Tumor necrosis factor-308 polymorphism increases the embryo implantation rate in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Study Question: Do TNF-308 and -238 polymorphisms impact the embryo implantation rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women without female infertility factor?

Summary Answer: The presence of the TNF-308A allele is associated with high implantation and multiple pregnancy rates in women without known infertility factors after ovarian hyperstimulation with exogenous FSH.

What Is Already Known: Multiple pregnancies are frequent after the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Single embryo transfer (SET) has been proposed as a simple way to prevent these risks.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308 polymorphism in infertile men with altered sperm production or motility.

Background: One of the most well-documented cytokines suspected as a hazard to male fertility is tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha). Genetic factors such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNF gene cluster impact TNFalpha levels. Our objective was to establish the potential involvement of -308 TNF SNP in male infertility risk.

Alterations of Sertoli cell activity in the long-term testicular germ cell death process induced by fetal androgen disruption.

Fetal androgen disruption, induced by the administration of anti-androgen flutamide (0.4, 2, and 10 mg/kg day) causes a long-term apoptosis in testicular germ cells in adult male rat offspring. One of the questions raised by this observation is the role of the Sertoli cells in the adult germ cell apoptotic process.