The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sperm single-stranded DNA, detected by acridine orange (AO), and classical sperm parameters on embryonic quality after ICSI.
Before ICSI, the ...spermatozoa of 183 infertile patients with oligo-, astheno-, teratozoospermia (n = 147), or more than one previous unsuccessful conventional IVF attempt (n = 36) were stained by AO to assess the presence of single-stranded DNA. Two days after ICSI, the embryos of 135 patients were scored for morphology, fragmentation included. Embryos of 48 couples were cultured for 4 days to develop to the morula or blastocyst stage. At most 2 embryos were transferred on Day 2 or 4.
When the level of spermatozoa with single-stranded DNA was increased, there was a significantly lower fertilization rate after ICSI. Besides, increased sperm single-stranded DNA resulted in a higher proportion of heavily fragmented embryos on Day 2 (P < 0.05). In patients with an increased level of spermatozoa with single-stranded DNA, a significantly higher number of embryos were arrested in spite of prolonged culturing (P < 0.05). Classical sperm parameters did not affect the quality and developmental potential of ICSI-derived embryos. No correlation was found between the level of spermatozoa with single-stranded DNA, pregnancy rate, and live-birth rate achieved by ICSI, except in patients with 0% of spermatozoa with single-stranded DNA, in whom the pregnancy rate was significantly higher.
Sperm single-stranded DNA provides additional data on sperm functional capacity in terms of fertilization and embryonic quality after ICSI.
The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the effect of ammonium accumulated in sequential media and determined by enzymatic spectrophotometric method on the blastocyst development in ...281 human embryos from 100 stimulated and natural in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Ammonium concentration was increased in 62% of cycles and was correlated negatively with the blastocyst development after classical IVF, but not after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Abstract
PURPOSE: To identify a subgroup of twin-prone women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) with blastocyst transfer. MATERIALS AND METHODS OF INVESTIGATION: In a retrospective cohort study, ...2539 IVF cycles (1334 classical IVF and 1205 intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI cycles) in 1641 couples in the 3-year period were included. The cycles resulting in blastocysts were analysed in terms of female age, number of IVF attempts, infertility indication, number of developed blastocysts, and pregnancy, twin pregnancy and abortion rates. RESULTS: Blastocysts developed in 52 % of cycles. The pregnancy rate per blastocyst transfer was 43 % and the twin rate per pregnancy 20 %. We found a negative correlation between twin pregnancy rates, female age and number of IVF attempts, and a positive correlation between twin pregnancy rates and number of developed blastocysts. ICSI compromised blastocyst development without directly affecting pregnancy and twin pregnancy rates. Significantly higher twin pregnancy rates (39 % per pregnancy) were observed in women younger than 34 years who had 3 or more developed blastocysts. DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS: The subgroup of twin-prone women undergoing blastocyst transfer is characterized by age < 34 years, and number of developed blastocysts ≥ 3. Elective single blastocyst transfer in these selected women would hypothetically reduce twin pregnancy rates from 20 to 8 % per pregnancy.
Germ cell apoptosis in the human testis Martincic, D S; Virant Klun, I; Zorn, B ...
Pflügers Archiv,
01/2001, Letnik:
442, Številka:
6 Suppl 1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Apoptosis is a widespread phenomena during development. It represents a form of cell death and has a crucial role in tissue homeostasis. Apoptosis is also involved in a number of pathological ...conditions. Spermatogenesis is a dynamic process of germ cell proliferation and differentiation. During regular spermatogenesis, the number of testicular germ cells degenerate by an apoptotic process. The significance of regulating cell population by apoptosis is more apparent when sperm production is halted. The presence and frequency of apoptosis in germ cells of human testis biopsy specimens were tested. The results confirm the presence of germ cell apoptosis but not the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The increased apoptotic index was observed in patients with azoospermia in comparison with normal but obstructed spermatogenesis.
To estimate the clinical effectiveness of in vitro fertilization treatment in patients with minimal or mild endometriosis (stages I and II) in comparison to the patients with tubal infertility in ...terms of fertilization, pregnancy and livebirth rates.
Retrospective analysis of the outcome of IVF-ET in 612 cycles of the patients with endometriosis (389 stimulated with HMG/HCG and 223 co-treated with GnRH-a) and in 7,339 cycles of the patients with tubal infertility (5,520 stimulated with HMG/HCG and 1,819 co-treated with GnRH-a). RESULLTS: Regardless of the type of ovarian stimulation, the fertilization rate per treated cycle was practically the same in both groups (endometriosis 81.4% vs tubal infertility 84.2%; p = 0.07). However, in the endometriosis group the pregnancy rate was higher (25.3% vs 18.9%; p = 0.000), and so was the livebirth rate (19.0% vs 14.2%; p = 0.003). Considering the type of ovarian stimulation, the fertilization rate in the endometriosis group was almost the same in the HMG/HCG (81.2%) and in the GnRH-a co-treated cycles (81.6%), and did not differ from that in the tubal infertility group (83.6% in the HMG/HCG vs 85.9% in the GnRH-a cycles). In the GnRH-a co-treated cycles the pregnancy rate and the livebirth rate were not significantly higher in the endometriosis group than in the tubal infertility group (27% and 20.2% vs 22.2% and 17.5%). In the HMG/HCG stimulated cycles the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the endometriosis than in the tubal infertility group (24.3% vs 17.7%; p = 0.004), and so was the livebirth rate (18.4% vs 13.0%; p = 0.008).
In patients with minimal or mild endometriosis the IVF-ET procedure is at least as effective as in patients with tubal infertility.
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