International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Year:2013 | Volume:11 | Issue:9|Papers Count:11

Background: Busulfan (Bus) is a chemotherapy drug that is widely used for cancer treatment. However, administration of busulfan may cause temporary or permanent sterility in male patients. Therefore, reduction of this side is necessary.Objective: evaluation of the protective effects of L-carnitine and testis homogenized tissue (THT) on sperm parameters and the testis structure after busulfan treatment.Materials and Methods: Twenty rats were divided four groups. Group I (Control) received a single dose of DMSO and 1mL of distilled water (I.P.). Group II (Bus) received a single of busulfan (10 mg/kg) plus 1 ml of the distilled water (I.P.). Group III (Bus+THT) received busulfan plus 1mL of THT daily by oral gavages. Group IV (Bus+L-car) received a single dose of busulfan plus 100 mg/kg/day L-carnitine (I.P.). After 48 dayst, the Stereological technique was used for the estimating volume and diameter of testis, seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue, flagella length, germinal epithelium height and spermatoginic cell number. Semen analysis was used for the assessment of sperm parameters.Results: THT increased volume of testis (6.5%), seminiferous tubule and interstitial tissue volume (6.5%, 6.9% and 11.7% respectively), germinal epithelium height (13%), sperm count (7.5%), and decreased sperm with abnormal morphology (1%) in comparison with the L-carnitine in busulfan treated group.Conclusion: It seems the use of L-carnitine and THT decreases side effects of busulfan on the male reproductive system. However, in our study, THT is more effective than L-carnitine and leads to the recovery testis structure and sperm parameters after treatment with busulfan.

Background: Amniotic fluid is an indicator of placental function on the fetal development. The amniotic fluid index is the most commonly used method of measuring amniotic fluid.Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the pregnancy outcomes of a borderline versus normal AFI.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 235 pregnant women referred to Alzahra Medical Center between 2009-2011. Women with a singleton pregnancy in third trimester were enrolled into this study; of these subjects, 141 cases were in normal AFI group and 94 cases in borderline AFI group. Adequate information was obtained from the patients' medical record and the groups were compared on maternal and fetal complications. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS.Results: The mean maternal age in borderline AFI group was 25.96±5.92 years and in normal AFI group was 27.88±6.5 years (p=0.023). Maternal outcomes such as preterm delivery and labor induction in women with borderline AFI were considerably higher than those in normal group (p=0.01 and p=0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, diabetes and neonatal respiratory distress. The borderline AFI group had higher rate of neonatal complications such as Apgar score of less than 7 (p=0.004), IUGR (0.0001), LBW (0.001), and crucial need to NICU (0.003).Conclusion: Findings indicated that there are statistical differences between adverse outcomes in borderline AFI group and normal group.

Background: Glycowithanolides (Withaferin A), is one of the main withanolides active principle isolated from plant Withania somnifera and is claimed that it possess the aphrodisiac, sedative, rejuvenate and life prolonging properties.Objective: In the present investigation, antioxidant activity of active principles of Withania somnifera was tested against D-galactose induced oxidative stress in mouse testes, epididymis and seminal vesicle.Materials and Methods: For the present investigation Swiss male albino mice Mus musculus (Linn) were used. They were grouped in to control (I), D-galactose treated (II), protective (III) and curative groups (IV). Oxidative stress was induced in six month old mice by injecting a low dose of D-galactose. Antioxidant effect of plant extract was studied in testes, epididymis, and seminal vesicle of oxidative stressed mice on Lipid peroxidation (LPO) and fluorescence product.Results: In the present study, both total as well as mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and fluorescence product in testes, epididymis and seminal vesicle were increased in D-galactose induced mice. After the treatment of glycowithanolides there was significantly decrease in total as well as mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and fluorescence product in protective and curative groups.Conclusion: Our results indicate that Withania somnifera has a capability of preventing oxidative stress and also combating stress induced infertility.

Background: There has been an increase in number of obese infertile females booked for advanced infertility treatment procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The knowledge of impact of body mass index (BMI) on reproductive outcome can help to counsel these patients.Objective: To compare reproductive outcome in females of different BMI after ICSI.Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 323 females was conducted from June 2010 till August 2011. Females were grouped on the basis of BMI; underweight, (BMI <18 kg/m2), normal weight, (BMI 18-22.9 kg/m2) overweight (BMI 23-25.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥26 kg/m2). The procedure involved down regulation of ovaries, controlled ovarian stimulation, ovulation induction by hCG, oocyte pickup, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer of blastocysts. The oocyte yield and embryological data of all BMI groups was compared by ANOVA (analysis of variance). Pregnancy outcome of these was categorized as; no conception bhCG <5 m IU/ml, preclinical abortion with bhCG >5 m IU/ml, no cardiac activity on trans vaginal scan (TVS) and clinical pregnancy with bhCG >5mIU/ml and cardiac activity on trans vaginal scan. Results: Females with BMI 23-25.99 kg/m2 had maximum oocyte retrieval, fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates in comparison to obese females with BMI ≥26 kg/m2.Conclusion: A BMI cut off value of above 26 kg/m2 in our study population is associated with a negative impact on pregnancy outcome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is highly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). There are extensive ethnic differences in the clinical manifestations, pathological changes, and ovarian changes in women with PCOS.Objective: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of NAFLD in Chinese women with PCOS.Materials and Methods: Non-pregnant women with PCOS (N= 602) and matched controls without PCOS (N=588) were recruited. Basal endocrine, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin release level, lipid level, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. Liver biochemical and B-hepatitis and C-hepatitis indices were determined.Results: NAFLD was significantly more prevalent in women with PCOS than controls (32.9% vs. 18.5%) and included 113 (57.1%) mild, 75 (37.8%) moderate and 10 (5.1%) severe cases. Luteinizing hormone was significantly lower in PCOS women with NAFLD than without NAFLD. In the PCOS group, NAFLD prevalence and severity increased with BMI. The liver index was significantly higher (p<0.001), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly lower (p<0.001) in the PCOS group than controls. Insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, diabetes mellitus, abnormal glucose tolerance, liver dysfunction, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were significantly more prevalent in the NAFLD group than controls.Conclusion: Chinese women with PCOS have a high prevalence of mostly mild and moderate NAFLD, not significantly associated with hyperandrogenism that increased significantly with BMI. Insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities are important factors associated with NAFLD. Chinese women with BMI ≥24 kg/mP2P should be screened for NAFLD.

Background: Embryo cryopreservation is the process that water is removed from the cell by cryoprotectant materials, and embryos are stored at temperature below zero. This process may affect the viability and developmental potential of embryos.Objective: In this study, the effect of the vitrification cryotop method on the expression level of Oct4 and Mest developmental genes in mouse blastocysts was examined.Materials and Methods: The collected 2-cell embryos of superovulated mouse by oviduct flushing were divided into non-vitrified and vitrified groups. These embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage directly in the non-vitrified group and in the vitrified group, these embryos were cultured to 4-8 cell embryos, vitrified with cryotop in these stages and after 2-6 months, warmed and cultured to blastocyst embryos. Quantitative expression of two developmental genes, namely Oct4 and Mest, were performed in these groups, using RNA purification and Real-time RT-PCR.Results: Quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression level of both genes, Oct4 and Mest, was reduced significantly in the vitrified-warmed group relative to the control group (p=0.046 and p=0.001).Conclusion: This study revealed that morphologically normal embryos show a reduced amount of Oct4 and Mest transcripts which indicate that the vitrification method negatively effects the expression level of these two developmental genes.

Background: Caffeine increases the CAMP production that stimulates spermatozoa movement. Caffeine is also used for induction of in vitro acrosome reaction in mammalian spermatozoa, an important step in achieving fertilization.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of caffeine on sperm's motility, vitality and laboratory fertilization rates in mouse in two T6 and M16 media.Materials and Methods: Epididymal mouse sperms were collected and treated by caffine in T6 and M16 media and their motility and vitality rates were evaluated. The pretreated sperms were added to oocytes in T6 and M16 media with and without caffeine and fertilization rates were recorded after 24 hours incubation.Results: Sperm's motility (81.7±1.67%) and vitality (88.7±1.33%) rates and percentage of fertilized oocytes (67.52±8.16%) in T6 medium plus caffeine compare to control group have increased and shown significant differences at p≤0.01. While the percentages of these parameters in M16 medium supplemented with caffeine were 68.3±6.01%, 78±6.11%, and 42.6±12.96 respectively and in comparison to control group (M16 without caffeine) have not shown significant differences.Conclusion: Addition of caffeine to T6 medium promotes the sperm's motility and vitality and enhances fertilization and early in vitro development of mouse embryos.

Background: There are many studies focused on long or short storage time of epididymal sperm (EPS) of different species. There are limited studies on preservation or cryopreservation of the domestic goat EPS.Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ex vivo cold-storage on freezing of EPS from goat (Capra hircus).Materials and Methods: In a split-plot design the caprine testes-epididymides (40 pairs) were divided to 4 storage-time groups equally (0, 24, 48 and 72 h), then subjected to cryopreservation using Bioxell. Sperm parameters were analyzed before and after freezing.Results: Duration of cold-storage as well as freezing at all storage-time points reduced sperm viability and progressive motility while increased sperm tail abnormalities (p<0.0001). Freezing reduced the percentage of cytoplasmic droplets (p<0.0001). The percentage of detached heads was increased at all storage-time points following freezing (p=0.0019), except at time 0 h.Conclusion: It can be concluded that cold storage [in refrigerator (4oC) for 72 h] of epididymides efficiently protected the goat EPS in terms of progressive motility and viability. However, cold-storage may not protect the goat EPS against cryopreservation with Bioxell.

Background: A preliminary report indicated that the Iranian version of modified polycystic ovary syndrome health-related quality of life questionnaire (MPCOSQ) is a valid measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in PCOS patients. Accordingly, the Iranian version of MPCOSQ was subjected to further psychometric analyses among a different sample of patients with PCOS.Objective: To examine discriminant and convergent validity of the Iranian version of MPCOSQ.Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study of 200 women with PCOS that was carried out in two private gynecology clinics in Kashan, Iran. Discriminant validity was assessed using the known groups comparison. Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the correlation between similar content on the MPCOSQ and the SF-36.Results: The mean scores for the MPCOSQ showed that women rated lowest on the infertility and menstrual subscales indicating worst health in these dimensions. The results from the SF-36 questionnaire indicated that emotional and vitality domains were the areas of poorest health. Known groups comparison showed that the MPCOSQ differentiated well between sub-groups of women who differed in PCOS specific symptoms, lending support to its discriminant validity. Convergent validity was assessed and as expected a good positive correlation was found between related subscales of the two instruments.Conclusion: The MPCOSQ has now been extensively tested in Iran and can be considered for using as an outcome measure in future outcome studies in this population.

Background: It is noted that oral contraceptive pills increase the risk of abnormal Pap smear but results have been inconsistent across the populations.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between oral contraceptive pill (OCP) consumption and abnormal Pap smear in women who referred to Shahid Sadoughi and Madar hospitals in Yazd.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out and a database of all Pap smear reports from 2009-2011 at Cytopathology Department of Shahid Sadoughi and Madar hospitals in Yazd, Iran was reviewed. A total number of 1286 women with history of OCP consumption were selected as the case group and 1218 women applying other contraceptive methods were selected as control group for evaluation. Both case and control groups were matched by age, parity and socioeconomic status. All of the women in this study maintained a single partner as their husband and none of them were considered as smokers. The duration of OCP use was at least 5 years.Results: Abnormal Pap smear results were observed in 0.4% of cases and 0.2% of controls. There was no significant association between OCP consumption and abnormal Pap smear (p=0.727).Conclusion: Our findings did not show any specific association between OCP consumption and abnormal Pap smear results. In addition, the number of abnormal Pap smears in women who consumed OCP was lower than that of western countries. More prospective studies are required.

Background: The extensive use of different nanoparticles has raised great concerns about their occupational and biological safety.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on viability of spermatozoa.Materials and Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 15 healthy persons, and were analyzed using WHO guidelines. Each semen sample was separately incubated with different concentrations of ZnO NPs (10, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/mL) at 37PoPC for 45, 90, and 180 minutes. Then, the cell death percentage of spermatozoa was measured by MTT assay. Mann-Whitney test was used for comparison of different times and concentrations.Results: The maximum cell death percentage was 20.8%, 21.2%, and 33.2% after 45, 90, and 180 minutes, respectively. In case of concentration, the highest concentration (1000 mg/mL) of ZnO NPs led to the highest toxicity for all incubation times. Statistically, there were significant differences in cell viability after 180 minutes vs. 45 and 90 minutes.Conclusion: This study indicated that cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs is dose and time dependent.