Accumulation of advanced glycation end products in follicles is associated with poor oocyte developmental competence.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) affect the follicular microenvironment. The close relationship between AGEs, proinflammatory cytokine production and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which involves activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), is crucial for regulation of various cellular functions. We examined whether accumulation of AGEs in follicles was associated with proinflammatory cytokine production and activation of the UPR in granulosa cells and decreased oocyte developmental competence.

Role of oxidative stress in follicular fluid on embryos of patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment.

Aim: Oxidative stress (OS) is defined as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, and the disruption of redox signaling leads to molecular damages. This study was conducted to clarify the effect of OS in individual follicular fluid (FF) on oocyte fertilization and embryonic division.

Methods: A total of 124 patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment in our hospital underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection and 211 FF were collected.

Activation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway by oral Dimethylfumarate administration alleviates oxidative stress and age-associated infertility might be delayed in the mouse ovary.

Background: Age-associated infertility is a problem worldwide, and management of oxidative stress is known to be essential. Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway works as an essential defense mechanism against oxidative stress, and an oral drug Dimethylfumarate (DMF) is known to activate the pathway.

Methods: We tested the hypothesis that oral DMF could alleviate oxidative stress in the ovary, resulting in salvation of age-associated infertility in a mouse model of reproductive age, and we examined the effects of DMF administration.

The efficacy of non-assisted reproductive technology treatment might be limited in infertile patients with advanced endometriosis in their 30s.

Aim: To determine the efficacious treatment for infertile couples, we assessed the impact of infertility factors including endometriosis on assisted reproductive technology (ART) and non-ART treatment, and the effect of age in infertility treatment outcomes was also investigated.

Methods: The medical records of 1864 females, infertile patients from January 2000 to December 2015 at our hospital, were retrospectively reviewed under the approval of the Institutional Review Board. We extracted 10 representative factors and calculated the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in these patients.

Activation of Nrf2 might reduce oxidative stress in human granulosa cells.

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway is one of the most important defense mechanisms against oxidative stress (OS). It is well documented that equilibration status of OS plays fundamental roles in human reproductive medicine, and the physiological role of Nrf2 in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) has not been determined yet. Herein we aimed to study the function of Nrf2 in GCs.

Secretory patterns of catecholamines in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.

Catecholamines (CAs), namely adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA), are secreted by the sympathoadrenal system and participate in a diverse array of functions, e.g., heat production, cardiovascular regulation, stress response and so on.