International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2013 | Volume:11 | Issue:5|Papers Count:11

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline antibiotic, is a widely used anticancer agent. In spite of its high antitumor efficacy, the use of DOX in clinical chemotherapy is limited due to diverse toxicities, including gonadotoxicity.Objective: We investigated the protective effect of nano-zinc oxide (nZnO) as an established antioxidant on DOX-induced testicular disorders.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 24 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups including one control and three experimentals (6 rats per group). They received saline (as control), DOX alone (6 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), nZnO alone (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), and nZnO followed by DOX. Animals were sacrificed 28 days after treatment and evaluations were made by sperm count and measuring sex hormone levels in plasma. Also total antioxidant power (TAP) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in plasma were tested. Data was analyzed with SPSS-14 and one way ANOVA test. P<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.Results: In the DOX-exposed rats significant differences were found compared with the control group (p=0.001) in plasma total antioxidant power (TAP) (425.50±32.33 vs. 493.33±18.54 mmol/mL), Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (3.70±0.44 vs. 2.78±0.68 mmol/mL), plasma testosterone (3.38±0.69 vs. 5.40±0.89 ng/dl), LH (0.26±0.05 vs. 0.49±0.18 mlU/mL), sperm count (157.98±6.29 vs. 171.71±4.42×106/mL) and DNA damage (11.51±3.45 vs. 6.04±2.83%). Co-administration of nZnO significantly improved DOX-induced changes (p=0.013) in plasma TAP (471.83±14.51 mmol/mL), LPO (2.83±0.75 mmol/mL), plasma testosterone (5.00±1.07 ng/dl), LH (0.52±0.08 mlU/mL), sperm count (169.13±5.01×106/mL) and DNA damage (7.00±1.67%).Conclusion: At the dose designed in the present investigation cytoprotective role of nano-zinc oxide through its antioxidant potential is illuminated in DOX-induced male gonadotoxicity.

Background: Approximately one percent of current live births of the world are conceived via assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental status of children born through assisted and natural conceptions at the age of five years.Materials and Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, developmental status of 5 years old children was evaluated via Persian version of 60-month Ages and Stages Questionnaires. Case group consisted of 61 singletons, term babies whom were born through ART in the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd, Iran in 2005. Control group consisted of 61 term, first child, singleton and spontaneously conceived born five years old children whom were referred to Shahid Akbari primary health care center in 2010.Results: 58 girls (47.5%) and 64 boys (52.5%) were evaluated. Frequency of developmental delay in domains of fine motor (47.5% vs. 24.6%, p=0.008) and problem solving (60.6% vs. 34.4%, p=0.004) were more in ART born children. On logistic regression, fine motor development state was independently affected by maternal educational level (OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.67-16.30, p=0.004) and developmental status in problem solving domains was independently affected by maternal educational level (OR: 4.88, 95% CI: 1.25-19.07, p=0.02) and birth weight (OR: 7.1, 95% CI: 1.78-29.01, p=0.006).Conclusion: Maternal educational level and birth weight are important factors that influenced developmental outcome of ART born children.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been shown to cause a reduction in Health-related quality of life (HRQOL).Objective: This study examines the extent of different clinical symptoms in PCOS patients on HRQOL.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to ascertain the factors related to HRQOL in 200 PCOS patients in Kashan, Iran. Main outcome measures were modified polycystic ovarian syndrome questionnaire (MPCOSQ) and clinical information of PCOS. Major clinical PCOS features including obesity (BMI), excessive body hair (hirsutism score), acne, menstrual cycle disturbances and infertility.Results: Findings showed that the most common HRQOL concern was menstrual irregularities and infertility, followed in descending order by hirsutism, weight, emotion, and acne. Multivariate analysis revealed the menstrual irregularities as a significant predictor of menstruation (p=0.005), emotion (p=0.02) and infertility (p=0.02) subscales of the MPCOSQ. Having of infertility, predicted scores on the infertility subscale (p<0.0001). Hirsutism score was a significant predictor of hirsutism (p<0.0001) and emotion (p<0.0001) subscales. Weight subscale concerns was predicted by BMI (p<0.0001), also, acne was found to be predicted score of acne subscale (p<0.0001).Conclusion: Worsened HRQOL in women with PCOS was related to more menstrual irregularities and infertility than to obesity. The finding suggests a potential for poorer compliance with weight management protocols among affected PCOS patients.

Background: Short birth intervals have been associated with adverse health outcomes, including infant, child and maternal mortality.Objective: We aimed to investigate the duration and determinants of inter birth intervals among women of reproductive age in Yazd, Iran.Materials and Methods: A cluster sampling technique was used to select 400 ever-married women aged 15-49 years in Yazd, Islamic Republic of Iran. Data were obtained by interview questionnaire and analyzed with life table, Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses.Results: The mean duration of inter birth interval was 49.76 (standard error 1.82) months (95% CI: 46.19-53.34 months) with a median of 39. In 28.5% of women the birth interval was <2 years, in 28% it was 3-5 years and in 25.5% it was ³6 years. Among explanatory variables of interest, age of marriage, and woman’s education were significant predicators of the birth interval. Women who stated an ideal preference of two children constituted 59.9% of the sample and 16% had 3 children as well as 10.7% had an ideal preference for 4 or 5.Conclusion: The study recommended an educational program to have optimal birth intervals and ideal number of children per family for the prevention of adverse prenatal outcomes.

Background: Vaginal bleeding is a common complication during pregnancy, which is observed in about 1.4 of pregnancies and in half of cases can lead to abortion. If vaginal bleeding happens during pregnancy some adverse pregnancy outcomes, including perinatal mortality and morbidity, low birth weight and preterm delivery will be increased.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between vaginal bleeding and its characteristics in the first and second trimester of pregnancy and preterm labor.Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study conducted on 440 pregnant women referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht, Iran. Data were collected by a form. The form included demographic characteristics and confounding factors, the occurrence of bleeding during pregnancy and its features. Data were analyzed by T test, chi square and logistic regression in SPSS 16.Results: Findings showed that vaginal bleeding was associated with 3 times increased risk of preterm delivery (OR: 3, 1.84 - 4.89). Also, findings showed that bleeding characteristics including bleeding time, frequency, severity and intensity was significantly associated with preterm labor.Conclusion: According to significant association between vaginal bleeding and preterm delivery, it seems that performing some interventions to prevent preterm labor could be appropriate.

Background: Irradiation is one of the major causes of induced sperm DNA damage. Various studies suggested a relation between sperm DNA damage and fertilization rate after intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Objective: In this study, fertilization rate and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) formation after ICSI of hamster oocytes with irradiated sperms from normal and oligosperm individuals was investigated.Materials and Methods: Human sperms were classified according to counts to normal and oligosperm. Ten samples were used for each group. Golden hamster oocytes were retrieved after super ovulation by PMSG and HCG injection. From retrieved oocytes, 468 were in metaphase II. Control and 4 Gy gamma irradiated sperms were then injected into oocytes. After pronuclei formation in injected oocytes and formation of 8 cells embryos, slides were prepared using Tarkowskie’s standard air-drying technique. The frequency of embryos and PCC were analyzed using 1000× microscope after staining in 5% Giemsa.Results: The extent of embryo development in oocytes injected by irradiated sperms was lower than those injected by non-irradiated sperms (p=0.0001). The frequency of PCC in failed fertilized oocytes was significantly higher in oligosperms (46%) compared with normal ones (0%), but there was no significant difference between irradiated and non-irradiated samples in each group (p=0.12).Conclusion: The results showed that irradiation of sperms might influence the fertilization outcome possibly due to sperm DNA damage. One possible cause of precluding oocytes from fertilization in oligosperm individuals might be the formation of PCC.

Background: More than 40% of infertilities are due to endometriosis. Ultrustructural and histochemical study of endometrium will help to clarify the etiology of endometriosis.Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the ultrastructure and occurrence of apoptosis in endometrial cells of women with or without endometriosis.Materials and Methods: In the present case-control study, endometrial specimens from 12 women without endometriosis (as control) and 12 women with endometriosis (as case) were examined. Specimens for control group were obtained from the patients that were referred to gynecology hospital for hysterectomy due to various reasons. In case group the endometriosis was diagnosed according to laparoscopy and endometrial samples were taken using pippel biopsy. The specimens from both case and control groups were processed for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), TUNEL reaction technique and morphometric studies.Results: The results show that endometrial epithelium lost its continuity in women with endometriosis and endometrial cells have euchromatic nucleus in comparison to those from non-endometriosis. There were several apoptotic cells in the luminal and glandular endometrial epithelium and stroma from endometrium of control group. However, apoptotic cells were rarely seen in the endometrium from women with endometriosis. The difference in number of apoptotic cells between two groups statically was significant (p<0.001).Conclusion: Regarding the ultrastructural characteristics of endometrial epithelial cells and comparison of apoptotic occurrence in control and case groups it is concluded that endometrial cells in endometriosis group have higher potential to survive and possibly implant.

Background: Endometriosis is a disease that is hard to diagnose without the gold standard method, laparoscopy. An easier diagnostic method is needed.Objective: The aim of the study is to determine whether the number of macrophage cells in the endometrium and/or the detection of nerve fibers can be used in the diagnosis of endometriosis.Materials and Methods: Endometrial sampling was done to 31 patients prior to laparoscopy (L/S) or laparotomy (L/T) at Istanbul University Istanbul School of Medicine Hospital between January 2010 February 2011. Also 34 patients who were retrospectively chosen from their files were added to the study. 5 patients were excluded from the study. Totally, 31 patients were placed in the endometriosis and 29 patients in the control group. Endometrial samples were evaluated immunohistochemically with the markers protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and neurofilament (NF) for nerve fibers and CD68 for macrophages.Results: None of the samples were stained with PGP 9.5 and NF. As for CD68+cells, no statistically significant difference was observed between groups (endometriosis: 216.10±104.41; control: 175.93±43.05, p=0.06). Results were also evaluated in the subgroups of menstruel phases and disease stages. Only in the proliferative phase there was a significant increase in the endometriosis group (p=0.03). No significant difference was observed between the stages.Conclusion: The detection of nerve fibers in the eutopic endometrium with the markers of PGP 9.5 and NF is not found to be helpful in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Macrophage cells may be helpful in the diagnosis only in the proliferative phase.

Background: Endometriosis is a complex estrogen-dependent disease that is defined as the presence of endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterine cavity. Although the exact mechanism for the development of endometriosis remains unclear, there is a large body of research data and circumstantial evidence that suggests a crucial role of estrogen in the establishment and maintenance of this disease.Objective: This study is an attempt to assess the effect of curcumin on inhibiting endometriosis endometrial cells and to investigate whether such an effect is mediated by reducing estradiol production.Materials and Methods: Endometriotic stromal cells, normal endometrial stromal cells, endometriotic epithelial cells and normal endometrial epithelial cells were isolated and cultured. E2 value of cells and the effect of curcumin on cell proliferation were evaluated. Finally, effect of curcumin on E2 assay was detected.Results: Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay results showed that E2 value of endometriotic epithelial cells was higher than the endometriotic stromal cells (p=0.037), while the expression of E2 in normal endometrial stromal and epithelial cells was extremely low. WST-8 result showed, compared with endometrial stromal cells, ectopic endometriotic stromal cells had a higher growth rate. After intervene with curcumin (10mmol/L, 30mmol/L and 50mmol/L) for 0-96h, the number of endometriotic stromal cells was reduced and cells growth slowed, compared with 0mmol/L group. Compared with 0mmol/L group, E2 level was lower after treatment with curcumin, especially in 30mmol/L and 50mmol/L group.Conclusion: In summary, in this study we found that E2 is important in ectopic endometrium, and epithelial cell is in dominant position with E2 secretion. Curcumin was able to suppress the proliferation of endometrial cells by reducing the E2 value.

Background: Nanoparticles have wide range of application while there are some reports regarding their probable effects on male reproductive system and spermatozoa.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (70nm) on acrosome of rat spermatozoa and number of spermatogenic cells.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, in experimental group, 32 male wistar rats (8 rats/group) received oral feeding AgNPs every 12 hr in one spermatogenesis period (48 days) by means of gavages in 25, 50 , 100 and 200 mg/kg concentration (experimental groups 1-4, respectively). The control group (8 rats) was treated on schedule with distilled water. Spermatozoa were stained by triple staining protocol for acrosome reaction. Histological evaluation on testis sections was performed using tissue processing and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining.Results: There was significant difference between the control group and the experimental group 1 for acrosome reaction (11.00±0.00 and 24.25±3.68, respectively, p=0.01). There was only significant reduction in spermatogonia cells in experimental group 4. Experimental groups 2, 3 and 4 showed a significant reduction in the number of primary spermatocytes and spermatids as well as spermatozoa. But there were no significant differences between different groups for Sertoli cell number and seminiferous tubule diameter.Conclusion: It seems that Ag NPs have acute and significant effects on spermatogenesis and number of spermatogenic cells and also on acrosome reaction in sperm cells. More experimental investigations are necessary to elucidate better conclusion regarding the safety of nanoparticles on male reproduction system.

Background: In human, about 25% of implanted embryos are losing 1-2 week following attachment to the uterus. A subset of this population will have three or more consecutive miscarriages which define as repeated pregnancy loss (RPL). Introducing the assisted reproductive technologies (ARTS) made a chance for infertile couples to solve their childless problem.Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of Y-chromosome AZF region’s micro-deletions in male partners of couples with recurrent miscarriage (RM).Materials and Methods: Thirty male partner of couples with RM and thirty infertile males, who referred to the Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility were recruited to this study. In addition, 30 healthy men were screened as a control group from the same center. After DNA extraction using salting out method, the multiplex-PCR was done for amplifying 8 known STSs proximal to the AZF region of the Y-chromosome. The results were compared between the groups using Fisher’s exact t-test and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Of the 30 infertile males, 5 (16.6%) cases were associated with the AZF region micro-deletions of DYF87S, DYF84S1, DYF83S1 and DYF51S1, STSs. But in the fertile and RM male groups was found no deletions similar to those, of the infertile males (p=1.0). Instead 4 (13.3%) cases of the RM group males had different micro-deletions included DYS220 (AZFb, sY129), DYS262, DYF8551, and DYF8651, STSs. The AZFc locus of Y-chromosome micro-deletions have a significant role in RM (p=0.045).Conclusion: It seems that the Y-chromosome AZF region’s micro-deletions are associated with RM, and we recommend adding this AZF region STSs into infertility analyzing panels.