Melatonin Reduces Androgen Production and Upregulates Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression in Granulosa Cells from PCOS Patients with Hypoestrogenia and Hyperandrogenia.

Background/aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder characterized by abnormal hormone levels in peripheral blood and poor-quality oocytes. PCOS is a pathophysiological syndrome caused by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of melatonin regulation on androgen production and antioxidative damage in granulosa cells from PCOS patients with hypoestrogenia and hyperandrogenia.

Establishment of porcine and human expanded potential stem cells.

We recently derived mouse expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs) from individual blastomeres by inhibiting the critical molecular pathways that predispose their differentiation. EPSCs had enriched molecular signatures of blastomeres and possessed developmental potency for all embryonic and extra-embryonic cell lineages. Here, we report the derivation of porcine EPSCs, which express key pluripotency genes, are genetically stable, permit genome editing, differentiate to derivatives of the three germ layers in chimeras and produce primordial germ cell-like cells in vitro.

Enhancement of the efficiency of oocyte vitrification through regulation of histone deacetylase 6 expression.

Objective: Successful oocyte vitrification (OV) is critical for cryopreservation of the oocytes from female patients with infertility, polycystic ovaries, and gynecologic cancers. Recent evidence suggests that relatively low levels of histone acetylation are critical for maintenance of the maturation capacity of cryopreserved oocytes. However, previous studies have only demonstrated a key role of histone deacetylases (HDAC) 1 and 2 in the cryopreservation of oocytes.

A novel method for cryopreservation of individual human spermatozoa.

The purpose of this study is to develop a novel method for the cryopreservation and efficient post-thaw recovery of individual or small numbers of human spermatozoa. Spermatozoa equilibrated in cryoprotectant buffer were injected with an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) needle into a droplet of cryoprotectant on a homemade cryoleaf. The droplet was of cryoprotectant and seminal plasma at a ratio of 1:1.