Production of offspring from azoospermic mice with meiotic failure: Precise biparental meiosis within halved oocytes

While the large volume of mammalian oocytes is necessary for embryo development, it can lead to error-prone chromosomal segregation during meiosis. Consequently, a smaller ooplasm might assure better chromosomal integrity of oocytes and embryos, but there is no evidence to support this hypothesis. Here, we show that reducing the ooplasm is 38 beneficial for assisted fertilization using primary spermatocytes, involving 39 synchronous biparental meiosis within oocytes. High-resolution live-imaging analysis revealed that erroneous chromosome segregation occurred in most (90%) spermatocyte-injected oocytes of normal size, but could be ameliorated to 40% in halved oocytes. The birth rate improved remarkably from 1% to 19% (P < 0.0001). Importantly, this technique enabled the production of offspring from azoospermic mice with spermatocyte arrest caused by STX2 deficiency, an azoospermia factor also found in humans. Thus, reduced ooplasmic volume can indeed correct the lethal meiotic errors and might help rescue cases of untreatable human azoospermia with spermatocyte arrest.

Surrogacy: A Novelty Concept in North Macedonia

Surrogacy has existed since ancient times. Depending on the way of creating an embryo, two types of surrogacy differ, traditional and gestational. When it comes to monetary compensation, two types of surrogacy exist, altruistic and commercialized. A lot of questions come to light such as: Is the altruistic surrogacy a humane gesture for all contracted parties? What if the mother changes her mind? Do the babies born of surrogacy mothers have rights? In North Macedonia, surrogacy was introduced for the first time in 2014 in the amended Law on Biomedicine and Assisted Fertilization. It was a novelty having in mind that in the Law of 2008 the surrogacy as a practice was outlawed. The amended law applies the term gestational mother and provides a liberal stance, but many provisions are unclear.

Steroid Hormones of Follicular Fluid and the Outcome of in Vitro Fertilization

One of the succes factors of biomedically assisted fertilization is the regular maturation of one or more oocytes. The quality of the oocytes is significantly influenced by the environment in which it is located, the so-called „microenvironment” that includes cumulus cells, follicular fluid in which hormones and growth factors involved in its growth and development are secreted. The main aim was to examine whether the concentration of steroid hormones in the follicular fluid affects the rate of fertilization and the outcome of the in vitro fertilization process itself. The study included 31 patients who were included in vitro fertilization procedure at the Department for Biomedically Assisted Fertilization, Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center Kragujevac. We used follicular fluid as biological material for analysis. Examination of the obtained follicular fluid and collection of oocytes under a stereomicroscope was done in the embryological laboratory at the Department. Biochemical parameters of follicular fluid were analyzed in the Department for Laboratory Diagnostics, Clinical Center Kragujevac. In vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) methods were used as the fertilization method. The criteria of the Istanbul Consensus of Clinical Embryologists were used as a reference framework for embryo quality assessment. Pregnancy was confirmed by a positive serum level of the hormone β-hCG 14 days after embryo transfer. A software package ЅРЅЅ 20 was used for statistical data processing. The results of the analysis of follicular fluid samples show that there was no statistically significant difference in the concentration of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in follicular fluid in relation to fertilization rate and the outcome of in vitro fertilization. Based on our results, it can be concluded that the concentration of steroid hormones did not affect fertilization rate and the outcome of in vitro fertilization.

Assisted reproductive technologies in centers for biomedical assisted fertilization within and outside the network plans in the Republic of Serbia and their financing

INTRODUCTION: Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) are technologies that are used today, in the treatment of infertility, on human germ cells (oocytes and sperm) and embryos. Currently in the Republic of Serbia, there are various procedures of assisted reproduction technologies that are used to treat infertility in patients depending on medical indications. The availability of assisted reproduction technologies has been evolving over the years, and their application differs in biomedically assisted fertilization centers that are in the Network Plan (state institutions) and outside the Network Plan (private institutions). The aim of this article is to analyze available ART methods in Fertility centers within and outside the Network plan regulated by the Law on the Treatment of Infertility Procedures of Biomedical Assisted Fertilization (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", No. 72/2009), their financing and availability to patients in the Republic of Serbia. METHOD:This article is assembled upon seeking documents using the Internet and based on analyzed literature available on the Internet. RESULTS: The results were gathered by analyzing official ART centers' websites and analyzing available external secondary data from the National health insurance fund and the Institute for public health "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut". Fertility clinics in the Republic of Serbia have access to all the important technologies for ART. ART technologies funded by National health insurance fund include in vitro fertilitation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen embryo transfer. Patients whose medical indications require for some other technology may approach Fertility Centers outside the Network plan on their own budget. CONCLUSION: Based on the available and updated data we can conclude that Fertility centers in the Republic of Serbia have access to all the important technologies for ART. Fertility centers within the Network plan can implement only the technologies financed and invoiced by the Fund.

Concepciones de la discapacidad y nueva genética: un abordaje a partir de un dilema bioético

A través de un proceso de fecundación asistida, una pareja de mujeres con sordera ha decidido implantar a la persona gestante un embrión genéticamente predispuesto a desarrollar sordera, seleccionando un donante de esperma que garantice dicha condición por sucesivas generaciones de sordera en su familia. Analizaremos dicho caso como un dilema toda vez que entran en choque dos principios bioéticos: el principio de autonomía de la paciente, por un lado; el principio de no maleficencia, por el otro. El objetivo de este artículo es interrogar acerca de las diversas concepciones de la discapacidad y cómo estás impactan en el modelo de trato brindado a personas con discapacidad. Siendo que no existe unanimidad acerca de cómo debemos conceptualizar la discapacidad y qué implicancias tiene cada modo de conceptualizar a la hora de asumir discusiones filosófico-políticas, abordaremos las distintas concepciones sobre la discapacidad a los efectos mostrar cómo cada concepción razonaría, justificaría y resolvería el dilema moral vinculado a la selección genética. Through a process of assisted fertilization, a couple has decided to implant in the pregnant person an embryo genetically predisposed to develop deafness, selecting a sperm donor that guarantees this condition for successive generations of deafness in their family. We will analyze this case as a dilemma whenever two bioethical principles come into shock: the principle of patient autonomy, on the one hand; the principle of non-maleficence, on the other. The objective of this article is to question about the different conceptions of disability and how they impact the model of treatment offered to people with disabilities. Since there is no unanimity about how we should conceptualize disability and what implications each way of conceptualizing has when assuming philosophical-political discussions, we will approach the different conceptions of disability in order to show how each conception would reason, justify and solve the problem. moral dilemma linked to genetic selection.

Thoughts on the popularity of ICSI

Purpose Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the most widely utilized assisted reproductive technique (ART) worldwide. In this feature, we review the early assisted fertilization attempts that eventually led to the development of ICSI, and discuss its current utilization in cases of male and non-male factor infertility. Methods We researched the literature related to the development, indications, and current use of ICSI, such as sperm structural abnormalities, male genetic indications, surgically retrieved sperm, high sperm chromatin fragmentation, oocyte dysmorphism, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). We also describe the potential future applications of ICSI. Results This review summarizes the early micromanipulation techniques that led to the inception of ICSI. We also explore its current indications, including non-male factor infertility, where its use is more controversial. Finally, we consider the benefits of future advancements in reproductive biology that may incorporate ICSI, such as in vitro spermatogenesis, neogametogenesis, and heritable genome editing. Conclusion The versatility, consistency, and reliability of ICSI have made it the most prevalently utilized ART procedure worldwide.

Early life history of the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae)

Introduction: Rehabilitation of hermatypic coral species that have declined in the Caribbean in recent decades is a priority. Production of sexual recruits is considered the best restoration method to aid affected populations. Objective: To gain knowledge of early life stages of Orbicella faveolata and to enhance production of new sexual recruits. Methods: Gamete bundles from the coral species O. faveolata were collected over three years (2016, 2018, and 2019) from Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo Natural National Park, Cartagena, Colombia. Assisted fertilization, larval rearing, settlement (onto crustose coralline algae, CCA) and post settlement survival in laboratory conditions were monitored. Results: Embryonic and larval development were documented over 55 hours after the first cleavage, when larvae were fully developed and started pre-settlement behavior. Settlement began 7 days after first cleavage and after 37 days polyps had acquired zooxanthellae. Larval settlement was higher on Lythophyllum congestum and Titanoderma prototypum than in response to Porolithon pachydermum, Neogoniolithon sp., Hydrolithon sp., and Lythophyllum sp. Larvae did not settle on dead coral or on the negative control (sterilized seawater). After the first week post settlement survival was 59 % amongst O. faveolata recruits. During the second week, survival dropped to 42 %, and was further reduced to 0 % at the end of the third week. Conclusions: O. faveolata larvae require cues from certain CCA species to settle, they do not settle in absence of CCA. Increased larvae availability is possible through assisted fertilization in the laboratory, however, due to the high mortality in early post-settlement phases, additional research needs to be conducted in order to scale up larvae production and improve understanding of the cues that enhance settlement and the factors which cause post-settlement mortality.

Sperm-hybrid micromotors: on-board assistance for nature’s bustling swimmers

Sperm cells that cannot swim and orient properly compromise male fertility. Such defects are responsible for male infertility regardless of the actual quality of the most important content, the sperm’s DNA. Synthetic micromotors are engineered devices that are able to swim in (body) fluids and microscopic environments, similar to flagellated cells like sperm. Coupled together, a sperm-hybrid micromotor embodies the concept of bringing the sperm cell together with artificial components that assist or replace defective functions of the cell, helping it to pursue its goal without interfering with its health, enabling the process of assisted fertilization and further embryo development all inside the body. Non-invasive, remote-controlled in vivo applicability is the key quality of such hybrid microdevices. Assisted reproduction with the help of micromotors is in the focus of this review, although other biomedical applications that arise from the powerful combination of sperm cell and synthetic enhancement are also discussed and summarized. Details are provided about different fabrication processes and cell-material coupling strategies, and the way from proof-of-concept studies to in vivo experiments in animals is outlined.