Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Injection Research Articles

High progesterone levels on the day after HCG injection has no effect on clinical pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

This study investigates the potential impact of high progesterone (P) level on the day following human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection on the clinical pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Retrospective analysis was conducted on 6418 cycles of IVF-ET performed at Liuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital between August 2020 to December 2021. Excluding cycles with progesterone levels ≥1.5ng/ml on HCG injection, a total of 781 cycles were identified according to the standard, and they were divided into five groups according to the progesterone level on the day after HCG: Group A: progesterone level < 2.5 ng/ml (n = 128); Group B: 2.5 ng/ml ≤ progesterone level < 3.5 ng/ml (n = 174); Group C: 3.5 ng/ml ≤ progesterone level < 4.5 ng/ml (n = 153); Group D: 4.5 ng/ml ≤ progesterone level < 5.5 ng/ml (n = 132); Group E progesterone level ≥5.5 ng/ml(n=194). Comparative analyses of clinical data, including general clinical data, and clinical pregnancy outcomes such as clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate were performed among these groups. There were significant differences in estradiol levels on HCG injection, but there were no differences in available embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between P level on the day after HCG injection and the live birth rate. Under the condition of low P level on HCG injection, high progesterone levels on the day after HCG injection does not affect the clinical pregnancy outcomes of IVF-ET.

Administration of Arginine Vasotocin and modified Isotocin improve artificial propagation and post-spawning survival of female yellow catfish

Low rate of spawning and high percentage of death after artificial propagation are frequently observed in catfish, which do harms to the long-term population stability and genetic breeding programs in aquaculture. In this study, yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), an important freshwater species in China was used as a research model, since the farmed female yellow catfish had poor reproduction performance and a high death rate after treatment with the traditional exogenous hormones, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogues2 (LHRH-A2) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). We tried to investigate the roles of the Arginine Vasotocin (AVT)/ Isotocin (IT) neuropeptide family in reproduction and design an optimal strategy for inducing artificial propagation in yellow catfish. Two copies of pro-avt and pro-it were detected in hypothalamus and ovaries of yellow catfish, and their mRNA levels gradually increased during spring-summer season. Furthermore, the transcript levels of pro-avt and pro-it in hypothalamus significantly increased after injection of LHRH-A2 and HCG. Although AVT could not induce germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) in female yellow catfish, administration of AVT significantly stimulated premature ovulation in a dose-dependent manner and induced the expression of ovulation-related genes, ptgs2a and acvr1. Furthermore, there is a significant up-regulation of serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in female fish after AVT treatment, whereas no difference was observed in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Since IT of yellow catfish was insoluble in saline, a rigid peptide segment was added at the end of IT (the modified IT was named IT-M), which could greatly improve its solubility and induce ovulation in female yellow catfish. Subsequently, we demonstrated that adding carp pituitary extraction (CPE) to the second injection of traditional methods could efficiently improve the spawned fish, eggs production, fertilization rate, hatching rate and post-spawning survival of female yellow catfish, despite at a relatively high cost in hormones. We further discovered that IT-M + AVT could substitute for HCG + CPE in the second injection and had high efficiency in artificial propagation, reducing the hormone costs to less than one-third. Altogether, we provide an effective and affordable combination of exogenous hormones to improve reproduction performances and post-spawning survival rate in yellow catfish.

The Effect of Copper–Cadmium Co-Exposure and Hormone Remediation on the Ovarian Transcriptome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The escalating problem of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) pollution in aquatic environments poses a significant threat to the ovarian tissue and reproductive capacity of fish, hindering the development of the aquaculture industry. However, the combined effects of Cu and Cd on fish gonadal development remain unclear. In this study, the fish species Nile tilapia was stressed with rearing water containing 300 μg/L Cu2+ and 100 μg/L Cd2+ for 30 days, followed by an intraperitoneal injection of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH-α) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at various concentrations. We investigated the ovarian transcriptome profiles before and after injection. Prior to injection, combined treatment with Cu and Cd resulted in reproductive dysfunction and metal ion imbalance in tilapia. Transcriptomic profiling revealed differential gene annotation concentrated in the MAPK signaling pathway and regulation of GTPase activity. Post-injection, all concentrations of LHRH-α and HCG groups showed an upregulated gonadosomatic index (G.S.I) and higher levels of vitellogenin (VTG), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropin (GTH), and estrogen (E2) in serum compared to the negative control group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed alterations in various ovarian signaling pathways, preliminarily revealing the in vivo molecular mechanisms and differences in LHRH-α and HCG. The findings from this study could help us better understand how to counteract the effects of combined Cu and Cd exposure on tilapia ovarian development, which has significant implications for the Nile tilapia aquaculture industry.

Association between Myometrial Thickness and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Myometrial thickness has been expected to be a prognosticator for lower uterine segment function. An abnormal function of the uterine muscle layer can cause common and important reproductive problems. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline myometrial thickness and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes. In this prospective cohort study, 453 infertile women undergoing ART cycles without any obvious uterine pathology, participated in this prospective cohort study from February 2013 to May 2015. In order to measure the myometrial thickness in the anterior and posterior of the uterine, trans-vaginal ultrasounds were conducted on days 2-4 of the cycle (menstrual phase) preceding ovarian stimulation and the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. We defined three groups based on the baseline myometrial thickness in the anterior and posterior, including (A) <25 mm, (B) 25-29.9 mm and (C) ≥30 mm. Ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval and luteal phase support were performed in accordance with the standard long protocol. Two weeks after embryo transfer, the patients underwent a pregnancy test by checking their serum β-hCG levels. The primary outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rate. Secondary outcome measures were, implantation rate, abortion rate and live birth rate. The clinical pregnancy (P=0.013) and implantation (P=0.003) rates were significantly lower in group A than in two other groups. Although the live birth rate was lower in group A than two other groups, this decrease was not statistically significant (P=0.058). The findings may be a way for clinicians to draw focus on providing therapeutic strategies and a specific supportive care for women with a baseline myometrial thickness <25 mm in order to improve the reproductive outcome of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).

Effects of different hormonal treatments on spermatogenesis advancement in hatchery-produced greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso 1810)

In earlier studies, wild-caught greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810) males reared in sea cages showed gametogenesis impairment and low sperm production and quality. Here, we (a) examined if F1 hatchery-produced males reared in sea cages also exhibit reproductive dysfunctions and (b) evaluated the effects of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration through injections (GnRHainj) or sustained-release implants (GnRHaimpl), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hGC) injections on spermatogenesis/spermiation enhancement. Fish were given a hormone treatment just prior to the spawning season, and were transferred to land-based tanks, according to an established spawning induction protocol. Blood samples (n = 6) were obtained on Days 0, 7 and 13 after treatment. Testis samples were obtained on Days 0 (n = 4) and 13 (n = 2 per treatment). The fish prior to their transfer from the sea cages to the land-based tanks, exhibited a low gonadosomatic index, altered sex steroid hormone profile and high density of testicular apoptotic cells. After transfer to tanks, there was a general depression of sex steroid plasma levels parallel to an increase in cortisol concentrations. Despite the negative effect on steroidogenesis by the transfer from the sea, the hormonal treatments increased the number of fish from where sperm could be obtained, as well as testis growth, and reduced testicular apoptosis. Treatment with hCG resulted in the most significant changes in spermatogenesis, while GnRHaimpl appeared to induce less intense, but likely longer-lasting effects. The study indicated that F1 hatchery-produced males also exhibited reproductive dysfunctions as wild-caught captive-reared greater amberjack, and that the observed positive effects of the hormone treatments on spermiation/spermatogenesis were likely mediated by factors other than sex steroid hormones.

Does Intramuscular Injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin before Frozen Embryo Transfer Improve Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes?

Does Intramuscular Injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin before Frozen Embryo Transfer Improve Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcomes?

Efficacy of Dan'e Fukang Soft Extract in Moderate Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome for Concurrent Treatment of Blood and Fluid Guided by the "Triple Prevention" Principle.

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Dan'e Fukang soft extracts in moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) for the simultaneous treatment of blood and fluid, guided by the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "triple prevention". This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from outpatients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection embryo transfer (ICSI-ET). A total of 2245 cases were included and divided into a treatment group (1002 cases) and a control group (1243 cases). Patients in the treatment group were administered Dan'e Fukang soft extracts orally in addition to conventional Western medicine. Comparative assessments were made between the two groups on pelvic ascites volume, maximum ovary diameter, dysmenorrhea incidence post-oocyte retrieval, and safety indicators. There were no statistically significant differences between the treatment group and the control group in terms of general characteristics or the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), or progesterone (P) at the time of gonadotropin (Gn) initiation. The groups did not differ significantly when we compared the levels of LH, E2, or P on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection and during ovarian hyperstimulation protocols (P > 0.05 for all indicators). The differences in the volume of pelvic ascites, the maximum ovarian diameter, and the incidence of dysmenorrhea after oocyte retrieval were statistically significant between the treatment group and the control group (P < 0.05 in both). There were no instances of adverse reactions in either group. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "triple prevention", the use of Dan'e Fukang soft extracts for the simultaneous treatment of blood and fluid in moderate OHSS significantly improved the absorption of pelvic ascites, promoted ovarian recovery, and reduced the incidence of dysmenorrhea after oocyte retrieval.

Management of Normogonadotropic males with idiopathic infertility with bilateral varicocelectomy with and without intramuscular recombinant FSH and HCG course(s): A twenty-year- experience in a prospective, controlled, and randomized clinical study

This study presents a clinical prospective double-blinded study that contains three groups of infertile males with normogonadotropic oligoasthenospermia. All groups A, B, and C were operated on for their bilateral varicoceles. The first included 152 patients who were only operated for bilateral varicocele (nominated group A). The second group of 237 patients constituted those who were operated on, with fertile female partners, and whose preoperative spermogram showed a count lower than 15 million/ml and a 3-hour-motility lower than 20%. This group constituted two categories based on their treatment. Therefore, groups B and C received postoperative courses of intramuscular injections of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), i.e., group B received one course (3 months), and group C received two courses (6 months). The main objective is to determine the improvement in the postoperative seminal parameters in the different groups. The sample constituted 391 infertile males who were recruited conveniently based on their willingness to share their progress information and were also informed that they could stop their participation freely with no questions asked. In our treated patients, in both groups B and C, who received 1 or 2 courses of rFSH and HCG, spontaneous pregnancy occurred in 69 patients and 52 patients, respectively. Likewise, assisted pregnancy occurred in 28 and 19 patients, respectively. So treated males of groups B and C resulted in 91/140 (65%) and 61/96 (63.54%) live offspring, respectively.

Effect of human chorionic gonadotropin injection before frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A retrospective cohort study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in hormone replacement regimen for frozen-thawed embryos. We performed a retrospective cohort study and included patients who underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) between January 1, 2020 and May 31, 2022. According to the protocols for the FET cycle, the patients were divided into control (n = 238) and hCG groups (n = 216). The clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, early abortion rate, late abortion rate, and ectopic pregnancy rate were compared between the 2 groups. There was a significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate between the hCG and control groups (55.1% vs 45.8%, P = .048). The ectopic pregnancy rate decreased (5.0% vs 6.4%, P = .654), while the live birth rate increased (36.1% vs 29.0%, P = .105) in the hCG group. However, these differences were not statistically significant. The administration of hCG injection in HRT-FET cycles alone was also found to be associated with clinical pregnancy by logistic regressive analysis. HCG injection in the hormone replacement regimen for FET increased the clinical pregnancy rate.

Commonly Practiced Induced Breeding Techniques of Carp Species in Three Important Fish Hatcheries of Kurigram District, Bangladesh

The study was carried out to investigate the induced breeding practices and variations in effective hormone dosage used in induced breeding procedures in three different fish hatcheries of Kurigram District of Bangladesh. The hatcheries mainly produced carp fish seeds, including five native fish species such as Rui (Labeo rohita), Catla (Catla catla), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), Bata (Labeo bata), Punti (Puntius sarana) and four exotic fish species namely Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Exotic carps were the highest produced fish seeds (38%) in the Kurigram district, followed by major carps (35%), Bata (16%), Punti (6%) and others (5%). Three main types of inducing agents including PG (pituitary gland), HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and Ovupin (GnRHa injection) were used for induced spawning. The rate of 1st dose of injection of PG, HCG, and GnRHa varied from 0.5 to 2 mg/kg body weight, 100 to 200 IU/kg body weight, and GnRHa (only one dose) 0.2 to 0.4 ml/kg body weight, respectively. The rate of 2nd dose of injection of PG varied from 2 to 12 mg/kg body weight. The PG is usually primarily used for first and second doses; the ovulation period of different fish species varied between 12 to 72 hours, whereas the hatching rate ranged from 70% to 95%. Due to the variations in inducing agents and doses, different ovulation, fertilization, and hatching rates were observed.

The Impact of Growth Hormone Co-Treatment Duration on Outcomes in IVF/ICSI Cycles Among Poor Ovarian Responders.

The efficiency of in vitro fertilization is improved by growth hormone (GH) during ovarian stimulation. Additionally, patients with diabetes experience impaired insulin resistance and compromised glucose tolerance, which further exacerbate their condition. Due to these side effects, in this study, the duration of GH treatment was compared in IVF/ICSI cycles among poor ovarian responders. In this study, POSEIDON criteria were used to choose patients. Subcutaneous administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist was done beginning on the sixth day of the cycle and continuing through the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. In one group, GH was administered 4 units/day from the 2nd day of the cycle until hCG injection, and in another group, the first dose was administered on the 6th day of the cycle. Following the administration of hCG, which lasted from 24 to 36 hr, oocytes were retrieved with the support of B-mode sonography. In our analysis, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the number of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II oocytes, and quality of grade A and B embryos. The results show that the treatment or conditions did not have a significant impact on the outcomes among the studied groups. Our findings indicate that a shorter duration of GH administration can yield similar outcomes compared to a longer duration in IVF/ICSI cycles involving poor ovarian responders. This result holds the potential for a more cost-effective and patient-friendly approach in managing assisted reproductive technology procedures. It may lead to reduced side effects and improved adherence to medication regimens in patients.

Enhancement of preimplantation mouse embryo development with optimized in vitro culture dish via stabilization of medium osmolarity.

We evaluated the efficacy of the newly developed optimized in vitro culture (OIVC) dish for cultivating preimplantation mouse embryos. This dish minimizes the need for mineral oil and incorporates microwells, providing a stable culture environment and enabling independent monitoring of individual embryos. Mouse pronuclear (PN) zygotes and two-cell-stage embryos were collected at 18 and 46 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin injection, respectively. These were cultured for 120 hours using potassium simplex optimized medium (KSOM) to reach the blastocyst stage. The embryos were randomly allocated into three groups, each cultured in one of three dishes: a 60-mm culture dish, a microdrop dish, and an OIVC dish that we developed. The OIVC dish effectively maintained the osmolarity of the KSOM culture medium over a 5-day period using only 2 mL of mineral oil. This contrasts with the significant osmolarity increase observed in the 60-mm culture dish. Additionally, the OIVC dish exhibited higher blastulation rates from two-cell embryos (100%) relative to the other dish types. Moreover, blastocysts derived from both PN zygotes and two-cell embryos in the OIVC dish group demonstrated significantly elevated mean cell numbers. Use of the OIVC dish markedly increased the number of cells in blastocysts derived from the in vitro culture of preimplantation mouse embryos. The capacity of this dish to maintain medium osmolarity with minimal mineral oil usage represents a breakthrough that may advance embryo culture techniques for various mammals, including human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer programs.

Influence of Hormonal Stimulation on the Oocyte Chromosome Apparatus of the Common Frog

Late vitellogenic oocytes of the common frog, Rana temporaria, represent a promising model for studying the behavior of meiotic chromosomes, since at the diplotene stage, they unite into a karyosphere, which in R. temporaria is believed to have an extrachromosomal capsule – unlike in Xenopus laevis, a classic model object of cell biology and developmental biology. However, in comparison with Xenopus, the strict breeding seasonality of R. temporaria significantly limits the possibility of using its oocytes as an experimental model. By adapting classical hormonal stimulation protocols proposed for anurans including Xenopus, we were able to obtain R. temporaria oocytes with a fully developed karyosphere outside the breeding season, namely in December–January. We observed pronounced changes in the chromosomal apparatus of oocytes with a double injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) at a dose of 500 IU. In this case, chromosomes undergo compaction and aggregation, leading to the formation of a characteristic chromosomal “knot” (karyosphere), the morphological features of which corresponded to those in R. temporaria oocytes at the beginning of the natural breeding season. Based on the proposed protocol for the use of hCG for out-of-season stimulation of oogenesis in R. temporaria, it can be further refined to obtain more stable results and improve the quality of oocytes.

The Role of Certain Specific Hormonal Treatments in Estrus Synchronization of Ewes: A mini Review

Reproductive function is the cornerstone in achieving better profitability for sheep; researchers have developed several ways to guide the reproduction of ewes and develop their reproductive efficiency by its needs. This contributed to reducing the vaccination season and the timing of births in ewes during a limited year to provide optimal care conditions. The optimal use of these techniques in the reproductive function enables us to enter estrus, increase the ovulation rate, and the appropriate timing of artificial insemination, which in turn increases the reproductive efficiency of ewes. Therefore, it has become necessary to use modern biotechnologies such as estrus synchronization technology, which is one of the technologies that help reduce the time and effort required to detect estrus by collecting estrus cases in treated animals. By applying reproductive care programs such as synchronizing estrus and increasing fertility using compounds such as injections of human chorionic gonadotropin, gonadotropin-releasing hormone or progesterone after mating and prostaglandin F2alpha, prostaglandin E and melatonin hormone, it may help to be performed at a specific time

A premature luteinizing hormone surge without elevated progesterone levels has no adverse effect on cumulative live birth rate in patient undergoing a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol: a retrospective study

BackgroundA premature luteinizing hormone (LH) surge refers to an endogenous LH peak that occurs before follicle maturation or human chorionic gonadotropin injection in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. The effect of premature LH surge on pregnancy outcomes in fresh embryo transfer cycles is still controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels on the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) of patients during a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol.MethodsA total of 730 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this retrospective study. Only women who either delivered a live infant or had no remaining frozen embryos after a single stimulation cycle were included in the analysis. During the study period, each patient underwent a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. Women were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a premature LH surge. The primary outcome measures were the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle. The secondary outcome measures were the number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate, and clinical pregnancy rate.ResultsNinety-one women (12.47%) experienced a premature LH surge without elevated progesterone levels, and the other 639 (87.53%) women were assigned to the control group. The numbers of oocytes retrieved and fertilization rate were significantly greater in the premature LH surge group than in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in the good-quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate in the fresh embryo transfer cycle. The primary outcome measures, the CPR and CLBR per ovarian stimulation cycle, were not significantly different between the premature LH surge group and the control group. According to the analysis stratified by ovarian response (normal or high), there were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between the groups with and without a premature LH surge.ConclusionsThe retrospective study demonstrated that the patients experiencing a transient premature LH surge without progesterone elevation had equivalent pregnancy outcomes with those without a premature LH surge on a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol. The present conclusions need to be further validated in a prospective well-designed large-scale study.

P-797 Single-cell analysis sheds light on investigation of epithelial stem/progenitor cells in human endometrial organoid

Abstract Study question How to find endometrial epithelial stem cell (eeSC) in the human endometrial gland? Summary answer Endometrial organoid culture model combined with omics techniques can be a promising platform for investigating eeSC functions and endometrial gland development. What is known already Endometrial stem/progenitor cells are thought to be involved in endometrial regeneration, with endometrial stromal stem cells having already been extensively studied. On the other hand, study of human eeSC is challenging due to the lack of specific markers to isolate and examine their functional properties. In addition, the in vivo phenotype of primary endometrial epithelial cells cannot be maintained for a long duration in two-dimensional culture. The development of three-dimensional endometrial organoid model provides suitable alternatives for studying eeSC, as they can be tailored to be biomimetic and accurately recapitulate the native in vivo scenario of the glandular epithelial cells. Study design, size, duration This is a basic science study of endometrial organoids. Endometrial biopsies were performed on day 2 after the injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin in women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) but having no fresh embryo transfer in Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong. Endometrial organoids were derived from human endometrial gland fragments. The established organoids were digested into single cells for droplet-based single-cell sequencing to investigate their cellular population and component. Participants/materials, setting, methods The filtered high-quality single-cell analysis data were clustered and assigned to specific cell types according to their expressions of classical markers. Potential stem cells cluster was identified by trajectory analysis, RNA velocity, CytoTRACE and literature search. The existence of specific eeSC markers was validated by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analysis of primary endometrial tissues/endometrial organoids. The clonogenicity of the isolated eeSCs was determined by clonogenic assay. Main results and the role of chance The endometrial organoid exhibit morphology and marker expression pattern of human endometrial glands. They can also be expanded for long-term culture. The resemblance between in vitro generated organoid and the in vivo endometrial gland was further supported by single-cell RNA-seq analysis. Seurat clustering identifies 8 cell clusters in endometrial organoids. RNA velocity analysis revealed a potential eeSC cluster at the starting point of the differentiation trajectory from the immature cell cluster toward the most mature one. Besides, the eeSC cluster had relatively high expression of known stem-cell markers including Tumor-Associated Calcium Signal Transducer 2 (TACSTD2) and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member A3 (ALDH1A3). Five genes including Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM1), L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule (L1CAM), Annexin A2 (ANXA2), Mesothelin (MSLN), Integrin Subunit Alpha 3 (IGTA3) were subsequently identified as potential markers of the eeSC cluster. Further analysis by immunostaining demonstrated the expressions of CD54 and ANXA2 in ∼1% and ∼30% of the whole organoids cell suspensions, respectively. The expressions of CD54 and ANXA2 were also identified in the glandular tissue of human endometrium. Limitations, reasons for caution With basal out/apical in phenotype, the endometrial organoids are not exactly similar to the endometrium in vivo, hampering the exploration of their surface marker in cell interaction experiments. Like other organoid systems, it is inevitable for endometrial organoids to have heterogeneity in cells and inconsistency in expansion and biological performance. Wider implications of the findings Gene manipulation technology like CRISPR-Cas9 could be utilized to genetically alter the eeSc to study their biological properties. The construction of eeSC biobank will offer an opportunity for the development of personalized regenerative medicine with diagnosis, preventive intervention, and treatment approaches for gynecological diseases. Trial registration number Not applicableNot applicable

NUCB2/nesfatin-1 suppresses the acrosome reaction in sperm within the mouse epididymis

ABSTRACT Nesfatin-1, a polypeptide hormone derived from the nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) precursor protein, is known to regulate appetite and energy metabolism. Recent studies have also shown that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 is expressed in the reproductive organs of mice. However, the expression and potential role of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the mouse epididymis remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in the mouse epididymis and its potential function. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was detected in the epididymis by qRT-PCR and western blotting, and high expression levels were observed in epididymal epithelial cells by immunohistochemical staining. Pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections significantly increased NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the epididymis. After castration, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 expression in the epididymis decreased, but was significantly increased by testosterone injection. Nesfatin-1-binding sites were found in the middle piece of testicular sperm, but were scarcely detected in the sperm head. By contrast, nesfatin-1 binding sites were identified on the sperm head within the epididymis. Furthermore, nesfatin-1 treatment inhibited the acrosome reaction in epididymal sperm. These results suggest that the nesfatin-1 protein produced in the epididymis binds to nesfatin-1 binding sites on the sperm head and plays a role in suppressing the acrosome reaction before ejaculation.

Women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) might benefit from maintaining serum luteinizing hormone levels: A retrospective analysis.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels on human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection day (LHHCG) on outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) patients. It is a retrospective cohort study involving 620 women who had an IVF cycle in Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University between 2018-2020. The participants were divided into different groups according to LHHCG level and age. The clinical data and outcomes were compared between groups. The numbers of follicles (≥ 14 mm) on HCG day, retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, and two pronuclei (2PN) embryos in women with LHHCG < 2 IU/L were more than those with LHHCG ≥ 2 IU/L. Women with LHHCG < 2 IU/L had lower high-quality embryo rate (42.2% vs. 46.5%, p = 0.002) and implantation rate (40.0% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.044) compared to those with LHHCG ≥ 2 IU/L. When LHHCG < 2 IU/L, there was no significant difference in implantation rates in patients < 35 years compared to those ≥ 35 years. When LHHCG ≥ 2 IU/L, patients < 35 years old had higher implantation rates (71.7% vs. 41.2%, p < 0.001) compared to those ≥ 35 years old. The success rates of IVF fertilization and ICSI fertilization and biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates were not significantly different between groups. Our results demonstrated that women undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET might benefit from maintaining LHHCG levels at ≥ 2 IU/L. In addition, age might associate with LHHCG levels and be a better determining factor of the transfer outcome than serum LHHCG levels for IVF/ICSI-ET.

Application value of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome

BackgroundClinical value of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was investigated in this study.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 100 PCOS patients who received IVF-ET for the first time at Hebei Institute of reproductive health science and technology from January 2010 to June 2020. The patients were divided into Inhibitor group and Control group according to whether they were treated with or without TNF inhibitors. Next, the two groups were subject to comparison in terms of the days of gonadotropin (Gn) use, total dosage of Gn, trigger time, hormone level and endometrial condition on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection, the effects of two different regimens on controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and pregnancy outcomes.ResultsThere were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups, including age, duration of infertility, body mass index (BMI), ovarian volume, antral follicle count, and basal hormone levels. Compared with the Control group, the days of Gn use and trigger time of patients in the Inhibitor group were significantly shortened, and the total Gn dosage was notably reduced. In terms of sex hormone levels on the HCG injection, the Inhibitor group displayed much lower serum estradiol levels while higher serum luteinizing hormone and progesterone (P) levels than the Control group. Notably, the high-quality embryo rate was also significantly increased with the use of TNF inhibitors. However, significant differences were not observed in endometrial thickness (on the day of HCG injection), proportion of endometrial A, B and C morphology (on the day of HCG injection), cycle cancellation rate, number of oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, and cleavage rate between the two groups. Importantly, the clinical pregnancy rate in the Inhibitor group was significantly higher than that in the Control group, but there was no significant difference in the biochemical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate, multiple birth rate, ectopic pregnancy rate and number of live births between the two groups.ConclusionCollectively, after application of TNF-α inhibitor regimen, superior overall treatment effect can be observed in infertile PCOS patients receiving IVF-ET. Therefore, TNF inhibitors have certain application value in IVF-ET in infertile women with PCOS.

Comparison of efficiency between two artificial insemination methods using fresh semen in domestic cat (Felis Catus)

The objective of this study was to compare pregnancy rates in domestic cats using fresh semen for the bilateral intrauterine insemination (BIUI) method and the novel uterine body insemination (UBI) method. Queens received a single injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) (200 IU; IM) to induce ovarian follicular development and, after 83 h, an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (100 IU; IM) for final oocyte maturation and ovulation induction. Thirty-four hours after hCG administration, 3 × 106 fresh spermatozoa were used for insemination by the BIUI (n = 8 queens) or by the UBI (n = 7 queens) techniques respectively. Pregnancy rates were 75.00% (6/8) by BIUI and 42.85% (3/7) by the UBI method. The mean litter size was 3.0 ± 0.86 for the BIUI, and 2.0 ± 1.0 for the UBI method. Spontaneous abortion occurred on day 35 of pregnancy in one queen following the UBI method. Our findings showed that the BIUI of queens with fresh semen resulted in higher pregnancy rates than the novel UBI method; also, acceptable pregnancy rates were achieved following BIUI with fresh semen in the domestic cat.