Molecular basis of human sperm-zona pellucida interaction.

The recognition of carbohydrate sequences by complimentary receptors has been shown to be a critical factor in gamete interaction in many different animal species. We have proposed the hypothesis that, in the human, sperm binding to the zona pellucida requires a 'selectin-like' interaction. We have used the hemizona assay (a unique internally controlled bioassay that evaluates tight binding of human sperm to the homologous zona pellucida) and advanced methods of carbohydrate analysis to test this hypothesis.

Evaluation of outpatient hysteroscopy, saline infusion hysterosonography, and hysterosalpingography in infertile women: a prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy, pain scores, and procedure length of outpatient hysteroscopy (OHS), hysterosalpingography (HSG), and saline infusion hysterosonography (SIS) for evaluation of the uterine cavity of infertile women.

Design: Prospective, randomized, investigator-blind study.

Setting: Tertiary infertility clinic.

Detection of endometrial pinopodes by light microscopy.

Objective: To study the value of light microscopy (LM) in the assessment of endometrial pinopodes.

Design: Comparative histologic study.

Setting: Outpatient infertility clinic in an academic teaching institution.

Semen treatment with progesterone and/or acetyl-L-carnitine does not improve sperm motility or membrane damage after cryopreservation-thawing.

Objective: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm motility parameters and plasma membrane integrity.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic tertiary center.

Histochemical localization of endometrial insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 and -3 during the luteal phase in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles: a controlled study.

Objective: To determine if controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) affects the endometrial expression of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3.

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary infertility clinic.

Local effects of mifepristone on the nonhuman primate endometrium.

Objective: To determine the effects of a low-dose mifepristone regimen on endometrium in the rhesus monkey by endometrial staging and analysis of molecular markers of endometrial receptivity.

Design: A prospective, randomized comparative study.

Setting: Academic research environment.

Endometrial glycodelin-A expression in the luteal phase of stimulated ovarian cycles.

Objective: To determine if controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) affects the endometrial expression of glycodelin-A (GdA).

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary infertility clinic.

Analysis of DNA fragmentation, plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine and oxidative stress in human spermatozoa.

Unlabelled: The objectives of this cross-sectional observational study were: (i) to detect DNA damage and plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine in purified sperm populations of high and low motility, and (ii) to analyse their relationship with the endogenous generation of reactive oxygen species. Ejaculates from infertile men were examined following gradient centrifugation. The main outcome measures were: sperm motion parameters (assessed with a computer analyser), generation of reactive oxygen species (measured by chemiluminescence), DNA damage (detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling and monoclonal antibody labelling of single-stranded DNA) and translocation of membrane phosphatidylserine (examined with annexin V staining).

Baboon spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding assay.

This study developed a baboon in vitro system that allows transport of sperm from a treatment facility to an off-site location for subsequent evaluation of sperm functional capacity. We further described a sperm functional assay that evaluates baboon sperm binding to homologous zona pellucida, a baboon hemizona assay (HZA). Semen samples were collected from baboons via electroejaculation directly into refrigeration transport buffer.

Sperm function assays and their predictive value for fertilization outcome in IVF therapy: a meta-analysis.

The prevalence of male infertility and the availability of new, highly successful therapeutic options make the testing of sperm functional competence mandatory. An objective, outcome-based examination of the validity of the currently available assays was performed based upon the results obtained from 2906 subjects evaluated in 34 prospectively designed, controlled studies. The aim was carried out through a meta-analytical approach that examined the predictive value of four categories of sperm functional assays: computer-aided sperm motion analysis (CASA); induced-acrosome reaction testing; sperm penetration assay (SPA); and sperm-zona pellucida binding assays for IVF outcome.

Perifollicular blood flow Doppler indices, but not follicular pO2, pCO2, or pH, predict oocyte developmental competence in in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To assess the relationships among perifollicular blood flow; follicular fluid pO2, pCO2, and pH; oocyte developmental capacity; preimplantation embryo quality.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic, tertiary care institution.

Embryo implantation in in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: impact of cleavage status, morphology grade, and number of embryos transferred.

Objective: The aims of this study were to compare preimplantation embryo quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with standard IVF and to examine the impact of age and number and quality of embryos transferred on implantation and pregnancy.

Design: Retrospective, controlled clinical study.

Setting: Academic tertiary center.

Intra- and inter-laboratory variability in the assessment of sperm morphology by strict criteria: impact of semen preparation, staining techniques and manual versus computerized analysis.

We designed prospective studies to compare manual and computerized analysis of sperm morphology by strict criteria using different semen processing and staining techniques. A total of 54 semen samples were studied; slides were prepared from each subject from liquefied semen and after washing, and stained with Diff-Quik or Papanicolaou. An intra-laboratory, blind assessment was performed manually (two observers) and using a computerized analyser (two readings).

Endometrial estrogen and progesterone receptor and pinopode expression in stimulated cycles of oocyte donors.

Objective: To study the effect of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and the ovarian response on several features of endometrial morphology simultaneously.

Design: Prospective controlled study.

Setting: Academic infertility center.

The value of basal serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and oestradiol concentrations following pituitary down-regulation in predicting ovarian response to stimulation with highly purified follicle stimulating hormone.

The value of gonadotrophin and oestradiol concentrations following pituitary down-regulation with leuprolide acetate in predicting ovarian response to stimulation was evaluated in three groups of women undergoing ovarian stimulation for in-vitro fertilization with highly purified follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Leuprolide acetate was started in the midluteal phase, and either stopped at menses (IVF-SL group, n = 3), or continued throughout stimulation (IVF-LL group, n = 38; oocyte donors, n = 58). Ovarian stimulation was started on cycle day 3, after blood was drawn for down-regulated FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH) and oestradiol.

Modulation of sperm tail protein tyrosine phosphorylation by pentoxifylline and its correlation with hyperactivated motility.

Objective: To assess the effect of pentoxifylline on human sperm functions that are crucial to fertilization.

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

Setting: Academic tertiary care institute.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation during hyperactivated motility of cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) spermatozoa.

Capacitation and capacitation-related hyperactivated motility do not occur spontaneously in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) spermatozoa; instead, both have an absolute requirement for exogenous stimulation with caffeine and dibutyryl (db)cAMP. In the present study, we 1) defined sorting criteria for automated analysis of macaque sperm exhibiting hyperactivated motility (HA) and 2) investigated protein tyrosine phosphorylation involvement in dbcAMP- and caffeine-stimulated capacitation and HA. Motion characteristics were assessed by computer-assisted motion analysis.

Pregnancy following transfer of ooplasm from cryopreserved-thawed donor oocytes into recipient oocytes.

Objective: To determine if frozen-thawed donor oocytes could be used to provide cytoplasm for transfer into patients' oocytes to improve subsequent embryonic development.

Design: Prospective evaluation of the procedure in consenting IVF patients.

Setting: Assisted reproductive technology program.

Hemochromatosis and male infertility.

Background: The clinical association of hemochromatosis and infertility is rare. Hemochromatosis may affect fertility through a variety of mechanisms.

Case: A 44-year-old man and his 36-year-old wife presented with primary infertility of 7 years' duration.

Semen quality: is there a paternal effect on pregnancy outcome in in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection?

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the spermatozoon (paternal effects) on implantation and pregnancy outcome in in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Male individuals of three types were analysed: infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), infertile men with normozoospermia and fertile men (donors). Female counterparts were judged to have comparable egg quality within two groups studied, i.

Comparison of various methods of processing human cryopreserved-thawed semen samples.

We compared the efficacy of various methods of processing cryopreserved-thawed samples for the recovery of functionally adequate spermatozoa as assessed by the response to the sperm stress test (SST), an index of temperature activated sperm membrane lipid peroxidation, and immediate and delayed changes in sperm viability and motion parameters. Donor semen samples (n = 28) were cryopreserved-thawed and divided into six equal parts, one part was used as control and the remaining parts were used to compare five methods of sperm processing as follows: direct Percoll gradient processing, washing by one-step or stepwise addition of the washing medium followed by Percoll processing, and washing by one-step or stepwise addition of the washing medium. Additional samples (n = 10) were evaluated for the immediate and delayed (6 h at 37 degrees C) impact of one-step and stepwise washing (without Percoll separation).

Regional distribution of 5alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2 mRNA along the human epididymis.

Objective: To determine the regional distribution and relative expression of 5alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2 mRNA within the human testis and regions of the epididymis.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University academic medical center.

Regional distribution of 5alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2 mRNA along the nonhuman primate (Macaca fascicularis) epididymis.

The 5alpha-reduced metabolites of testosterone, including dihydrotestosterone, are considered the primary regulators of epididymal function. Two genes encode two 5alpha-reductase isozymes. We examined 5alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2 mRNA tissue distribution and relative abundance in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) testicular and epididymal tissues using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).