CCL20-CCR6 axis directs sperm-oocyte interaction and its dysregulation correlates/associates with male infertility‡.

The interaction of sperm with the oocyte is pivotal during the process of mammalian fertilization. The limited numbers of sperm that reach the fallopian tube as well as anatomic restrictions indicate that human sperm-oocyte encounter is not a matter of chance but a directed process. Chemotaxis is the proposed mechanism for re-orientating sperm toward the source of a chemoattractant and hence to the oocyte.

Concept Paper on the Technique of Cryopreservation, Removal and Transplantation of Ovarian Tissue for Fertility Preservation.

The cryopreservation of ovarian tissue with subsequent transplantation of the tissue represents an established method of fertility protection for female patients who have to undergo gonadotoxic therapy. The procedure can be performed at any point in the cycle and thus generally does not lead to any delay in oncological therapy. With the aid of this procedure, more than 130 births to date worldwide have been able to be recorded.

Fertility Preservation for Patients with Malignant Disease. Guideline of the DGGG, DGU and DGRM (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/082, November 2017) - Recommendations and Statements for Girls and Women.

Aim: The aim of this official guideline published by the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG) and coordinated with the German Society of Urology (DGU) and the German Society of Reproductive Medicine (DGRM) is to provide consensus-based recommendations, obtained by evaluating the relevant literature, on counseling and fertility preservation for prepubertal girls and boys as well as patients of reproductive age. Statements and recommendations for girls and women are presented below. Statements or recommendations for boys and men are not the focus of this guideline.

Endometriosis doubles odds for miscarriage in patients undergoing IVF or ICSI.

Objective: To identify and estimate the importance of risk factors on pregnancy loss until the end of the second trimester after clinical pregnancy was achieved by either in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study including 588 cycles with fresh embryo transfers and 150 cycles with frozen-thawed embryo transfers using logistic regression.

Results: The rate of miscarriages subsequent to a fresh embryo transfer was significantly increased by a diagnosis of endometriosis (p=0.

Live birth after artificial oocyte activation using a ready-to-use ionophore: a prospective multicentre study.

Artificial oocyte activation has been proposed as a suitable means to overcome the problem of failed or impaired fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In a multicentre setting artificial oocyte activation was applied to 101 patients who were diagnosed with fertilization abnormalities (e.g.

Selection of the in vitro culture media influences mRNA expression of Hedgehog genes, Il-6, and important genes regarding reactive oxygen species in single murine preimplantation embryos.

Background: The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of different in vitro culture media on mRNA expression of Hedgehog genes, il-6, and important genes regarding reactive oxygen species in single mouse embryos.

Methods: Reverse transcription of single embryos either cultured in vitro from day 0.5 until 3.

In vitro culture does not alter the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in single murine preimplantation embryos.

Background: In vitro culture of embryos, as widely used in assisted reproduction techniques, may influence embryonic development and subsequently the establishment of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine a potential influence of the in vitroculture regarding VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 mRNA expression in developing single mouse embryos.

Methods: Murine embryos were isolated on day 1 post coitus (p.

Interleukin-1 system in the human fallopian tube-No spatial but a temporal regulation of mRNA and protein expression.

The human fallopian tube provides the environment for the first 5 days of embryonic development in vivo. The IL-1 system is involved in human embryo implantation. This study aimed to investigate IL-1beta, IL-1ra and IL-1R tI expression within the length of the human fallopian tube on mRNA- and protein-level in samples from proliferative versus secretory phase, postmenopause (PMP) samples and samples from intra- (IUP) and extrauterine pregnancies (EUP) to examine possible spatial and hormonal induced changes (fimbrial, ampullary and isthmic tube segments).

A possible ambivalent role for relaxin in human myometrial and decidual cells in vitro.

Purpose: Based on the reported tocolytic action of the hormone relaxin (RLX) in rodents, locally produced in reproductive tissues and the corpus luteum in mammals, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of RLX on contraction-mediating cyclooxygenases-1 and -2 (COX) and the contractile prostaglandin PGE(2) in human myometrial and decidual cells. Primary cultured cells were obtained from uteri and placentas of term and preterm women undergoing elective caesarean section.

Methods: In vitro culture of primary myometrial and decidual cells, immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription and real-time PCR, Western blot, ELISA.

Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor neuropilin-1 in the human endometrium.

Angiogenesis is a key process in the endometrium which undergoes dramatic changes during the menstrual cycle. Molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), acting via two tyrosine kinase family receptors (VEGFR1 [Flt-1] and VEGFR2 [KDR/Flk-1]), are potent modulators of angiogenesis and vascular remodelling in the endometrium. Recently, neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) was shown to be expressed in endothelial cells binding VEGF(165) and therewith enhancing the binding of VEGF(165) to VEGFR2.

Effect of oral N-acetyl cysteine on recurrent preterm labor following treatment for bacterial vaginosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on gestational age at delivery in women with previous preterm labor and bacterial vaginosis.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 280 women between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy who had 1 previous preterm birth and had just been successfully treated for bacterial vaginosis with metronidazole for 1 week. The women were randomized to receive 0.

Pregnancy after laser-assisted selection of viable spermatozoa before intracytoplasmatic sperm injection in a couple with male primary cilia dyskinesia.

Objective: To report an intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancy achieved in a couple with male primary cilia dyskinesia (PCD) with viable sperm that were detected using a 1.48 microm wavelength diode laser.

Design: Case report.

The effect of relaxin on the oxytocin receptor in human uterine smooth muscle cells.

Experimental Objectives: Activation of the oxytocin receptor (OTR) induces phospholipase C induced PIP(2) turnover in the human uterus. Relaxin (RLX), a polypeptide hormone produced in the corpus luteum of pregnancy as well as in the placenta and decidua inhibits PIP(2) turnover and subsequent signaling in human myometrium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a possible effect of RLX on OTR regulation in human uterine smooth muscle cells.

Angiopoietin-1 and -2 mRNA and protein expression in mouse preimplantation embryos and uteri suggests a role in angiogenesis during implantation.

After attachment and migration through the endometrial epithelium, the embryo must induce angiogenesis within the endometrial stroma to successfully complete the implantation process. Growth factors have been shown to play an important role in embryo implantation and placentation. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of angiopoietin-1 and -2 (Ang-1 and -2) mRNA and protein expression during the development of single preimplantation mouse embryos and of possible complementary expression in mouse uteri.

Differential expression of angiopoietins 1 and 2 and their receptor Tie-2 in human endometrium.

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels, is a physiological process involved in both normal menstrual cycling and implantation of the embryo. So far, very little is known about the expression of angiopoietins, growth factors involved in angiogenesis, in human endometrium. Both angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) are ligands for the endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase Tie-2.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA splice variants are differentially expressed in human blastocysts.

The aim of our study was to detect and characterize mRNA expression of VEGF isoforms VEGF(121), VEGF(145), VEGF(165), VEGF(189), and VEGF(206) in human blastocysts. We recently demonstrated VEGF mRNA expression during human preimplantation embryo development, and further information regarding the alternatively spliced mRNAs resulting in freely secreted proteins or proteins bound to cell surface heparan-sulphate proteoglycans is needed to better understand the process of angiogenesis during implantation. Human blastocysts unsuitable for transfer obtained from the IVF programme at Stanford University were examined by reverse transcription/hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction for their expression of VEGF mRNA splice variants.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in human preimplantation embryos derived from tripronuclear zygotes.

Objective: To detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and/or secretion of VEGF protein by human preimplantation embryos.

Design: Human preimplantation embryos not suitable for uterine transfer were examined for beta-actin and VEGF mRNA expression. Culture media from normally fertilized and developing preimplantation embryos were assessed for VEGF protein secretion.

Is there a place for biochemical embryonic preimplantational screening?

The advent of assisted reproductive techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection has markedly reduced the problem of unsuccessful fertilization in modern IVF. However, pregnancy rates and 'take-home-baby' rates remain unsatisfactorily low. Attempts to overcome low pregnancy rates by transferring a larger number of embryos to the mother often result in multiple pregnancies.

Disruption of myoglobin in mice induces multiple compensatory mechanisms.

Myoglobin may serve a variety of functions in muscular oxygen supply, such as O(2) storage, facilitated O(2) diffusion, and myoglobin-mediated oxidative phosphorylation. We studied the functional consequences of a myoglobin deficiency on cardiac function by producing myoglobin-knockout (myo(-/-)) mice. To genetically inactivate the myoglobin gene, exon 2 encoding the heme binding site was deleted in embryonic stem cells via homologous recombination.

Expression of mRNA for vascular endothelial growth factor transmembraneous receptors Flt1 and KDR, and the soluble receptor sflt in cycling human endometrium.

The aim of this study was to quantify and localize the mRNA expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors Flt1, KDR and sflt, in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. Since neoangiogenesis is crucial during embryonic implantation, we postulate that endometrial receptivity to VEGF may be altered during the luteal phase in order to support implantation. Human endometrium was collected and specified as early proliferative (n = 3), mid-proliferative (n = 4), late proliferative (n = 3), early secretory (n = 2), mid-secretory (n = 4), and late secretory (n = 4).

Epidermal growth factor and leukemia inhibitory factor levels in follicular fluid. Association with in vitro fertilization outcome.

Objective: To determine the levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in follicular fluid, if any, and to assess the association of these cytokines with the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Study Design: EGF and LIF levels determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 60 preovulatory follicular fluids were compared with 25 IVF outcomes.

Results: Immunoreactive EGF and LIF could be detected in human follicular fluid.

Coronary hemodynamics in endothelial NO synthase knockout mice.

For the specific analysis of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) function in the coronary vasculature, we generated a mouse homozygous for a defective eNOS gene (eNOS-/-). Western blot as well as immunohistochemical staining revealed the absence of eNOS protein in eNOS-/- mice. Aortic endothelial cells derived from eNOS-/- mice displayed only background levels of NOx formation compared with wild-type (WT) cells (88 versus 1990 pmol NOx x h-1/mg protein-1).

A comparison of the germline potential of differently aged ES cell lines and their transfected descendants.

The germline transmission (g.l.t.

Cloning and expression analysis of a novel mouse gene with sequence similarity to the Drosophila fat facets gene.

The Drosophila fat facets (faf) gene is a ubiquitin-specific protease necessary for the normal development of the eye and of the syncytial stage embryo in the fly. Using a gene trap approach in embryonic stem cells we have isolated a murine gene with extensive sequence similarity to the Drosophila faf gene and called it Fam (fat facets in mouse). The putative mouse protein shows colinearity and a high degree of sequence identity to the Drosophila protein over almost its entire length of 2554 amino acids.

E-cadherin null mutant embryos fail to form a trophectoderm epithelium.

The cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin mediates the compaction process of mouse preimplantation embryos and is important for the maintenance and function of epithelial cell layers. To determine precisely the role of E-cadherin in epithelial biogenesis we monitored the developmental potential of embryos homozygously negative for E-cadherin that were derived from E-cadherin heterozygous transgenic mice. The homozygous negative embryos died around the time of implantation, although they did undergo compaction like their littermate controls, largely due to the presence of residual maternal E-cadherin.