The Effect of Clomiphene Citrate and Letrozole in Apoptotic Pathways and Cell Cycle in Human Primary Cumulus Cells and the Protective Effect of Estradiol.

Clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole are ovulatory stimulants that, despite high ovulation rates, achieve low pregnancy rates. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of CC and letrozole, alone or in combination with estradiol, on apoptosis in human cumulus cells. We performed a controlled prospective study using primary cumulus cell cultures from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (n=22).

Pro-caspase-3 is constitutively expressed in luteinized granulosa cells from women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Apoptosis regulation in luteinized granulosa cells (LGC) during assisted reproduction procedures is still controversial. Caspase-3 is a major apoptosis mediator encoded by CASP3 and formed through cleavage of its precursor pro-caspase-3. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of pro-caspase-3 (mRNA and protein) and cleaved caspase-3 in human LGC.

In vitro evaluation of cryopreserved bovine sperm and its relation to field fertility in fixed-time artificial insemination.

This study aimed to assess characteristics of bovine cryopreserved sperm and evaluate its relation to field fertility in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). Semen samples of 16 bulls were used to inseminate 811 Nellore cows, and four of these bulls were also used to inseminate 101 Nellore heifers. Samples of the same ejaculate used for FTAI from each bull were analysed in the laboratory after thawing.

Clinical correlation of apoptosis in human granulosa cells-A review.

The quality of oocytes depends on interactions with surrounding granulosa cells. Granulosa cells are essential in normal follicular maturation process since they produce steroidal hormones and growth factors, and they play a crucial role in follicular atresia. The success in reproductive biology and medicine depends on reliable assessment of oocyte and embryo viability which presently mainly bases on oocyte and embryo morphology.

Implantation Failure Is Associated With Increased α-Inhibin and β-Glycan Gene Expression in Secretory Phase Endometrium: Nested Case-Control Study of Infertile Women Undergoing IVF/Fresh Embryo Transfer.

Embryo implantation involves a complex sequence of events, and a large amount of molecules have been postulated to be involved in the interaction of embryo and endometrium. This study evaluated the endometrial expression of α-inhibin and β-glycan in the mid-secretory phase of women scheduled to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and tested whether these markers are associated with implantation failure. We performed a nested case-control study including 52 women submitted to IVF and embryo transfer, divided into 2 groups: cases with implantation failure (n = 33) and controls with confirmed clinical pregnancy (n = 19).

Influence of corpus luteum and ovarian volume on the number and quality of bovine oocytes.

In order to evaluate whether ovarian volume, presence and diameter of the corpus luteum (CL) have effects on the number and quality of bovine recovered oocytes, 110 ovaries were obtained from the slaughterhouse. Cumulus oocytes complex were aspirated and evaluated under stereomicroscope. Oocytes were counted and classified according to their quality (Grades I, II, III and IV).

Association of vitamin E with rapid thawing on goat semen.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E associated with rapid thawing on cryopreserved goat semen. Two bucks were used and eight ejaculates per animal were collected using artificial vagina. Semen was diluted with the following treatments: BIOXCELL (control), BIOXCELL + Equex (sodium lauryl sulphate) and BIOXCELL + vitamin E 100 μM.