Development of ICSI
The first conception outside of the human body that led to the birth of Louise Brown was a tremendous accomplishment, which opened the door to the utilization of assisted reproductive techniques globally. This brought the understanding that accomplishing life in a dish required several steps, the most obvious being the timing and characteristics of fertilization. It soon became obvious in the 1980s that the most disappointing phenomenon was unexpected and complete fertilization failure. Among the approaches that were attempted to treat male factor infertility, ICSI surfaced as the technique that brought the ratio of the ga...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: ONeill, C. L., Chow, S., Rosenwaks, Z., Palermo, G. D. Tags: Anniversary Review Source Type: research
Long-term exposure to very low doses of bisphenol S affects female reproduction
Bisphenols belong to the endocrine disruptors, affecting reproduction even in extremely low doses. Bisphenol S (BPS) has become widely used as a substitute for the earlier-used bisphenol A; however, its harmlessness is questionable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of BPS on folliculogenesis and oocyte quality after in vivo exposure to low doses of BPS. Four-week-old ICR females (n = 16 in each experimental group) were exposed to vehicle control (VC), BPS1 (0.001 ng BPS.g/bw/day), BPS2 (0.1 ng.g/bw/day), BPS3 (10 ng.g/bw/day) and BPS4 (100 ng.g/bw/day) for 4 weeks. Ovaries were subjected to stereology and n...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Nevoral, J., Kolinko, Y., Moravec, J., Žalmanova, T., Hoškova, K., Prokešova, Šarka, Klein, P., Ghaibour, K., Hošek, P., Štiavnicka, M., Řimnačova, H., Tonar, Z., Petr, J., Kraličkova, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
MEHP-induced rat testicular inflammation does not exacerbate germ cell apoptosis
The testis is an organ that maintains an immune suppressive environment. We previously revealed that exposure of pre-pubertal rats to an acute dose of a well-described Sertoli cell toxicant, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), leads to an accumulation of CD11b+ immune cells in the testicular interstitial space that closely correlates with a robust incidence of germ cell (GC) apoptosis. Here, we test the hypothesis that the infiltrating immune cells contribute to GC apoptosis. Postnatal day 28 Fischer rats that received an oral dose of 700 mg/kg MEHP showed a significant infiltration of both CD11bc+/CD68+/CD163– mac...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Voss, J. J. L. P., Stermer, A. R., Ghaffari, R., Tiwary, R., Richburg, J. H. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Chromosomal analysis in IVF: just how useful is it?
Designed to minimize chances of genetically abnormal embryos, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) involves in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo biopsy, diagnosis and selective embryo transfer. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) aims to avoid miscarriage and live born trisomic offspring and to improve IVF success. Diagnostic approaches include fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and more contemporary comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) including array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and karyomapping. N...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Griffin, D. K., Ogur, C. Tags: Anniversary Review Source Type: research
Female fertility preservation: past, present and future
Anti-cancer therapy, particularly chemotherapy, damages ovarian follicles and promotes ovarian failure. The only pharmacological means for protecting the ovaries from chemotherapy-induced injury is gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist, but its efficiency remains controversial; ovarian transposition is used to shield the ovary from radiation when indicated. Until the late 1990s, the only option for fertility preservation and restoration in women with cancer was embryo cryopreservation. The development of other assisted reproductive technologies such as mature oocyte cryopreservation and in vitro maturation of oocytes has...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Fisch, B., Abir, R. Tags: Anniversary Review Source Type: research
40 years of bovine IVF in the new genomic selection context
The development of a complex technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) requires years of experimentation, sometimes comparing several species to learn how to create the right in vitro environment for oocytes, spermatozoa and early embryos. At the same time, individual species characteristics such as gamete physiology and gamete interaction are recently evolved traits and must be analysed within the context of each species. In the last 40 years since the birth of Louise Brown, IVF techniques progressed and are now used in multiple domestic and non-domestic animal species around the world. This does not mean that the t...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Sirard, M.-A. Tags: Reviews Source Type: research
Low-dose gonadotropin induction of ovulation in anovulatory women: still needed in the age of IVF
Low-dose, step-up gonadotropin is the treatment of choice for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who have not conceived after anti-oestrogen treatment and as an effective alternative to pulsatile GnRH in women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). There has been, however, no large-scale, comparative study between the two groups using low-dose gonadotropins. Here, we performed a retrospective, comparative analysis, in a single clinic database, of efficacy and safety of induction of ovulation using low-dose gonadotropins in 364 women with PCOS and 80 women with HH. The rate of ovulation was high in both PCOS (83%...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: White, D. M., Hardy, K., Lovelock, S., Franks, S. Tags: Anniversary Review Source Type: research
Seminal fluid metabolome and epididymal changes after antibiotic treatment in mice
Paternal environment can induce detrimental developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) effects in resulting offspring and even future descendants. Such paternal-induced DOHaD effects might originate from alterations in a possible seminal fluid microbiome (SFM) and composite metabolome. Seminal vesicles secrete a slightly basic product enriched with fructose and other carbohydrates, providing an ideal habitat for microorganisms. Past studies confirm the existence of a SFM that is influenced by genetic and nutritional status. Herein, we sought to determine whether treatment of male mice with a combination of antibio...
Source: Reproduction - June 26, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Rosenfeld, C. S., Javurek, A. B., Johnson, S. A., Lei, Z., Sumner, L. W., Hess, R. A. Tags: Research Source Type: research
The impact of infertility diagnosis on embryo-endometrial dialogue
This study investigated an association between infertility etiologies, specifically advanced maternal age (AMA) and endometriosis, on the embryo-endometrial molecular dialogue prior to implantation. Co-culture experiments were performed with endometrial epithelial cells (EEC) and cryopreserved day 5 blastocysts (n = 41 ≥ Grade 3BB) donated from patients presenting with AMA or endometriosis, compared to fertile donor oocyte controls. Extracellular vesicles isolated from co-culture supernatant were analyzed for miRNA expression and revealed significant alterations correlating to AMA or endometriosis. Specifically, AMA res...
Source: Reproduction - May 15, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Parks, J. C., McCallie, B. R., Patton, A. L., Al-Safi, Z. A., Polotsky, A. J., Griffin, D. K., Schoolcraft, W. B., Katz-Jaffe, M. G. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Ovarian steroid dependence of endoplasmic reticulum stress involvement in endometrial cell apoptosis during the human endometrial cycle
In conclusion, our results suggest that estrogen inhibits ER stress in human endometrial cells. This inhibition is reversed by progesterone during the secretory phase, and this is directly involved in apoptosis induction. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - May 15, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Choi, J. Y., Jo, M. W., Lee, E. Y., Lee, D.-Y., Choi, D. S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Bromodomain protein BRD4 is increased in human placentas from women with early-onset preeclampsia
In conclusion, these findings suggest BRD4 may play a central role in propagating inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with the pathophysiology of early-onset preeclampsia. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Liong, S., Barker, G., Lappas, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Reciprocal regulation of TEAD4 and CCN2 for the trophectoderm development of the bovine blastocyst
The first segregation at the blastocyst stage is the symmetry-breaking event to characterize two cell components; namely, inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE). TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4) is a well-known regulator to determine TE properties of blastomeres in rodent models. However, the roles of bovine TEAD4 in blastocyst development have been unclear. We here aimed to clarify the mechanisms underlining TE characterization by TEAD4 in bovine blastocysts. We first found that the TEAD4 mRNA expression level was greater in TE than in ICM, which was further supported by TEAD4 immunofluorescent staining. Su...
Source: Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Akizawa, H., Kobayashi, K., Bai, H., Takahashi, M., Kagawa, S., Nagatomo, H., Kawahara, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Radiation-induced ovarian follicle loss occurs without overt stromal changes
We examined stromal quality using histologic stains to visualize ovarian architecture and fibrosis and by immunohistochemistry and quantitative microscopy to assess cell proliferation, cell death and vasculature. There were no differences in the ovarian stroma across cohorts with respect to these markers, indicating that this compartment is more radio-resistant relative to the germ cells. These findings have implications for reproductive health and the field of fertility preservation because the radiation doses we examined mimic scatter doses experienced in typical therapeutic regimens. (Source: Reproduction)
Source: Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Kimler, B. F., Briley, S. M., Johnson, B. W., Armstrong, A. G., Jasti, S., Duncan, F. E. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Murine sperm capacitation, oocyte penetration and decondensation following moderate alcohol intake
Male chronic alcohol abuse causes testicular failure and infertility. We analyzed the effects of moderate sub-chronic alcohol intake on sperm morphology, capacitation, fertilization and sperm head decondensation. CF-1 male mice were administered 15% ethanol in drinking water for 15 days; control mice received ethanol-free water. Similar patterns of tyrosine phosphorylation were observed in capacitated spermatozoa of control and treated males. Percentage of hyperactivation (H) and spontaneous (SAR) and progesterone-induced (IAR) acrosome reaction significantly decreased at 120 and 150 min of capacitation in treated males co...
Source: Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Sanchez, M. C., Fontana, V. A., Galotto, C., Cambiasso, M. Y., Sobarzo, C. M. A., Calvo, L., Calvo, J. C., Cebral, E. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Activation of lysosomal cathepsins in pregnant bovine leukocytes
This study investigated the status of lysosomal CTSs and lysosomes in PBLs collected from pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP) dairy cows, and conducted in vitro IFNT stimulation of NP blood leukocytes. Blood samples were collected 0, 7, 14 and 18 days post-artificial insemination, and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) separated. The fluorescent activity of CTSB and CTSK in PMNs significantly increased with the progress of pregnancy, especially on day 18. In vitro supplementation of IFNT significantly increased the activities of CTSB and CTSK in NP PBMCs and PMNs. CTSB e...
Source: Reproduction - May 10, 2018 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Talukder, M. A. S., Balboula, A. Z., Shirozu, T., Kim, S. W., Kunii, H., Suzuki, T., Ito, T., Kimura, K., Takahashi, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
