Reduction of connexin 43 in human cumulus cells yields good embryo competence during ICSI.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to predict developmental competence of human oocytes during ICSI via analysis of connexin 43 (Cx43) in cumulus cells surrounding mature oocytes.

Materials And Methods: Human cumulus cells were manually separated from the oocyte-cumulus complex under a microscope. Cx43 mRNA was expressed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) measurement in cumulus cells.

Sperm retention site and its influence on pronucleus stage evaluation following intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

It has been suggested that the position of the sperm after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has an effect on the development and quality of the embryo. In this study, we retrospectively examined whether pronucleus stage evaluation used through clinical studies in recent years has relevance with regard to sperm location. From 2003 to 2005, 1285 oocytes from 459 patients (average age: 36 years) were retrospectively analyzed.

Serum steroids concentration might be used for monitoring the growth of follicles in friendly fertilization.

Steroid levels have been used as the predictive parameters for oocyte maturation and embryo development. In the present study, estradiol and progesterone concentrations in the follicular fluid and serum were evaluated in conventional fertilization (IVF; follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and/or human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG] after pituitary desensitization) and friendly IVF (no stimulation, clomiphene citrate, small dose of FSH or hMG without pituitary desensitization). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differences in steroid distribution between conventional and friendly IVF.

Sperm retention site and its influence on cleavage rate and early development following intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Background: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has risen to the forefront of reproductive technology. In the present study, the location of the sperm injection was noted, and a prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the sperm retention site on cleavage rates and embryo quality after ICSI.

Methods: This study involved 336 ICSI patients (age 27-44; average 37.

Reduction of progesterone receptor expression in human cumulus cells at the time of oocyte collection during IVF is associated with good embryo quality.

Background: It has been reported that the progesterone receptor (PR) level is transiently increased within the follicle by LH stimulation and controls cumulus cells in follicles and oocyte maturation. The purpose of this study was to predict developmental competence of human oocytes during IVF via analysis of PR in cumulus cells surrounding mature oocytes.

Methods: Prior to oocyte retrieval, the follicular diameter was measured and follicular fluid was collected from each mature follicle.

Preventive effect of recombinant human lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm delivery in mice.

Background: In order to investigate whether recombinant human lactoferrin (rh-LF) has the same effect as bovine LF (b-LF) for the prevention of preterm delivery, we conducted the following animal studies.

Methods: Female C3H/HeNCrj mice were pair-mated with male Crj:B6D2F1 mice. As a model of preterm delivery, on day 15 of gestation, a 50 microg/kg intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered twice with a 3-hr interval between injections (14:00 and 17:00 hours).

Correlations between steroids concentration in follicular fluid, pronuclear morphology and embryo qualities in fertilization.

Several parameters of early embryo development are known as predictors of implantation success. Recently, zygote or embryo morphological assessments are thought to be a major method of selection in embryo transfer. We expected that the concentrations of the steroids in follicular fluid (FF) were associated with oocyte maturation and embryo quality.