cryoprotective agent for N. soroides spermatozoa preservation at -10 °C for 48 h.

Polymorphisms of Estrogen Receptor-α and Estrogen Receptor-ß Genes and its Expression in Endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder, characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue in the extrauterine location. The increasing estradiol concentration can influence endometriosis risk and estrogen receptor (ER) activity. Polymorphism in ER causes gene expression alteration and influences hormone-receptor interaction. This research aims to determine ER genetic polymorphisms in endometriosis pathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on case-control polymorphisms, which compared 83 women with endometriosis and 76 women without endometriosis. However, the samples used for ER gene expression analysis and estrogen level measurement were obtained from 18 women with endometriosis and 18 women without endometriosis. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine ER genetic polymorphisms. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation (p), t-independent, and two-tailed tests were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Association between the allele ERα rs9340799 A/G and endometriosis was significantly different (p=0.012), whereas rs2234693 T/C polymorphism showed no association with endometriosis. The correlation between the genotype frequencies of allele ERß rs4986938 G/A and endometriosis was found significantly different (p=0.015; p=0.034). CONCLUSION: Estradiol level and ERß expression increases, polymorphism genotypes and alleles of ERß rs4986938 G/A gene and allele frequency of ERα rs9340799 A/G gene have roles in endometriosis.

The impact of late follicular progesterone level on in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome: Case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have been conducted to improve the pregnancy rate through the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program. In recent years, researchers have been focusing on finding impact of high progesterone level on endometrial receptivity. However, data on whether progesterone level also affects the quality of the embryo is still limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to assess the effect of late follicular progesterone level on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control of 245 women who underwent in vitro fertilization cycle at Halim Fertility Center, Indonesia. The outcomes assessed were number of oocytes retrieved (OR), maturation rate (MR), fertilization rate (FR), number of good embryos (GE), number of fair embryos (FE), and number of poor embryos (PE). The progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) levels were analyzed on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection. Serum progesterone level was divided into three groups: 1. low progesterone ( ≤ 0.50 ng/ml), 2. normal progesterone (0.51-1.50 ng/ml), and 3. high progesterone ( > 1.50 ng/ml). All outcomes were compared amongst the groups. RESULTS: Significant differences occurred between progesterone level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration. The number of OR in group 1, 2, and 3 were 8.41 ± 5.88 vs. 12.99 ± 8.51 vs. 17.58 ± 9.52, respectively. CONCLUSION: Progesterone level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin injection may have an impact on the outcome of IVF-ICSI.