Sperm Fertility Research Articles

Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Women with Normal Ovarian Response Receiving Recombinant Luteinizing Hormone/Human Menopausal Gonadotropin: An Observational Study.

Additive human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG)/recombinant luteinizing hormone (r-LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) can improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor ovarian response during assisted reproductive procedures. However, their effects on patients with normal ovarian response during such procedures are unclear, which formed the aim of this study. This retrospective study enrolled 456 infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. Group 1 received FSH; Group 2 received FSH+HMG/r-LH; Group 3 received FSH+HMG+r-LH. The age and Body Mass Index were significantly greater in Group III. The endometrial thickness was greater in Groups II and III, suggesting better endometrial receptivity. Better pregnancy and birth outcomes were seen in Group 3. In sub-cohorts of women older than 32 years old or with overweight/obesity, pregnancy and birth outcomes were also much better in Group 3, albeit without statistical significance. The addition of both HMG and r-LH to FSH may improve the chance of infertile women with normal ovarian responses to have more success in having live birth babies, specifically in those over 32 years of age or with overweight/obese patients who typically face challenges in conceiving and sustaining a pregnancy.

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation with letrozole using different doses of medroxyprogesterone acetate per day: a retrospective cohort study.

In the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocol, the oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate has been observed to effectively inhibit the LH surge during ovarian stimulation in patients experiencing infertility. Nevertheless, the use of utilizing medroxyprogesterone acetate during ovarian stimulation can result in more pronounced pituitary suppression, potentially necessitating increased doses of gonadotropins and extended treatment durations. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the optimal dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate, aiming to use relatively lower concentrations of medroxyprogesterone acetate to effectively and safely suppress early LH surges. This retrospective cohort study included 710 patients who underwent cycles of in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection and were subjected the progestin-primed ovarian stimulation protocol utilizing letrozole between from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. The study population was divided into low, medium, and high concentration groups based on the daily dosage of medroxyprogesterone acetate.The primary focus of this investigation was on the cumulative live birth rate. Secondary outcomes encompassed the occurrence of a premature surge in luteinizing hormone, the quantity of retrieved oocytes, viable embryos, and high-quality embryos, as well as clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, and multiple pregnancy rate. In this study, significant differences were observed among three groups in various parameters including body mass index, baseline levels of Anti-Müllerian hormone and luteinizing hormone, antral follicle count, total dose of gonadotropin, and duration of gonadotropin administration (p<0.05). The number of oocytes and viable embryos were significantly higher in medium group and higher than those in the low dose group. Following adjustments for confounding factors related to medroxyprogesterone acetate for various outcome measures, we conducted multiple regression analysis to investigate the independent effects of daily medroxyprogesterone acetate dosage within the combined progestin-primed ovarian stimulation and letrozole protocol. Following multivariable regression analysis, no disparities were found in embryo characteristics (number of oocytes retrieved, number of available embryos, number of high-quality embryos) or pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate, cumulative live birth rate) among the three groups. Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation with letrozole using different dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate per day was comparable in terms of the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of high-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate after frozen embryo transfer.

Differential protein repertoires related to sperm function identified in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in seminal plasma of distinct fertility buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls.

Buffalo bulls are backbone of Indian dairy industry, and the quality of semen donating bulls determine the overall production efficiency of dairy farms. Seminal plasma harbor millions of lipid bilayer nanovesicles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs carry a heterogenous cargo of essential biomolecules including fertility-associated proteins which contribute to fertilizing potential of spermatozoa. In this study, we explored size, concentration, and complete proteome profiles of SP EVs from two distinct fertility groups to uncover proteins influencing bull fertility. Through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) it was found that purified EVs were present in 7-14 size exclusion chromatographic (SEC) fractions with sizes ranging from 146.5 to 258.7nm in high fertile (HF) and low fertile (LF) bulls. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) confirmed the size of seminal EVs up to 200nm, and concentrations varying from 2.84 to 6.82 × 1011 and 3.57 to 7.74 × 1011 particles per ml in HF and LF bulls, respectively. No significant difference was observed in size and concentration of seminal EVs between two groups. We identified a total of 1,862 and 1,807 proteins in seminal EVs of HF and LF bulls, respectively using high throughput LC-MS/MS approach. Out of these total proteins, 1,754 proteins were common in both groups and about 87 proteins were highly abundant in HF group while 1,292 were less abundant as compared to LF bulls. Gene ontology (GO) analysis, revealed that highly abundant proteins in HF group were mainly part of the nucleus and involved in nucleosome assembly along with DNA binding. Additionally, highly abundant proteins in EVs of HF group were found to be involved in spermatogenesis, motility, acrosome reaction, capacitation, gamete fusion, and cryotolerance. Two highly abundant proteins, protein disulfide-isomerase A4 and gelsolin, are associated with sperm-oocyte fusion and acrosome reaction, respectively, and their immunolocalization on spermatozoa may indicate that these proteins are transferred through EVs. Our evidences support that proteins in EVs and subsequently their presence on sperm, are strongly associated with sperm functions. Altogether, our investigation indicates that SPEVs possess crucial protein repertoires that are essential for enhancing sperm fertilizing capacity.

Bull sperm cryopreservation: An overview on the current status and future perspectives

Cryopreservation refers to freezing cells or tissues at extremely low temperatures, allowing them to be stored for extended periods while maintaining viability. Cryopreserved bull semen has become an essential tool in cattle breeding programs and commercial cattle production systems. This review provides a detailed analysis of the current methods and challenges in preserving bull sperm using cryopreservation. We explore the effects of cryopreservation on sperm cells, the role of different cryoprotectants, as well as the progress made in the analysis of bull semen. It also highlights the impact of the freezing process on sperm morphology and functionality, emphasizing the importance of optimizing cryopreservation techniques to maintain sperm fertility and viability. The article underscores the significance of cryopreservation technology in cattle genetics and breeding and suggests future research to enhance cryopreservation techniques.

NAD+ precursors promote the restoration of spermatogenesis in busulfan-treated mice through inhibiting Sirt2-regulated ferroptosis.

Rationale: In recent years, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) precursors (Npre) have been widely employed to ameliorate female reproductive problems in both humans and animal models. However, whether and how Npre plays a role in the male reproductive disorder has not been fully clarified. Methods: In the present study, a busulfan-induced non-obstructive azoospermic mouse model was used, and Npre was administered for five weeks following the drug injection, with the objective of reinstating spermatogenesis and fertility. Initially, we assessed the NAD+ level, germ cell types, semen parameters and sperm fertilization capability. Subsequently, testis tissues were examined through RNA sequencing analysis, ELISA, H&E, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blotting techniques. Results: The results indicated that Npre restored normal level of NAD+ in blood and significantly alleviated the deleterious effects of busulfan (BU) on spermatogenesis, thereby partially reestablishing fertilization capacity. Transcriptome analysis, along with recovery of testicular Fe2+, GSH, NADPH, and MDA levels, impaired by BU, and the fact that Fer-1, an inhibitor of ferroptosis, restored spermatogenesis and semen parameters close to CTRL values, supported such possibility. Interestingly, the reduction in SIRT2 protein level by the specific inhibitor AGK2 attenuated the beneficial effects of Npre on spermatogenesis and ferroptosis by affecting PGC-1α and ACLY protein levels, thus suggesting how these compounds might confer spermatogenesis protection. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that NAD+ protects spermatogenesis against ferroptosis, probably through SIRT2 dependent mechanisms. This underscores the considerable potential of Npre supplementation as a feasible strategy for preserving or restoring spermatogenesis in specific conditions of male infertility and as adjuvant therapy to preserve male fertility in cancer patients receiving sterilizing treatments.

Effect of Numerous Amino Acids During in vitro Fertilization of Ovums and Epididymal Sperm in Iraqi Awassi Sheep

In present experiment, the effect of three amino acids, methionine, L-arginine, and D-alanine, on the process of producing embryos in the laboratory, was studied. A 100 mature ovaries of Awassi sheep slaughtered in the Al-Saadoun slaughterhouse in Nineveh Governorate/Iraq were used. The samples were transported using a refrigerated box after washing with physiological saline and antibiotics. The insemination took place in the IVF laboratory of Soran Hospital in Erbil Governorate from 1/9/2022 to 1/5/2023. An eighty mature eggs with very good characteristics were collected and divided into four groups (20 eggs per group) then specified amino acid was added to each group, three groups (amino acid per group) and the fourth group was left as a control group without addition. The ripening and inoculation process was carried out according to the protocol of the laboratory in which the experiment was conducted. Results of this experiment showed that the arginine group (0.4 Mm) recorded the highest fertilization rate obtained (87.5%) based on the evaluation of embryos when kept in a carbon dioxide incubator (CO2 incubator) after 120 hours of maturation and fertilization, followed by Methionine group (0.2 Mm), control group and finally alanine group (15 Mm), where the results were (85%), (66.6%), (0.0%) respectively depended up on embryo evaluation (Grade A embryo). It is concluded from the current study that the arginine was the best of the three amino acids in stimulating divisions of the egg and improving the percentage of embryos produced in the laboratory after incubation for 120 hours.

Evaluation of medical equipment of the infertility treatment centers in North western of Libya

Background Cell culture, particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are both of which assisted reproductive technology (ART) approaches that are most frequently utilized to treat infertility around the world. Objective Highlight the differences and similarities in instruments and equipment in ART laboratories that govern their success, limitations, and potential differences between laboratories by identifying the facilities of laboratories to improve outcomes of ICSI and IVF techniques in clinical centers on the western coast of Libya. Method: descriptive study, comparison of five (5) assisted reproduction laboratories instrument and equipment parameters using the same quality-control application in clinical centers on the western coast of Libya.Result: Among the seven clinical centers specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility that were contacted, four infertility treatment centers and the Medical Research Center (MRC) provided a response. The MRC and four clinical centres had good laboratory facilities for ICSI and IVF techniques compared to Jordan ART laboratory facilities.Conclusion: This study highlights the imperative of enhancing laboratory infrastructure to support optimal implementation of ICSI and IVF procedures.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp) Root as Growth and Profertility Agent on the Reproductive Indices of Clarias gariepinus Broodstock

The nutritional composition and dietary effects of medicinal plants on aquatic animals have been ascertained through the improvement of the sexual performance of the fish leading to the production of improved egg quality and enhancing the fertility of sperm. The study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Maca Root Meal (MRM) on the growth and pro-fertility agent of C. gariepinus broodstock. Eighty C. gariepinus (400±0.01g) were used for the experiment. They were fed 5 compounded diets at different inclusion levels (0.0, 12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50%) and denoted as MRM1 – MRM5 respectively of 40% crude protein at 3% body weight with 8 fish (4 males and 4 females) per treatment, replicate twice for 56 days. Measurements were taken on growth performance and reproductive indices at the end of feeding trials. The results showed that body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and production productive index were significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) in MRM 4 compared to the control and other treated groups. The reproductive indices such as milt volume, motility duration, sperm counts, the weight of ovary, relative fecundity, hatchability and percentage fertilization were significant higher (P&lt;0.05) in the treated groups when compared to the control. MRM5 recorded higher hatchability and percentage fertilization of 81.78 and 84.27% compared to the control of 62.11 and 71.53% respectively and there was a significant difference (P&lt;0.05) among the dietary groups. Conclusively, the study revealed the therapeutic potential of maca root as growth and pro-fertility agent and that inclusion of 50% maca root meal in the diet of C. gariepinus broodstock could increase weight gain and better reproductive indices in male and female C. gariepinus broodstock.

Assisted reproductive technology in Japan: A summary report for 2021 by the Ethics Committee of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) registry gathers comprehensive data from registered assisted reproductive technology (ART) facilities in Japan. Herein, we report 2021 ART cycle characteristics and outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and analyze 2021 data. In 2021, 625 ART facilities participated in the registry; 27 facilities did not conduct ART cycles and 598 registered treatment cycles. In total, 498 140 cycles were registered, and there were 69 797 neonates (increases of 10.7% and 15.5%, respectively, from the previous year). The number of freeze-all invitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles decreased in 2021; the number of neonates born was 2268 for IVF-embryo transfer (ET) cycles and 2850 for ICSI cycles. Frozen-thawed ET (FET) cycles increased markedly from 2020 (11.2% increase). In 2021, 239 428 FET cycles were conducted, resulting in 87 174 pregnancies and 64 679 neonates. For fresh transfers, the total single ET, singleton pregnancy rate, and singleton live birth rates were 82.7%, 97.0%, and 97.3%; for FET, these rates were 84.9%, 96.9%, and 97.1%. The 2021 Japanese ART registry analysis showed marked increases in both total treatment cycles and live births from the previous year.

Spermbots: A Promising Futuristic Innovation in Assisted Reproductive Technology

Spermbots are robotic sperms formed out of sperm cells conjugated to artificial microstructures, having potential applications ranging from biomedical processes, drug delivery systems, in situ real time imagery and assisted reproduction. The robotic sperm can act as an exploratory microdevice in biological networks. Incorporation of a biological entity like sperm into microstructures under the environment of magnetic or electric fields helps in shape templating and carrying chemotherapeutic agents to target sites. Besides its role in drug delivery systems, spermbots can potentially contribute in combating infertility, especially in oligo-zoospermia and necro-zoospermia in males. Numerous checkpoints may impede sperm cells to reach the oocyte in vivo. Spermbots bypass these sites and carry sperm to oocyte. Targeted delivery always requires interventions of natural functional aspects of living systems. Sperm flagellum, being a biological motor in nature, can be harnessed as a driving force in spermbots to ensure delivery of fertile sperm cells with impaired motile machinery to the target. Moreover, the technology has a potential to unravel sperm migration patterns and understanding the processes in vivo. After a review of documented literature on possible use of spermbot technology in assisted reproduction, we hereby discuss the application of this new and innovative technology in humans and animals. The paper also highlights certain shortfalls in the widespread application of this cargo delivery technology in assisted reproduction.

The effect of mitochondrial recombination on fertilization success in blue mussels

The presence of doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI) in bivalves represents a unique mode of mitochondrial transmission, whereby paternal (male-transmitted M-type) and maternal (female-transmitted F-type) haplotypes are transmitted to offspring separately. Male embryos retain both haplotypes, but the M-type is selectively removed from females. Due to the presence of heteroplasmy in males, mtDNA can recombine resulting in a ‘masculinized’ haplotype referred to as Mf-type. While mtDNA recombination is usually rare, it has been recorded in multiple mussel species across the Northern Hemisphere. Given that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, different mtDNA haplotypes may have different selective advantages under diverse environmental conditions. This may be particularly important for sperm fitness and fertilization success. In this study we aimed to i) determine the presence, prevalence of the Mf-type in Australian blue mussels (Mytilus sp.) and ii) investigate the effect of Mf-mtDNA on sperm performance (a fitness correlate). We found a high prevalence of recombined mtDNA (≈35 %) located within the control region of the mitochondrial genome, which occurred only in specimens that contained Southern Hemisphere mtDNA. The presence of two female mitotypes were identified in the studied mussels, one likely originating from the Northern Hemisphere, and the other either representing the endemic M. planulatus species or introduced genotypes from the Southern Hemisphere. Despite having recombination events present in a third of the studied population, analysis of sperm performance indicated no difference in fertilization success related to mitotype.

РАБОТА СЛУЖБЫ ОХРАНЫ ЗДОРОВЬЯ СЕМЬИ И РЕПРОДУКЦИИ В АСТРАХАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article presents the results of the analysis of the indicators of the work of the family health and reproduction service in the Astrakhan region, namely the epidemiology, structure, dynamics and caus-es of female and male infertility. The effectiveness of the center's laboratory in relation to such meth-ods as in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection has been demonstrated. It has been shown that the pregnancy rate after artificial insemination over the past 8 years exceeds the average level in Russia, and the pregnancy rate for transfer corresponds to the all-Russian data.

AKAP3-mediated type I PKA signaling is required for mouse sperm hyperactivation and fertility†.

The protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, which mediates protein phosphorylation, is important for sperm motility and male fertility. This process relies on A-kinase anchoring proteins that organize PKA and its signalosomes within specific subcellular compartments. Previously, it was found that the absence of A-kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3) leads to multiple morphological abnormalities in mouse sperm. But how AKAP3 regulates sperm motility is yet to be elucidated. AKAP3 has two amphipathic domains, here named dual and RI, in its N-terminus. These domains are responsible for binding regulatory subunits I alpha (RIα) and II alpha (RIIα) of PKA and for RIα only, respectively. Here, we generated mutant mice lacking the dual and RI domains of AKAP3. It was found that the deletion of these domains caused male mouse infertile, accompanied by mild defects in the fibrous sheath of sperm tails. Additionally, the levels of serine/threonine phosphorylation of PKA substrates and tyrosine phosphorylation decreased in the mutant sperm, which exhibited a defect in hyperactivation under capacitation conditions. The protein levels of PKA subunits remained unchanged. But, interestingly, the regulatory subunit RIα was mis-localized from principal piece to midpiece of sperm tail, whereas this was not observed for RIIα. Further protein-protein interaction assays revealed a preference for AKAP3 to bind RIα over RIIα. Collectively, our findings suggest that AKAP3 is important for sperm hyperactivity by regulating type-I PKA signaling pathway mediated protein phosphorylation via its dual and RI domains.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Activity of the 4-Thioquinoline Derivative

One of the promising areas in the creation of bioregulators is the modeling of compounds that combine several pharmacophores. The design of new highly efficient and low-toxic cytoprotectors is largely based on the derivatives of nitrogen-containing heterocycles, and quinoline plays a significant role among these compounds. The researchers evaluated the toxicity of the tested compounds in silico, in vitro, and in vivo, which allowed determiningseveral factors that affect the level of toxic action of 4-thioquinoline derivatives and the direction of non-toxic substances in this sequence. The studied 4-thioquinolines showed a moderate antiradical action in the experiment, inferior to the reference antioxidant Acetylcysteine. The most active compounds are 7-chloro-4-thioquinoline derivatives with propanoic acid residues in the 4th position. 2-(7-chloroquinolin-4-ylthio)propanoic acid and sodium salt of 2-amino-3-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)thio)propanoic acid showed the most promising results and their antioxidant action was higher than Tiotriazolin (the comparator) by 27 % and 41 %, respectively. The studied compounds showed a protective effect under H2O2-induced oxidative stress against male sperm according to the main indicators of sperm fertility. It was found that the compounds withresidues of succinic acid, cysteamine, or cysteine in the molecule structure are not inferior to reference drugs. On average, 2-((7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)thio)succinic acid and 2-((quinolin-4-yl)thio)ethanaminedihydrochloride exceeded the comparison drug Acetylcysteine and were on a par with the effect of Ascorbic acid.

Apoptosis in germ cell in vitro in middle-aged and older men with chronic prostatitis under exposure to reprotoxicants (by the example of benzene)

Introduction. The issues of studying the causes and development mechanism of chronic prostatitis as the most important factor in the formation of male infertility are extremely relevant nowadays. Confirmed reprotoxicants including aromatic hydrocarbons inhibit spermatogenesis and lead to androgen deficiency.&#x0D; Purpose: to identify the features of spermatozoa apoptosis in vitro in middle-aged and older men with chronic prostatitis under exposure to reprotoxicants (using benzene as an example).&#x0D; Material and methods. A study of the ejaculate in thirty men with chronic prostatitis was conducted. &#x0D; 19 men were under 36 years old, 11 men were over 44 years old. Intracellular and membrane cell death markers (AnnexinV-FITC+PI–, AnnexinV-FITC+PI+, Bax, caspase-3) in semen samples were identified by flow cytometry. Seminal fluid samples without benzene were control; samples with the addition of 0.001 µ/ml of benzene were experimental. Spontaneous and benzene-induced samples were incubated for 72 hours at 37 °C.&#x0D; Results. The in vitro system revealed that the addition of 0.001 µg/ml benzene to the ejaculate of men under 36 years of age reduces the content of AnnexinV-FITC+PI–-spermatozoa (p &lt; 0.05). The content of CD95+- and AnnexinV-FITC+PI–-spermatozoa in the sperm of men over 44 years of age was significantly reduced against the background of an increase in Bax compared with the results of patients under 36 years of age (p &lt; 0.05).&#x0D; Limitations. The study limitations are the use of specific cellular material — gametes, as well as indicators &#x0D; of cell differentiation clusters reflecting the cell death.&#x0D; Conclusion. In vitro experiment verification features of sperm lethal program in men with chronic prostatitis revealed the signs of apoptosis inhibition associated with age and a chemical modifier — benzene. We revealed the signs of the violations in mitochondrial regulation and phosphatidylserine realization of programmed germ cell death in older men relative to young men were revealed. It is recommended to use the content of Bax, CD95+- and AnnexinV-FITC+PI–-spermatozoa in an ejaculate as the diagnostic predictors of sperm fertility disorders in men = with chronic prostatitis under benzene exposure.

Associations between artificial reproductive technologies (ART) and newborn size, as well as perinatal risk factors among singleton births in Vienna, Austria.

Background: The use of ssisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has increased markedly during the last four decades. ART, however, is still discussed critically, as there is no consensus on whether these treatments have a negative effect on fetal growth or increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and perinatal complications. Objectives: The aim of this study is the analysis of association patterns between ART (IVF or ICSI) and newborn size, preterm birth rate, and the mode of delivery. Sample and Methods: In this single-center medical record-based study data concerning the conception mode (spontaneous versus IVF or ICSI), preterm birth, newborn sex and size, child presentation, delivery mode, labor induction as well as parity, maternal age, body height, weight, and gestational weight gain of 5867 singleton-term births taking place in Vienna from 2015 to 2023 were included. 178 newborns (3.0%) were conceived by IVF or ICSI. Results: ART (IVF or ICSI) increased the risk of preterm birth by a factor of 3.4, and the risk of emergency cesarean section by a factor 2.3. ART was not independently associated with newborn size as well as breech presentation. The most important factor for newborn size was the gestational week of delivery, but also maternal parameters such as body height, gestational weight gain, and age. Conclusion: Preterm birth is a major cause of small newborn size and complications at birth. Therefore, ART can also be interpreted with caution as an indirect risk factor for small newborn size with all its long-term consequences.

MitoQ preserves the quality and fertility of liquid-preserved ram sperm

Supplementing the semen extender with some antioxidants may preserve sperm quality following liquid preservation. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the influence of the use of MitoQ in the semen extender on quality parameters and fertility of liquid-preserved ram semen. In this study, diluted semen samples were divided into five parts and supplemented with 0, 1, 10, 100 and 1000 nM MitoQ. The prepared samples were stored at 3–5 °C for up to 50 h. Motility, viability, mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity, and malondialdehyde concentration of the chilled sperm were assessed at 0, 25, and 50 h. To evaluate reproductive performance, artificial insemination was performed with semen liquid-preserved for 25 h. In results, at 0 h, no difference between the groups was observed. The use of 10 and 100 nM MitoQ resulted in higher (P ≤ 0.05) total motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, viability, and lower malondialdehyde concentration than the other groups after 25- and 50-h storage. Pregnancy, parturition and lambing rates were higher (P ≤ 0.05) when ewes were inseminated with 25-h chilled semen samples containing 10 and 100 nM MitoQ compared to the control. Therefore, supplementing the semen extender with MitoQ (10 and 100 nM) could be an efficient method to improve the quality and fertility rate of liquid-preserved ram semen.

The association of post–embryo transfer SARS-CoV-2 infection with early pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization: a prospective cohort study

The influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer on early pregnancy outcomes in invitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer treatment remains inadequately understood. This knowledge gap endures despite an abundance of studies investigating the repercussions of preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection on early pregnancy outcomes in spontaneous pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer and early pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing invitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. This prospective cohort study was conducted at a single public invitro fertilization center in China. Female patients aged 20 to 39 years, with a body mass index ranging from 18 to 30 kg/m2, undergoing invitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, were enrolled between September 2022 and December 2022, with follow-up extended until March 2023. The study tracked SARS-CoV-2 infection time (≤14 days, ≤28 days, and ≤10 weeks after embryo transfer), symptoms, vaccination status, the interval between vaccination and embryo transfer, and early pregnancy outcomes, encompassing biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate. The study used single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection status, along with other relevant factors, and the early pregnancy outcomes. A total of 857 female patients undergoing invitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were analyzed. In the first stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 14 days after embryo transfer did not have a significant negative association with the biochemical pregnancy rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.09). In the second stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 28 days after embryo transfer had no significant association with the implantation rate (36.6% in infected vs 44.0% in uninfected group; P=.181). No statistically significant association was found with the clinical pregnancy rate after adjusting for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-1.09). In the third stage, SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer had no significant association with the early miscarriage rate (adjusted odds ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-1.71). Our study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection within 10 weeks after embryo transfer may not be negatively associated with the biochemical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early miscarriage rate in patients undergoing invitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. It is important to note that these findings are specific to the target population of invitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients aged 20 to 39 years, without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and with a body mass index of 18 to 30 kg/m2. This information offers valuable insights, addressing current concerns and providing a clearer understanding of the actual risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection after embryo transfer.

Rancang Bangun Aplikasi Android Si-Raja sebagai Upaya Memantau Pertumbuhan Janin pada Ibu Hamil

Pregnancy is fertilization or union of spermatozoa and ovum, followed by nidation or implantation. Determining estimated fetal weight (TBJ) is vital in antenatal care, counseling, diagnosis and delivery approaches. Accurate predictions of a baby's birth weight are one of the most crucial metrics in pregnancy until the commencement of labor. The health application for pregnant women has been produced in prototype form that may be run on the Android smartphone operating system. Pregnant women used the application. Apart from that, the Si-RAJA Pregnant Application was a development of the Si-RAJA application version 1. This application was built so that pregnant ladies can use it to find out the estimated weight of their fetus. This program was provided with functions to compute weight gain, upper arm circumference, and hemoglobin level status, as well as health information about fetal growth that pregnant women need to know. One of the prerequisites that needed to be met before beginning the application was to install it on your smartphone via Google Playstore. The Si-Raja Bumil program comprises of the primary menu: Calculate predicted fetal weight, how to enhance TBJ, Calculate upper arm circumference, calculate weight gain, calculate Hb levels, as well as information about the size of the baby. The program is expected to go through significant enhancements, enabling pregnant women to effectively engage with midwives to transmit complaints, examination findings, and pregnancy-related information.

Resveratrol Improves the Frozen-Thawed Ram Sperm Quality.

Cryopreservation generates a substantial quantity of ROS in semen, leading to a decline in sperm quality and fertilization capacity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol and its optimal concentration on ram sperm quality after cryopreservation. Ram semen was diluted with a freezing medium containing different concentrations of resveratrol (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 μM). After thawing, various sperm parameters such as total motility, progressive motility, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione synthase (GPx) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, ROS level, SIRT1 level, DNA oxidative damage, and AMPK phosphorylation level were assessed. In addition, post-thaw sperm apoptosis was evaluated. Comparatively, the addition of resveratrol up to 75 μM significantly improved the sperm motility and sperm parameters of cryopreserved ram sperm. Specifically, 50 μM resveratrol demonstrated a notable enhancement in acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, SIRT1 level, and AMPK phosphorylation levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). It also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the oxidative damage to sperm DNA. However, detrimental effects of resveratrol were observed at a concentration of 100 μM resveratrol. In conclusion, the addition of 50 μM resveratrol to the cryopreservation solution is optimal for enhancing the quality of cryopreserved ram sperm.