Assessment of Oxidative Stress Changes in Serum and Follicular Fluid in Relevance to GnRH rival Protocol in Iraqi Infertile Ladies Undergoing ICSI

Background: Literary works about the role of rival convention in relationship with oxidative pressure are opposing and there is no reasonable agreement in distributed ripeness articles about the role of opponent reproduction convention with this respect. In reality, a few creators support the presence of expanded oxidative initiated oocyte harm in ladies experiencing ART's; regardless, others have denied such a perception. Hence, the present investigation was arranged so as to think about the conceivable oxidative or hostile to oxidative potential controlled by foe convention. Aim of the study: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the serum and follicular ROS concentration in women undergoing ICSI contrasted between two groups, one receiving conventional antagonist protocol and the other receiving conventional agonist protocol. Patients and Methods: The current case control study included two groups of subfertile women. The study group included 57 women receiving antagonist protocol, whereas, the control group included 10 subfertile women receiving agonist protocol. The study was carried out at High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies at Al- Nahrain University. The study started on April 2018 and extended to March 2019. Women in both groups were subjected to ICSI procedure according to procedures and techniques adopted in High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies at Al- Nahrain University with a single basic difference concerning the ovarian stimulation protocol. Results: Overall clinical pregnancy rate was 44.7 % being significantly higher in antagonist group in comparison with agonist group 50.9 % versus 10.01 %, respectively (P = 0.019). There was no significant difference in the concentration of ROS at cycle day 2 between antagonist and agonistgroups (P = 0.561). There was highly significant difference in the serum concentration of ROS at day of ova pickup between antagonist and agonist groups (P = 0.009); being less in antagonistgroup and there was highly significant difference in the follicular fluid concentration of ROS between antagonist and agonist groups (P = 0.003); being less in antagonist group. Conclusions: Antagonist protocol is associated with significantly higher positive pregnancy outcome in comparison with agonist protocol because of the anti-oxidant effect attributed to antagonist use.

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Efficiency evaluation of the improved treatment and prevention complex in pregnant women after assisted reproductive technologies

Reproductive Endocrinology ◽

10.18370/2309-4117.2021.59.26-31 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 26-31

Author(s):

V.O. Beniuk ◽

L.M. Vygivska ◽

I.V. Maidannyk ◽

T.V. Kovaliuk ◽

O.O. Chorna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

First Trimester ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Β Hcg ◽

Arginine Aspartate ◽

Micronized Progesterone

Study objective: to determine the role and effectiveness of the proposed therapeutic and preventive complex and psychoemotional correction of hormonal disorders in the pregnancy dynamics after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to improve the antenatal observation and prevention of obstetric and perinatal complications.Materials and methods. The study included 299 pregnant women: the main group included 249 women whose pregnancy occurred as an ART result; the control group included 50 pregnant women with spontaneous pregnancy. Therapeutic and prophylactic complex for pregnant women after ART included: micronized progesterone, magnesium oxide, folic acid, L-arginine aspartate, ω3-polyunsaturated fatty acids and long-term psychological correction on the eve of the ART program, at 8–10, 16–18 and 28–30 weeks of pregnancy. Results. There was a significant increase in the β-chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level in women of the study groups in the first trimester of pregnancy against the background of the proposed treatment. Mean β-HCG value at 7–8 weeks of gestation in the subgroup IA exceeded the subgroup IB by 37% (p <0.05), in subgroup IIA it exceeded the subgroup IIB by 33% (p <0.05). The mean β-hCG value in subgroups IIIA and IIIB did not have a significant difference in the dynamics of the first trimester compared with the control group and among themselves (p >0.05).Mean progesterone value at 7–8 weeks of gestation in subgroup IA increased by 38% in comparison with pregnant women who received the conventional treatment complex (p <0.05), in subgroup IIA it was 73% higher than in subgroup IIB (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in the progesterone level in subgroups IIIA and IIIB in the dynamics of the first trimester.The average cortisol value at 23–24 weeks of pregnancy in subgroup IA decreased by 42% (p <0.05), in pregnant women with endocrine infertility against the background of the proposed treatment complex it was 62% less than in subgroup IIB (p <0.05). The average cortisol level in women with a male factor of infertility was 63% lower than in subgroup IIIB against the background of the proposed complex (p <0.05).Conclusion. Advanced therapy with micronized progesterone in combination with magnesium saturation, L-arginine aspartate, folic acid, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as long-term psychoemotional correction is appropriate and effective compared to conventional therapy for pregnant women.

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176 IN VITRO MATURATION OF DOG OOCYTES IN CANINE FOLLICULAR FLUID

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv26n1ab176 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 202

Author(s):

K. Reynaud ◽

S. Canguilhem ◽

S. Thoumire ◽

S. Chastant-Maillard

Keyword(s):

Follicular Fluid ◽

In Vitro Maturation ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Cytoplasmic Maturation

In the canine species, assisted reproductive technologies, especially in vitro maturation (IVM) and IVF, are still ineffective. The main limiting factor remains the immaturity of the oocytes collected from anestrus ovaries. The ability of an oocyte to reach the MII stage in vitro is linked to the diameter of its follicle and anestrus oocytes, collected from small (<1 mm) follicles, are profoundly immature (De Lesegno et al. 2008). The objective of this study was to improve cytoplasmic quality by mimicking in vivo conditions; that is, to test the effect of pure preovulatory follicular fluid (FF) on survival and IVM rates of anestrus dog oocytes, in order to improve the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of these immature oocytes. Follicular fluids samples were collected from 54 Beagle bitches at 2 stages: before the LH peak (n = 23 bitches) and after the LH peak (n = 31 bitches). Only follicular fluid samples from large (>4 mm) follicles were collected and pooled by stage. Control oocytes were matured in 20% FCS/M199 medium. Groups of 5 oocytes were in vitro matured in 30 μL of follicular fluid, in half-area 96-well plates (5% CO2, 38°C). After 72 h of IVM, oocytes were denuded, fixed, and stained for DNA and tubulin before observation by confocal microscopy, and nuclear stages were classified as GV-A to GV-E, MI, and MII (Reynaud et al. 2012). A total of 460 oocytes were collected from 13 anestrus bitches and allocated to either the control medium (n = 155), the Pre-LH FF (n = 145) or the Post-LH FF (n = 160) groups. After 72 h of IVM, the morphology of the cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) in the post-LH group was different from that of the others: cumulus cells appeared more compact and darker. Analysis of the nuclear stages showed that the degeneration rate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the post-LH group (58.7%) than in the pre-LH (40.9%) or in the control group (34.4%). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the 3 groups in the rate of immature GVA-B oocytes (36.4, 28.5, and 25.3% in the control, Pre-LH, and Post-LH groups, respectively), in the rate of meiotic resumption (GV-C/D/E, MI, MII stages, 44.4, 51.9, and 38.7% in the control, Pre-LH, and Post-LH groups, respectively). Metaphase II rates were not significantly different (12.1, 8.6, and 4.8% in the control, Pre-LH, and Post-LH groups, respectively). In conclusion, canine COC may survive when exposed to IVM in pure follicular fluid, but the degeneration rate was higher in the post-LH group. The presence of follicular fluid did not inhibit meiosis resumption, but did not significantly improve IVM rates. To better mimic in vivo conditions, IVM in a sequence of media, such as IVM in follicular fluid followed by IVM in oviducal fluid remains to be tested.

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The level of melatonin in the blood and follicular fluid in women with infertility in the program of assisted reproductive technologies and the effectiveness of its application

Bukovinian Medical Herald ◽

10.24061/2413-0737.xxv.2.98.2021.19 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (2(98)) ◽

pp. 119-124

Author(s):

V. Yuzko

Keyword(s):

Follicular Fluid ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Art Programs ◽

The Third ◽

Women In Art ◽

Ovulation Stimulation ◽

Female Donor

Objective was to investigate the level of melatonin in the blood and follicular fluid in women treated with infertility by ART method and evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in their preparation for programs.Material and methods. 89 women were examined. The first (control) group included 13 healthy women oocyte donors who gave birth to their own healthy children, the second group - 33 women with infertility, who two weeks before and during ovulation stimulation were taken simultaneously at the same time before bedtime 3 mg of the drug "Vita-melatonin" produced by "Kyiv Vitamin Plant", the third group - 43 women with infertility who did not take the drug melatonin during ovulation stimulation. ELISA (Germany) reagent kits were used to determine melatonin levels. Melatonin levels were determined in blood plasma, and follicular fluid obtained during the puncture at 9:00 am.Results. The level of melatonin in the blood of female donor oocytes was 130.85 ± 16.91 pg/ml. This rate in the blood of women who used the drug melatonin before and during ovulation stimulation was significantly higher than in the blood of women who did not take the drug (respectively, 143.06 ± 14.87 pg/ml and 123.40 ± 12.65 pg / ml, p <0.05), and in the follicular fluid there was an inverse relationship: the level of melatonin in women of the first group was 97.15 ± 8.69 pg / ml, the second group - 39.46 ± 4.52 pg/ml, which is significantly less (p <0.05), the third group - 62.34 ± 3.94 pg / ml, which is almost twice more (p <0.05) compared with women who took melatonin, but less (p <0.05) compared with the first group. The frequency of pregnancy on transfer in patients of the first group was 80.0 ± 11.01%, in women of the second group probably less - 60.6 ± 8.25% (p <0.05), but also probably higher compared to women in the third group - 45.0 ± 7.62% (p <0.05). A similar pattern was observed by us on the onset of pregnancy in general: in the first group - 100.0%, in the second - 68.9 ± 8.05% (p <0.05), in the third - 60.5 ± 7.47% (p> 0.05).Conclusions. The low level of melatonin in the follicular fluid obtained by us in women who underwent ovulation stimulation in ART programs in the treatment of infertility requires further scientific interpretation. At the same time, the best results of pregnancy in women in ART programs who took melatonin in preparation are encouraging.

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Comparative characteristics of patients with infertility when applying melatonin in complex preparation for assisted reproductive technologies

Bukovinian Medical Herald ◽

10.24061/2413-0737.xxv.3.99.2021.23 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (3 (99)) ◽

pp. 149-156

Author(s):

V. Yuzko ◽

O. Yuzko

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Reserve ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Ultrasound Examination ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Antral Follicles ◽

The Third ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Ovulation Stimulation ◽

Infertility Patients

Оbjective of the study was to conduct a retrospective comparative characterization of patients with infertility who took or did not take melatonin with assisted reproductive technologies (ART).Materials and methods. In our study, we examined 89 women. The first (control) group included 13 healthy women oocyte donors who got pregnant on their own and gave birth to their own healthy children, the second group - 33 patients with infertility, who took 3 mg of the preparation "Vita-melatonin" produced by "Kyiv Vitamin Plant" at the same time before bedtime, two weeks before and during ovulation stimulation, the third group - 43 patients with infertility who did not take melatonin preparation before and during ovulation stimulation. There were no women who worked night shifts among the patients. Medical documentation of women of the control group and those with infertility, data of gynecological, ultrasound examination, hormones blood were analyzed. Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs was performed on all patients with the device "Mindray DC-80 X-Insight", and measurements were performed using a transvaginal sensor. The thickness and structure of the endometrium were evaluated, and the number of antral follicles (NAF) ranging in size from 2 to 10 mm was counted in each ovary. All patients were tested for serum levels of the anti-mullerian hormone (AMG), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T4).Results. The average age of women in the first (control) group was 27.08 ± 12.38 years, the second (taking melatonin) - 33.12 ± 8.18 years, the third (not taking melatonin) - 30.95 ± 7.07 years > 0.05), i. e. the age of the patients of the examined groups was equal. It should be noted that in the studied patients of both groups, the occurrence of primary infertility exceeded secondary infertility 2.7 times in the second group (p < 0.05) and 1.7 times in the third (p < 0.05). Infertility factors such as reduced ovarian reserve, habitual miscarriage and infertility of unknown origin were more common in patients of the second group, and endometriosis, tubal factor and male factor in the third, although the difference was not significant. The available extragenital pathology did not differ in the patients of the examined groups. The number of antral follicles was significantly higher in both ovaries of women in the control group compared with patients of the second and third groups. While the thickness of the endometrium did not differ significantly in groups, although in women of the control group it was slightly less. Regarding the study of hormonal status, it should be noted that we did not find a significant difference in the levels of hormones in the blood of women we examined. Exceptionally, there was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in progesterone content between the second (0.62 ± 0.052 nmol/l) and third (181.63 ± 13.87 nmol/l) groups. Also, the patients of the third group had significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of FSH in blood (8.25 ± 0.63 mUn/ml) compared with the control group (4.93 ± 0.69 mUn/ml).Conclusions. The examined women in the control group, as well as infertility patients who received melatonin two weeks before the expected menstruation and during ovulation stimulation, and infertility patients who did not receive this preparation in similar programs, did not differ in age, occurrence of primary and secondary infertility, the factor that led to infertility, concomitant extragenital pathology, ovarian reserve and hormone levels of the reproductive panel. That is, they were equal in our study.

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The effects of adding Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone antagonist on cycle characteristics and pregnancy rate in stimulated Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) cycle

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v11i3.2407 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 3053-3060

Author(s):

Rawaa saad Hassan Abunaila ◽

Lubna Amer Al-anbari ◽

Muayad Sraibet Abbood

Keyword(s):

Pregnancy Rate ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Intrauterine Insemination ◽

Clomiphene Citrate ◽

Study Groups ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Human Menopausal Gonadotropin ◽

Study Group ◽

Significant Difference

A prospective randomised (comparative) study was conducted in the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies in AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad – Iraq, from the 1st of October 2018 till 1st of September 2019 involving seventy women of infertile couples with the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly allocated into two groupsreceiving minimal ovarian stimulation protocol (Clomiphene Citrate and Human Menopausal Gonadotropin) with IUI adding flexible GnRH antagonist protocol (Cetrorelix) to the study group. IUI was done 40-44 hours after ovulation trigger. There were no significant statistical variances among control and study groups in demographic characteristics concerning: age, BMI, type, duration and cause of infertility. There was no important variance in a mean day of trigger among control and study groups, 12.43 ±1.56 versus 13.11 ±1.49, at the same order (p = 0.064). The Mean number of dominant follicles was considerably greater in study groups than that of the group control, 2.40±1.03 versus 1.89±0.83, respectively (p = 0.025).Mean serum Estradiol of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group, 478.68 ±423.61 versus 273.12 ±254.57, respectively (p = 0.016). The proportion of women with LH> 10 were significantly less frequent in the study group in comparison with the control group, 22.9 % versus 68.6 %, at the same order (p < 0.001). There was no important variance in mean serum Progesterone among control and study groups. There was no significant difference in the characteristic of the dominant follicle, ruptured versus not ruptured, (p = 0.124) on the day of IUI. The pregnancy rate was higher in the study group when compared with the control group; however, the difference in pregnancy rate doesn’t reach statistical import (p = 0.145)

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Effectiveness Of Toilet Training Education On Mother's Behavior And Toddler Age Toilet Training Ability (18-36 Months)

Jurnal Kesehatan Komunitas ◽

10.25311/keskom.vol5.iss2.288 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 49-55

Author(s):

Hafiko Andresni ◽

Zahtamal Zahtamal ◽

Winda Septiani ◽

Mitra Mitra ◽

Lita Lita

Keyword(s):

Sampling Technique ◽

T Test ◽

The Body ◽

Toilet Training ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Maternal Knowledge ◽

Control Group Design ◽

Significant Difference

ABSTRACT Toilet training is an effort to train children to be able to control and urinate (BAK) and defecate (BAB). Toilet training is one of the main tasks of children at toddler age. Toilet training is one of the main tasks of children in toddler age which is very important to be done to create independence in children in controlling BAK and BAB and children know the parts of the body and their functions. Data in 2012 shows that ± 60% of parents do not teach toilet training to children from an early age. The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of toilet training education on maternal behavior and toilet skills in toddler age training (18-36 months). The study was conducted in July-August 2018. This type of quantitative research used the design of the Quasy pretest and posttest experiment with non-equivalent control group design. Samples were 36 mothers and 36 children with purposive sampling technique. Data analysis used Paired t test, Wilcoxon test, Man-Whitney test an Independent t test. The results showed that toilet training education through lecture methods, modules and maze games was more effective than toilet training education through lecture and leaflet methods on children's knowledge and abilities. Conversely, for the role of mothers in supervision there is no significant difference in effectiveness. Health education is recommended in health promotion programs to increase maternal knowledge, the role of mothers and the ability of toilet training children independently. Keywords: Toilet training, Lecture method, Module, Maze game, Leaflet, Knowledge, Role of mother, Children's ability.

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Role of Nutrition Counseling and Lifestyle Modification in Managing Prediabetes

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/03795721211025434 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 037957212110254

Author(s):

Harleen Kaur ◽

Neerja Singla ◽

Rohini Jain

Keyword(s):

Hemoglobin A1c ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Control Group ◽

Population Prevalence ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control ◽

Experimental Group

Objective: India is the second country after China having the highest population prevalence of diabetes. Several research studies investigating diabetes have been done, but not much work has been done on prediabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nutrition and lifestyle modification on prediabetic females. Methods: A total of 120 prediabetic females from Ludhiana city were divided into 2 matched groups: control group (n = 60) and experimental group (n = 60). Impact of nutrition intervention for dietary and lifestyle modification (for 3 months) was assessed on the anthropometric, dietary, biochemical parameters, and diabetes risk score of the experimental group and control group (no intervention). Results: All the selected 120 subjects completed the study (experimental group = 60; control group = 60). There was significant difference in the changes between the 2 groups throughout the study. The fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c levels of the experimental group subjects reduced significantly ( P ≤ .01). However, no change was observed among the control group subjects. The lipid profile of the experimental group showed a significant improvement ( P ≤ .01). Conclusion: Nutrition counselling of the prediabetics regarding dietary and lifestyle modification is recommended so as to improve their metabolic control, thus preventing them from being diabetics.

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Pannexins and Connexins: Their Relevance for Oocyte Developmental Competence

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22115918 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (11) ◽

pp. 5918

Author(s):

Paweł Kordowitzki ◽

Gabriela Sokołowska ◽

Marta Wasielak-Politowska ◽

Agnieszka Skowronska ◽

Mariusz T. Skowronski

Keyword(s):

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Atp Release ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

High Energy ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Protein Group ◽

Multicellular Organisms

The oocyte is the major determinant of embryo developmental competence in all mammalian species. Although fundamental advances have been generated in the field of reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies in the past three decades, researchers and clinicians are still trying to elucidate molecular factors and pathways, which could be pivotal for the oocyte’s developmental competence. The cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix communications are crucial not only for oocytes but also for multicellular organisms in general. This latter mentioned communication is among others possibly due to the Connexin and Pannexin families of large-pore forming channels. Pannexins belong to a protein group of ATP-release channels, therefore of high importance for the oocyte due to its requirements of high energy supply. An increasing body of studies on Pannexins provided evidence that these channels not only play a role during physiological processes of an oocyte but also during pathological circumstances which could lead to the development of diseases or infertility. Connexins are proteins that form membrane channels and gap-junctions, and more precisely, these proteins enable the exchange of some ions and molecules, and therefore they do play a fundamental role in the communication between the oocyte and accompanying cells. Herein, the role of Pannexins and Connexins for the processes of oogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and fertilization will be discussed and, at the end of this review, Pannexin and Connexin related pathologies and their impact on the developmental competence of oocytes will be provided.

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Role of vitamin D serum levels in prevention of primary and recurrent melanoma

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85294-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. Lombardo ◽

A. Vigezzi ◽

G. Ietto ◽

C. Franchi ◽

V. Iori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Mitotic Rate ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Histological Subtype ◽

Melanoma Diagnosis ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Tumour Location

AbstractPatients afflicted with melanoma show lower vitamin D serum levels (VDSL) than the healthy population. This hypothesis agrees with its well-known antiproliferative features. An observational study was carried out to collect VDSL in patients suffering from melanoma. Our aim was to identify a potential connection between low VDSL and the risk to incur melanoma. Furthermore, we studied the association between VDSL at the diagnosis of melanoma and other germane prognostic factors. The population held in regard was composed of 154 patients with a diagnosis of melanoma between 2016 and 2019. These patients were retrospectively collected from our follow-up storage. We compared VDSL to clinical and pathological parameters (age, sex, tumour location, Breslow’s depth, Clark’s level, histological subtype, ulceration, et aliqua). Moreover, we recruited a control group with negative melanoma history. Mean and median of VDSL were significantly lower in the melanoma group. Instead, we found a negative association between melanoma and VDSL > 30 ng/L (OR 0.11; p < 0.0001). No correlation between VDSL and both Breslow’s depth and Clark’s level was discovered, but the VDSL comparison between thin (depth ≤ 1 mm) and thick tumours (depth > 1 mm) revealed a statistically significant difference (21.1 ± 8.2 ng/L vs 17.8 ± 8.1; p = 0.01). Moreover, VDSL were significantly lower in melanomas with mitotic rate ≥ 1/mm2 (22.1 ± 8.3 ng/L; p < 0007). Nevertheless, no connection was found between VDSL and both ulceration and positive sentinel nodes (p = 0.76; p = 0.74). Besides, our study revealed no association between VDSL and histological subtype (p = 0.161). Lower VDSL correlate with thick and high mitotic rate tumours. Future prospective studies would investigate if appropriate upkeep of suitable VDSL can decrease the risk of primary and recurrent melanoma diagnosis.

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Mechanism of the adverse effect of hyaluronidase used for oocyte denudation on early development of bovine embryos

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199421000010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Shiori Ashibe ◽

Kanade Irisawa ◽

Ken Yokawa ◽

Yoshikazu Nagao

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Cumulus Cells ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Control Group ◽

Free Calcium ◽

Parthenogenetic Development ◽

Early Embryos ◽

Bovine Oocytes

Summary Hyaluronidase is widely used in animal and human assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to remove cumulus cells around oocytes. However, adverse effects of hyaluronidase treatment, such as increased rates of degeneration and parthenogenesis, have been found after treatment of human and mouse oocytes. Currently, the mechanism(s) of the detrimental effects are unclear. The present study was initiated to identify the mechanism of adverse responses to hyaluronidase treatment in bovine oocytes and early embryos. Cumulus cells were removed from cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) with or without hyaluronidase and the oocytes were subjected to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Significantly lower rates of blastocyst formation were obtained in the hyaluronidase treatment group after ICSI (22.4%) and IVF (21.2%) compared with the non-hyaluronidase control groups: 36.1% after ICSI and 30.4% after IVF. Next, we examined the effect of hyaluronidase on parthenogenetic development rates and on the cytoplasmic levels of free calcium ions (Ca2+), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced glutathione (GSH). No differences in parthenogenesis rates were found between treated and untreated groups. Ca2+ levels in oocytes from the hyaluronidase treatment group indicated using mean fluorescence intensity were significantly higher (68.8 ± 5.3) compared with in the control group (45.0 ± 2.5). No differences were found in the levels of ROS or GSH between the treated and untreated groups. We conclude that hyaluronidase might trigger an increase in Ca2+ levels in oocytes, resulting in a decreased potential for normal embryonic development.

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