Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Year:2002 | Volume:3 | Issue:3 (11) (SPECIAL ISSUE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND INFERTILITY)|Papers Count:9

In addition to have side effects on adults and embryos, abused drugs by affective sex and hypophysial hormones can reduce germ cells and sexual drive resulting infertility in human. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of addiction to morphine-induced infertility in Balb/c mice. For these purpose, a control (n=6) and 21 experimental (n=363) groups were used. Then oral morphine with initial doses (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml of water) in a 3 weeks period was administered to the animals and then the animals were crossed to each other. On 17th day of pregnancy, female rats were anesthetized by ether and the embryos were taken out surgically. Results showed that in all groups the birth chance was reduced according to the control group. The reduction was observed in group, which was treated with 0.01 morphine. Therefore it is concluded that morphine extremely reduced the birth chance in mice and may reduce fertility in animals and this may be reliable for human.

Nicotine is one of the major components of cigarette smoke, which have harmful effects like tobacco in human body. Aim of this study is to determine the effect of nicotine on sperm cells. For this purpose we studied the effect of 0.5 & 1mM of nicotine on extent of lipoperoxidation (LPO), balance between oxidized (GSSG) and reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, and extent of DNA fragmentation with antioxidant interactions in spermatozoa of normospermic men. Vitamin C, glutathione (GSH), and trolox (a water-soluble analog of Vitamin E) were used as antioxidants. Nicotine treatments (0.5 & 1mM) could elevate the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 51.50% & 78% (P<0.01&P<0.001). Antioxidants could diminish the TBARS level, amongst trolox was shown better result, but Vitamin C acted as a pro-oxidant when ferrous ions were added to the medium. It was found that the glutathione redox ratio (GSH/GSSG) decreased upon nicotine additions by 49.20% & 60.30% (P<0.01). The GST activity also was increased by about 34.01% & 57.19%, in a significant manner respectively. The comet assay results revealed that nicotine could induce severe double-stranded breaks in sperm DNA ladder. Elevated level of TBARS and decreased GSH/GSSG demonstrated a severe peroxidation on sperm membrane lipids through oxygen-derived free radicals. The upgraded activity of GST is an indicator of propagation of LPO in sperm. Collectively, these changes are able to cause inactivation in sperm leading to infertility.

Soluble salts of Barium are widely used in industry but their intake orally causes acute toxicity. Their spread in work environment can cause several complications such as painful contractions of visceral smooth muscles. Aim of this study is to evaluate effect of Barium Chloride on muscle contractility of isolated uterus of rabbit. For this purpose, 1-2 cm of Newzeland rabbit's uterus (1300-2300 g) was mounted in organ bath. Bath contained tyrod solution (pH=7.4, 370 C) gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. Changes of rabbit uterus contraction in response to different concentration of Barium were recorded by a polygraph using an isometric transducer. The results indicate that Barium chloride can cause significant contraction in the uterus in a dose dependent manner. Probably Barium Chloride exerts its effect by affecting Ca channels depending to voltage or blocking K channels, but knowing the mechanism of action needs more studies. In conclusion abortive effect of BaCL2 in uterus and abortion in human and animals must be considered particularly when it is consumed.

Birth weight is an important factor in determining physical and mental growth of infant and is a valuable criterion to judge intrauterine growth. Therefore recognition of influencing factors on low birth weight and eliminating them are of great importance. This cross sectional study was conducted in 2001 to evaluate the relation between weight gain during first pregnancy and neonates birth weight. For this purpose 12 health houses were selected randomly in Kerman district and all files of primiparous women referring during the last 12 years (1989-2001) were chosen for collecting data (n=487). While educational level, profession, weight at the beginning of pregnancy, weight gain during the pregnancy and neonates sex had significant relation with neonates birth weight but, based on stepwise regression analysis weight at the beginning of pregnancy and mothers education were significant as predictable factors of neonates birth weight. Concerning the increasing rate of maternal educational level, we hope to have less cases of low birth weight in near future. The results of this study show the importance of pre-pregnancy weight as an indicator to assess women at risk of delivering low weight neonates.

Infertility and its numerous treatment programs create crisis in infertile womens life and is a potent source of anxiety. Since cognitive behavioural therapy might be efficacious for emotional aspect of infertility, therefore we designed a study for evaluation of cognitive behaviour therapy effect on anxiety level in primary infertile women undergoing IUI in Montaserieh Infertility Research Center from May to August 2001. In this randomized controlled clinical trial 110 women with primary infertility that were undergoing IUI for first time randomly were allocated to two groups of experimental and control. In first visit for IUI treatment (beginning of study) state and trait anxiety of all subjects were measured by Spiel Berger anxiety inventory. The experimental group completed a cognitive behaviour therapy program including cognitive restructuring and relaxation for 12-13 days. Control group received only routine cares. State and trait anxiety were measured in 30 minutes before and after IUI for two groups. Findings showed that state and trait anxiety scores in beginning of study were not significantly different between two groups. But state anxiety scores during and end of study were significantly different which there was more decrease in experimental group. Trait anxiety score were not significantly different at the beginning, before and end of study. The mean of difference state anxiety at beginning and during study and beginning and end of study was significantly different and beginning and end of study in two groups. Also the mean of difference between trait anxiety at beginning and during study and beginning and end of study was significantly different in two groups, while the mean of difference between trait anxiety during and end of study was not significant. The results of study showed that cognitive behaviour therapy is effective in reduction of anxiety in women undergoing IUI treatment, so we recommend securing psychological well being in women undergoing infertility treatment.

Tubal ligation is an effective and convenient means of contraception and is becoming increasingly popular as a birth control technique in the world. Aim of this study is to compare depression degree before and after tubal ligation. For this purpose, 60 women with 23-51 years old referring to Shiraz Hospital who were candidates for tubal ligation were chosen and evaluated. Women's depression degree was assessed by Beck depression inventory one day before and six months after operation. Pre and postoperative results were compared by paired t-test. The mean score of depression before operation was 9.42±8.85 and in six months later was 17.47±11.14 (P<0.0001). If the significant difference will be approved by similar studies, importance of follow up and evaluation of probable factors such as biological or psycho-social are advised so that by proper interventions, we will be able to prevent probable depression in this group of women. The results of this study revealed significantly higher degree of depression after tubal ligation. We could point to some contributing factors such as: changes in the patient's self-image, feeling of irreversibility of operation, fear of negative evaluation of other, negative attitude of husband and some biological factors. If these findings will be confirmed in future studies, we can plan proper interventions for prevention of depression in this group of women.

Smoking has some undesirable effects on human health. Its effect on fertility is one of health problems, which public has little knowledge about them. Considering the prevalent of smoking between youth, we decided to assess the knowledge of women working in hospitals of Lorestan Medical Sciences University regarding the effect of smoking on fertility. This is a cross sectional study. 280 women were chosen so to assess the knowledge of women working in hospitals of Lorestan Medical Sciences University in 2001. Information was gathered through questionnaire which was prepared base on objectives of study and was used after proving to be valid. Results showed that 75.7% of women knew about respiratory disease, 79.1% knew about heart disease and 69.3% had knowledge about addictive effect of smoking. Base on results of this study, few women knew about fertility problem of smoking. Only 37.5% knew about infertility effect, 47% knew about intra uterine fetal death, 70.7% knew about spontaneous abortion, 52.1% knew about infant death and 10.7% had knowledge on early menopause effect of smoking. Therefore by increasing knowledge of women on effects of smoking, we can reduce the related effects.

Sperm DNA oxidative damage due to free radicals is a major contributing factor in a variety of human diseases, including male infertility. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of sperm DNA oxidative damage in infertile (according to WHO criteria) and fertile men. Semen samples were obtained after 3 to 7 days of abstinence from 25 infertile and 23 fertile men who referred to infertility Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. After semen analysis, sperm cells were separated from seminal fluid by percoll gradient centrifugation and kept at -20°C for next further analysis. Sperm DNA was extracted and its concentration and purity were determined by UV-spectrophotometer. DNA damage was studied by DNA Chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Analysis of 8 hydroxy Guanine (8-OHG) as a marker of DNA oxidative damage by GC/MS was shown that rate of basal DNA oxidative damage in infertile group was 100-fold greater than fertile group. There was also correlation between semen parameter (morphology, motility and sperm count) and DNA oxidative damage. Result of this study showed that elevation of sperm DNA oxidative damage could be one of possible reasons for male infertility.