International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Mar 2010

Leptin is a polypeptide hormone secreted by white adipose tissue in proportion to body energy. Although the participation of leptin in female reproduction is well established any role in male reproductive function is at best tenuous.

The objective of this study was to compare the leptin concentration in human seminal plasma and then the relationships between seminal leptin and semen parameters were evaluated.

Semen samples were provided from 71 men; normozoospermic (n=22) asthenozoospermic (n=31) and oligoasthenozoospermic (n=18) referring to Jichi Medical University Hospital for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment. After liquefaction all sperm specimens were evaluated for sperm parameters and motility characteristics by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. After semen analysis concentrations of leptin in seminal plasma of all groups were measured by ELISA.

The mean concentrations of leptin in seminal plasma of normozoospermic asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men were 0.75+/-0.09 ng/ml 0.8+/-0.14 ng/ml and 0.8+/-0.15 ng/ml respectively. A trend was observed for a lower leptin concentration in seminal plasma of normozoospermic men compared with asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men. There was a significant negative correlation between seminal plasma leptin concentration with sperm motility (p

Nowadays it is proofed that the uterine artery plays essential role in follicular growth and/or post parturition hemorrhagic.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Bilateral Uterine Artery Ligation (BUAL) on follicular fate and the probable histochemical changes of the carbohydrate and lipids in the ovaries of rabbits.

24 mature female rabbits randomized into two test and control-sham groups. Test group subdivided to three groups based on time. Animals in the test group under went to BUAL. The ovaries were processed to histochemical and histomorphometric analyses to evaluate the ratio of lipid carbohydrate and lipase enzyme in follicular cells.

The ovaries from test groups exhibited many atretic follicles in various sizes. BUAL significantly (p≤0.05) increased the rate of atresia in the test groups in comparison to the control-sham cases. This situation was progressed by the time. In the test groups lipid reactions were observed more remarkable in the small atretic follicles in comparison to the large atretic follicles. BUAL elevated the reaction sites for lipase enzyme in the early stages of the atresia in the test group.

Referring to our results BUAL caused significant (p≤0.05) hypo-ovulation by increasing the atresia. Also increasing lipid foci in the first stages of the apoptotic process caused cytoplasmic lipase enzyme evaluation while the lipase enzyme level was decreased by the advancement of the atresia and decreasing of the biological activities in follicular cells.

Maternally administered opiates such as morphine represent a serious human health problem. Opioid abuse may have unfavorable effects on reproductive organs.

The present study evaluates on the effects of morphine on structure and ultrastructure of uterus in BALB/c mice.

Forty BALB/c pregnant mice were divided into four groups: two experimental (I and II) one sham and one control group. 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg morphine were injected via intra-peritoneal (IP) route daily (during 15 days) in group I and II animals respectively. The same volume of saline was administrated in sham group. Control group did not receive any treatment. At 15th day of gestation (E15) the pregnant mice were sacrificed and their uterus was removed. Following histochemical staining the samples were studied using light and transmission electron microcopies.

In experimental groups some apoptic sites with polymorphic inflammatory infiltration and congestion of vessels were observed. The rate of polymorphic inflammatory infiltration and apoptic sites were 60% and 70% in experimental groups I and II respectively. Also the rate of vessel congestion in the experimental groups (I and II) was 70%. The ultrastructural study showed the nuclear membranes of endometrial epithelial cell was torn convoluted and a distance between nuclei and irregular chromatin was observed in both experimental groups. There were no signs of structural abnormalities in other groups.

Morphine administration causes histological and cytological lesions that may be responsible for endometrial alterations in laboratory animals.

‍‍Cryopreservation has some detrimental impacts on sperms surface molecules. Modification of the sperm surface molecules can affect on fertility rate. One of the important surface molecules are glycoconjugates.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes of content of the glycocalyx after standard cryopreservation procedure.

Forty five healthy semen samples were frozen in 0.5ml plastic straws and kept in liquid nitrogen and thaw after 48 hours. Sperm smears were prepared before and after freezing and thawing. The smears were stained with the lectins and also with acridin orange. The smears were studied by fluorescents microscopy and the intensities of the reactions to lectins were measured by image analyses software.

The reactions of the sperm samples to Peanut agglutinin (PNA) Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Dolichos biflorus (DBA) changed after cryopreservation and the percentage of samples that showed modifications were 46.67% 34.09% and 73.34% respectively. The crypreservation led to both increase and decrease the intensities of the reactions. It means that there are various mechanisms that impact on the carbohydrate contents of the sperm surface. There is no correlation between DNA denaturation of sperms and their lectin binding patterns.

Cryopreservation affected the surface glycoconjugates at least in a subset of spermatozoa. These results might cause to modify the future application of sperm banking techniques.

Diazinon is a widely used Organophosphate insecticide which is applied against plant pests. This compound has various side effects because it acts as an acetyl cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor.

The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of diazinon on pituitary–gonad axis and ovarian histological changes in rats.

In total 50 female wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 including control sham and experimental groups I II and III which orally received 50 100 and 150 mg/kg/bw diazinon for 14 days respectively. Diazinon was administered orally and 24 hours after the last treatment blood samples were taken from the heart centrifuged and sera were evaluated for the concentrations of estrogen progesterone and gonadotropins via RIA method. In addition ovaries were removed fixed and studied with steriological methods.

The results show no significant changes in body weight among various groups; while ovarian weight in experimental group III decreased significantly (p

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder in which there are numerous benign cysts that form on ovaries under a thick white covering that is one of the causes of infertility. Follistatin is a single chain glycosylated polypeptide that can bind to activin. When follistatin binds to activin it suppresses the role of activin to stimulate the secretion of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). FSH plays an important role in folliculogenesis and decrease in FSH level may arrest follicular development.

The aim is this study was to determine the circulating follistatin concentrations in PCOS patients compared to regularly menstruating women.

The PCOS study group consisted of 88 oligo/amenorrheic women with PCOS. The control group consisted of 60 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles (26–30 days) and with no signs of hyperandrogenism. Body mass index (BMI Kg/m2) was calculated. Serum follistatin Serum Leutenizing hormone (LH) and FSH were determined. Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation coefficients were used carried out statistical analysis of the data.

Serum follistatin levels were 0.11±0.04 and 0.31±0.08 ng/ml in control subjects and PCOS patients respectively (mean ± SD) and mean follistatin concentration in PCOS was high. The relationship between serum follistatin and FSH for control study was negatively correlated (r= -0.107 p=0.415) and was not significant whereas for PCOS patients the correlation was negative (r= -0.011 p=0.027) and however significant.

Follistatin concentrations were high in PCOS patients compared to control subjects in this study. The high concentration of follistatin in PCOS decreased the FSH level and thus follistatin and FSH levels were negatively correlated in this study.

There is a fundamental correlation between follicles and endometrium in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

To assess the relation between perifollicular perfusion and sub endometrial parameters in Doppler ultrasonography and outcome of in ICSI cycles.

In this prospective deh1ive pilot study 10 patients were enrolled. Strict inclusion criteria were considered. Routine long protocol was used for ICSI. On the day of follicle retrieval colour Doppler indices were determined. Sub endometrial pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) and perifollicular perfusion were assessed. After oocyte retrieval the count of metaphase 2 (M2) oocytes emberyo with grade A quality and the result of cycle were evaluated also.

RI and PI indices had a positive correlation. Follicles with ≥18 mm diameter and follicles with >75% perfusion had a direct relation. Also subendometrial RI had a significant relation with follicular status (p-value= 0.04) But there was not a significant triple correlation (between endometrium follicles and outcome).

The mutual effects of vascularization status in two fundamental parts in ART is still unclear. The evaluation with Doppler ultrasonography should focus on two compartments together as one functional part at the same time. It means even in presence of good markers in each part the final decision must be taken by co-evaluation of follicles and endometrium.

Ovulation induction and ART may be a newly recognized cause of vascular thrombosis in unusual sites in otherwise healthy women.

To report a case of thrombosis in right carotid artery 2.5 months after ovarian stimulation for IVF-ET.

Case report: 

A non pregnant 39-year-old woman without coagulation disorder and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The patient underwent two consecutive cycles of IVF-ET with administration of recombinant FSH and chorionic gonadotropin (10000 IU) in each cycle. The patient case had thrombosis of the carotid artery with clinical signs 2.5 months later while fasting in Ramadan. Thorough laboratory and imaging investigation revealed no causative factor.

Fasting may trigger thromboembolic complication weeks after ovarian stimulation.