International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2020 | Volume:18 | Issue:10|Papers Count:10

Background: Many researchers consider implantation and endometrial receptivity as pertinent issues in reproductive science. Although, several experiments have been performed and their results evaluated, yet there is no confirmed evidence about the related factors and the role of sperm in endometrial receptivity. Objective: To investigate the effect of the sperm-endometrium interaction in regulating genes involved in the endometrial receptivity pathway. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 10 male and 30 female NMRI mice were included, and half of the male cases were vasectomized. The subjects were divided into two groups as follows; group 1 (case) comprised of 15 females mated with 5 non-vasectomized male mice, while group 2 (control) consisted of 15 females mated with 5 vasectomized males. Cases were sacrificed and assessed after 36 hr and the endometrial tissue was extracted and kept at-80° C until the next use. The expression of the endometrial receptivity pathway genes, including VEGF, HBEGF, FGF2, EGF, LIF, LIFR, HOXA10, MUC1, PGR, and CSF, was examined in both groups. For statistical analysis, an independent samples test (Mean ± SD) was used. Results: The mRNA levels of LIF (p = 0. 045), LIFR (p = 0. 040), MUC1 (p = 0. 032), VEGF (p = 0. 022), EFG (p = 0. 035), and FGF2 (p = 0. 040) were significantly upregulated in the case group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Finally, seminal plasma was observed to be effective in expressing the involved genes in the successful implantation pathway, including LIF, LIFR, MUC1, VEGF, EGF, and FGF2.

Background: Endometriosis is generally considered as a benign condition; however, there is a possibility for it to become cancerous. miR-125b is upregulated in both endometriotic tissues and serum samples of women with endometriosis but its potential targets in endometriosis are still not fully understood. Objective: The role of miR-125b in the regulation of TP53 expression in endometriosis was tested with a bioinformatics approach. In addition, the expression of miR-125b and TP53 in both eutopic (Eu-p) and ectopic endometrium (Ec-p) in the endometrium tissues of women with endometriosis was compared to those in the normal endometrium tissues of controls (Normal). Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the Eu-p and Ec-p samples were collected from 20 women who underwent laparoscopic surgery, and the normal endometrium tissues were collected from 20 controls with no evidence of endometriosis. For bioinformatics approach, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed based on co-expressed potential targets of miR-125b. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique was used for the measurement of miR125b and TP53 expression. Results: Our results showed that miR-125b was significantly overexpressed in Ec-p (p-value: 0. 021). In addition, there was a significant TP53 under expression in both the Ec-p and Eu-p samples compared with the Normal tissues (p-value: 0. 003). Conclusion: The negative correlation between miR-125b and TP53 as well as a noticeable decreased expression of TP53 in both Ec-p and Eu-p samples may be interpreted as the roles of miR-125b/TP53 axis in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In addition, these findings and bioinformatic analyses imply a possible role of miR-125b in cancer-like features of endometriosis.

Background: Formalin is commonly applied as an antiseptic and tissue fixative. It has reactive molecules that lead to its cytotoxic effects. According to recent studies, formalin causes a change in the testicular and sperm structure and L-carnitine (LC) acts as an antioxidant to counteract its effects. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of LC on the parameters, chromatin condensation and apoptosis of mice sperm exposed to formalin. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 balb/c mice (25-40 gr, 10-12 wk) were divided into three groups (n = 8/each): group I without any injections or gavage; group II, received 10 mg/ kg formalin intraperitoneally (I. P); and group III was exposed to formalin and LC, where a dose of 10 mg/kg formalin was injected I. P daily and LC the dose of 100 mg/kg was kept in a solvent solution. After 31 days, the sperm examination was performed as follows: to evaluate chromatin and DNA quality of the sperm, we applied aniline blue (AB), toluidine blue (TB), chromomycin A3 (CMA3), and terminal transferase-mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate biotin end labeling (TUNEL) tests. Results: Sperm parameters such as count, motility, morphology, and viability displayed a significant decrease in the formalin group. While the data exhibited a considerable augment in sperm parameters in the formalin + LC than the formalin and control groups (p < 0. 001), significant differences were detected between groups with respect to TB staining, TUNEL test, CMA3 test and AB staining in the formalin and formalin + LC groups. Conclusion: LC can reduce the negative effects of formalin on sperm parameters, chromatin stability, and percentage of apoptosis in an animal model.

Background: Although female sexual function can be affected by many psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors, limited studies have focused on the relationships between this construct with some concepts such as women’ s attitudes toward menstruation and perception from their gender role. Objective: To investigate the association between gender roles and attitude toward menstruation with sexual function among Iranian reproductive women. Materials and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on a group of 164 Iranian women referred to the health centers of Torbat Heydariyeh, between August and December 2018. All eligible women filled the female sexual function index (FSFI), Bem Sex Role Inventory, and Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. Results: The result showed that the total FSFI score was significantly higher in masculine and androgynous gender role groups than women with undifferentiated gender role (p = 0. 014, and p = 0. 012, respectively). Nevertheless, androgynous women had better sexual arousal than undifferentiated women (p = 0. 013). Significant reverse correlations were observed between the perception of menstruation as a debilitating, bothersome, and predictable event with a total score of FSFI and all subscales except lubrication (p = 0. 001). In contrast, there was a positive relationship between denial of any effects of menstruation with total FSFI and all its sub-scores except lubrication (p = 0. 001). Conclusion: This study highlighted the role of masculinity and androgyny gender role stereotypes and menstrual attitude in the sexual function of heterosexual women. Future studies are needed to explain how these psychological contexts contribute to different aspects of women’ s sexuality.

Background: Acrylamide (AA) is a compound used in the industrial production of polyacrylamide. AAs affects by creating oxidative stress. It produces reactive oxygen species and leads to lipid peroxide. Lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane is one of the most important oxidations in the sperm, which can disrupt the fluidity and permeability of cell membranes and damage all cells. Objective: To investigate the different concentrations of AA on human sperm parameters based on the World Health Organization standard and its impact on mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm glutathione levels. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, we examined the different concentrations of AA on human sperm parameters based on the World Health Organization standard and its impact on mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry and sperm glutathione levels by ELISA assay. Results: The results were reported as the mean fluorescence intensity of JC and the index was observed to decrease following the effect of AA in mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψ m). The results of ELISA test to study the level of intracellular glutathione showed that with the increase in the concentration of AA exposed to sperms, there was a significant reduction in the level of intracellular glutathione. Conclusion: AA destroys the sperm membrane integrity under apoptotic and oxidative inductions with a negative impact on mitochondrial function and antioxidative enzyme in sperm such as glutathione.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an oxidative state resulting in ovarian dysfunction. Licorice is one of the natural antioxidants used for the treatment of infertility. Objective: To evaluate the effect of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice. Materials and Methods: thirty-two female NMIR mice were divided into four groups (n = 8/each): control group receiving no treatment (group I); PCOS group injected with estradiol valerate once daily for 21 days (group II); and experimental groups receiving either 100 mg/kg (group III) or 150 mg/kg (group IV) licorice by gavage along with estradiol valerate once daily for 3 wk. Serum levels of the testosterone and estrogen were measured using ELISA kit. Histological study of ovaries was evaluated, and oocyte maturation, fertilization rate, and embryo development were determined after in vitro maturation. Results: Experimental groups (III, IV) had significantly higher testosterone and estradiol levels compared to the PCOS group (p ≤ 0. 001). A significant increase in the number of healthy follicles (primary, preantral follicles) (p = 0. 001), corpus luteum (p = 0. 001) with significant decrease in the number of atretic follicles (primary, preantral, cystic follicles) (p ≤ 0. 001) was seen in the experimental groups. Increase in the fertilization rate (p ≤ 0. 001) and blastocyst stage embryos (p = 0. 02, p = 0. 004) were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusion: It appears that the two doses (100 mg and 150 mg) of licorice could decrease ovarian cyst and improve the fertilization rate of oocyte and embryo development in PCOS mice. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two experimental groups.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects women’ s fertility and causes alterations such as obesity, insulin resistance, menstrual irregularities, and polycystic ovaries. The results of the studies show that the issue of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) is controversial for PCOS susceptibility. Objective: To investigate the association of BsmI polymorphism in the VDR gene with metabolic parameters in obese PCOS women. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 38 obese subjects with PCOS and 40 unrelated obese individuals were evaluated to determine the allelic and genotypic frequency of BsmI variant by Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method. Body Mass Index, parathyroid hormone, phosphorus, and calcium were evaluated in all participants. Results: BsmI (rs1544410), (A/G) AA, AG, GG, A, and G percentage of genotypic/allelic frequencies were 65. 8, 26. 3, 7. 9, 78. 9, and 21. 1 in cases and 57. 5, 40, 2. 5, 77. 5, and 22. 5 in controls, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that the differences in genotypic (p = 0. 31)/allelic (p = 0. 83) frequencies and dominant (p = 0. 45)/recessive (p = 0. 35) models between the cases and controls were not significant. This study indicates no association between the BsmI genotypes and metabolic parameters. Conclusion: It can be concluded that VDR BsmI (rs1544410) Intron 8 (A > G) was not associated with obesity along with PCOS susceptibility in the studied groups.

Background: The genomic stability of stem cells to be used in cell therapy and other clinical applications is absolutely critical. In this regard, the relationship between in vitro expansion and the chromosomal instability (CIN), especially in human amniotic fluid cells (hAFCs) has not yet been completely elucidated. Objective: To investigate the CIN of hAFCs in primary and long-term cultures and two different culture mediums. Materials and Methods: After completing prenatal genetic diagnoses (PND) using karyotype technique and chromosomal analysis, a total of 15 samples of hAFCs from 650 samples were randomly selected and cultured in two different mediums as AmnioMAX II and DMEM. Then, proliferative cells were fixed on the slide to be used in standard chromosome G-banding analysis. Also, the senescent cells were screened for aneuploidy considering 8 chromosomes by FISH technique using two probe sets including PID I (X-13-18-21) & PID II (Y-15-16-22). Results: Karyotype and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH) results from 650 patients who were referred for prenatal genetic diagnosis showed that only 6 out of them had culture-derived CIN as polyploidy, including mosaic diploidtriploid and diploid-tetraploid. Moreover, the investigation of aneuploidies in senesced hAFCs demonstrated the rate of total chromosomal abnormalities as 4. 3% and 9. 9% in AmnioMAX-and DMEM-cultured hAFCs, respectively. Conclusion: hAFCs showed a low rate of CIN in two AmnioMAX II and DMEM mediums and also in the proliferative and senescent phases. Therefore, they could be considered as an attractive stem cell source with therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine.

Background: There is evidence suggesting that the pregnancy outcome may be affected by some medical conditions, such as liver diseases. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of liver disease and its outcomes in pregnant women referred to antenatal clinic in the hospital. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all pregnant women with abnormal liver function test attending antenatal clinic affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were recruited from August 2017 to July 2018. All participants were followed-up until delivery with respect to the maternal and neonatal outcome. Results: Of a total of 7, 121 pregnant women recruited in the study, 110 (1. 58%) women were detected with a liver disease; of these, 105 women were diagnosed with pregnancy-specific liver diseases, including HELLP syndrome (10. 9%), preeclampsia (50. 98%), partial HELLP (0. 9%), eclampsia (0. 9%), acute fatty liver (9. 1%), intra-hepatic cholestasis 25 (22. 7%), and 5 women the non-pregnancy-specific liver disease, including Liver transplantation (2. 7%), and Autoimmune hepatitis (1. 8%). Prevalence of the premature birth was 64. 5% in pregnancy-specific liver disease, but no premature birth was detected in cases with liver transplantation. We found that neonatal mortality was significantly associated with neonatal prematurity (p = 0. 013), IUGR (p < 0. 001), placental pathology (p = 0. 04), we had no maternal mortality. Conclusion: Liver disease is not uncommon in pregnancy. This study demonstrated that pregnancy is safe in women with liver disease.

Background: The phenomenon of infertility may be derived from different factors-either in males or females or both genders, including few unexplained factors. It is generally managed by medical and surgical treatments. Objective: To find a relation of occurrence of spontaneous pregnancy (SP) with effective factors in infertility. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two referral infertility centers (university and privacy center) in the southwest of Iran from March 2015 and March 2016 on 655 infertile couples, who were divided in two groups of with (n = 31) and without (n = 624) SP. The variables included female and male age, male smoking, male job, the place of living, the causes of infertility, the type and duration of infertility, and the subgroups of infertility causes. Results: Infertility may be caused due to both male-and female-related factors (47. 5%). While female-related infertility was found in 31. 5%, male-related infertility in 14. 5%, and infertility due to unexplained factors in 6. 6% of our patients. The rate of SP was 4. 7%, which had a significant relation with the duration of infertility (p = 0. 01), with women’ s age (p = 0. 048), unexplained infertility (p = 0. 001), and husband’ s job (p = 0. 004). Conclusion: The occurrence of SP in infertile couples was related to age of the female partner, the duration of unexplained infertility, and the male partner’ s job.