Measuring apoptosis in human spermatozoa: a biological assay for semen quality?

Objective: [1] To determine whether apoptosis can be measured in ejaculated spermatozoa by flow cytometry using the Annexin V assay, which measures expression of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, or the TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP [deoxy-uridine triphosphate] nick end labeling) assay, which measures occurrence of DNA strand breaks and [2] to correlate the outcome with routine semen variables and the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test.

Design: Pilot study and clinical trial.

Setting: Large teaching hospital and fertility center.

Apoptotic cell death in human granulosa-lutein cells: a possible indicator of in vitro fertilization outcome.

Objective: To determine whether women who do not conceive during an IVF treatment despite normal FSH levels have a higher rate of apoptosis in their granulosa-lutein cells than women who do conceive.

Design: Prospective.

Setting: Large teaching hospital and fertility center.

Follicle-stimulating hormone measured in unextracted urine: a reliable tool for easy assessment of ovarian capacity.

Objective: To determine the presence of FSH in unextracted urine of perimenopausal women using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay kit on an AxSYM random access immunoassay analyzer.

Design: Controlled descriptive study.

Setting: A large teaching hospital and infertility clinic.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein-3 concentrations in fluid from human stimulated follicles.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) play an important role in regulating follicle growth and maturation. We have evaluated whether responsiveness to gonadotrophins during an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is related to follicular fluid IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations. We also investigated if a difference is present in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations between patients treated with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) and patients treated with highly purified follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).