Altered morphokinetics and differential reproductive outcomes associated with cell exclusion events in human embryos.

Research Question: Can embryos harbouring cell exclusion and their reproductive outcomes be classified based on morphokinetic profiles?

Design: A total of 469 time-lapse videos of embryos transferred between 2013 and 2019 from a single clinic were analysed. Videos were assessed and grouped according to the presence or absence of one or more excluded cells before compaction. Cell division timings, intervals between subsequent cell divisions and dynamic intervals were analysed to determine the morphokinetic profiles of embryos with cell exclusion (CE+), compared with fully compacted embryos without cell exclusion or extrusion (CE-).

Levels of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma are associated with sperm fatty acid composition.

The fatty acid composition of spermatozoa has been shown to be important for their function, and L-carnitine is crucial for fatty acid metabolism. Its levels in the seminal plasma positively correlate with semen quality, whereas high body mass index (BMI) is associated with both reduced semen quality and altered sperm fatty acid composition. Here, we examined the associations between free seminal L-carnitine levels and sperm fatty acid composition as well as BMI.

Fragmentation of human cleavage-stage embryos is related to the progression through meiotic and mitotic cell cycles.

Objective: To study whether fragmentation of human embryos is related to the progression through meiotic and mitotic cell cycles.

Design: This report consists of two observational studies.

Setting: Not applicable.

Advanced glycation end products and their receptor contribute to ovarian ageing.

Study Question: Do advanced glycation end products (AGE) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) affect the cells of the human ovarian follicle?

Summary Answer: AGE accumulate on the surface of ovarian granulosa-lutein (GL) cells and monocytes by binding to RAGE and other receptors with possible functional effects on these cells.

What Is Known Already: AGE and RAGE are expressed in granulosa and theca cells, as well as in luteinized cells derived from the ovary.

Study Design, Size, Duration: In this prospective cohort study, human follicle fluid-derived cells were isolated from aspirates of ovarian follicles of women who underwent assisted reproduction treatment.

Do endometriomas induce an inflammatory reaction in nearby follicles?

Study Question: Do endometriomas induce an inflammatory reaction with increased cytokine concentrations in nearby follicles and thereby affect follicular development during controlled ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

Summary Answer: With most endometriomas, there is no evidence of increased cytokine concentrations in the ipsilateral leading follicle. Infrequently, the concentration of inflammatory cytokines is increased in the follicular fluid (FF) and associated with diminished ovarian response.

What Is Known Already: The link between peritoneal endometriosis, inflammation and infertility is well established; however, the association between intraovarian inflammation and endometrioma is unknown.

Routine morphological scoring systems in assisted reproduction treatment fail to reflect age-related impairment of oocyte and embryo quality.

Routine morphological scoring systems in assisted reproduction treatment are based on parameters that presumably correlate with the biological quality of gametes and embryos, including chromosome abnormalities. Maternal age is a key factor predicting pregnancy and live birth, and it is therefore of considerable interest to identify age-related indicators of oocyte and embryo quality in assisted reproduction treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine whether routine morphological scoring systems reflect age-related impact on oocyte and embryo quality among 4587 couples undergoing their first assisted reproduction treatment.