Factors influencing sperm-zona pellucida binding in vitro using the intact zona model.

The zona pellucida binding assay assesses the ability of spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida. The present study investigated the influence of: (i) prior oocyte exposure to spermatozoa on subsequent sperm-zona pellucida binding in vitro; and (ii) cryopreservation of oocytes. Only oocytes obtained from fertile donors were used and the binding capacity of non-inseminated, cryopreserved oocytes was compared with both inseminated/unfertilized, cryopreserved oocytes and inseminated/unfertilized, non-cryopreserved oocytes recovered from in-vitro fertilization cultures on sperm-zona pellucida binding using an intact zona model.

Methotrexate prophylaxis for persistent ectopic pregnancy after conservative treatment by salpingostomy.

Objective: To investigate whether the incidence of persistent ectopic pregnancy after linear salpingostomy can be reduced by prophylactic administration of a single dose of methotrexate postoperatively.

Methods: Women who underwent linear salpingostomy for treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy and who agreed to participate in the study (n = 129) were randomly assigned to the prophylaxis or control group. Women with anemia, renal insufficiency, or liver disease were excluded.

Influence of porcine follicular fluid on the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa.

The results of this study indicate that there are factors present in porcine FF that affect human sperm fertilizing potential. It appears that fluid from developmentally mature follicles stimulate sperm, whereas fluid from immature follicles can inhibit sperm. These findings also demonstrate that human sperm is influenced by factors present in nonhuman FF.

Influence of sperm processing on the fertilizing capacity and recovery of motile sperm from thawed human semen.

Artificial insemination programs now rely almost exclusively on frozen semen preparations as their source of sperm. Unfortunately, several reports indicate that conception rates using frozen-thawed semen are inferior to freshly ejaculated specimens. The present study was designed to investigate the fertilizing capacity of sperm and the recovery of motile sperm from thawed semen following different sperm processing methods.