International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:16 Issue: 2, Feb 2018

The Wingless-type (Wnt)/β-catenin signaling pathway controls cell homeostasis. Reproductive tissues are dynamic in response to steroidal hormone changes. Steroidal hormones are known to control the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, but their role in reproductive tissues remains unknown.

The present study aims to investigate the expression patterns of Wnt/β-catenin target genes in mouse reproductive tissues during the normal estrous cycle.

In this experimental study, 16 adult NMRI mice were grouped as proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus according to vaginal smear and histological evaluation of uterine and ovarian tissues. Uterine horns and ovarian tissues were collected. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate the expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes (Myc2, Ppard, Id2, Birc5, and Ascl2) at different stages of the estrous cycle.

The expression levels of Id2, Ascl2, and Pprd in uterine tissue were significantly higher at the proestrus phase than at the other stages. Meanwhile, Birc5 expression in uterine tissue was significantly higher at the metestrus stage than at the other stages. Furthermore, Myc2 expression was significantly higher at the diestrus stage than at the estrus and metestrus stages. In the ovarian tissue, the highest expression of Id2, Ascl2, and Birc5 was detected at the proestrus stage, whereas the highest expression of Myc2 and Ppard was observed at the estrus stage.

This study showed that Wnt/β-catenin target genes profiles are different among estrous cycle. It seems that different hormonal profiles during estrous cycles play a key role in the expression pattern of Wnt/β-catenin target genes in ovarian and uterine tissue.

Relationships between in-vitro fertilization (IVF), gestational hypertension, and pregnancy outcomes are demonstrated in a number of studies. However, it is still debated if IVF treatment or specific characteristics of infertile patients are responsible for worse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.

The aim of this study was to investigate maternal characteristics associated with hypertensive disorders (HD) in IVF conceived pregnancies and to assess the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.

In this observational, cross-sectional study, 207 pregnant women who underwent IVF treatment were consecutively divided into two groups: a group that had no HD during pregnancy (IVF group) and a group that had HD during pregnancy (IVF group). Maternal, obstetrical and neonatal data of the two groups were compared.

Some maternal characteristics were significantly higher in IVF compared to IVF group such as: older age (p=0.0001), primiparity (p=0.038), obesity (p=0.0001), and cigarette smoking (p=0.0001). There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to obstetrical outcomes besides premature rupture of membranes time that was significantly higher in IVF group compared to IVF group (p=0.036). In regard to neonatal outcomes, the only statistically significant difference was in the 5th min Apgar score, which was higher in IVF group compared to IVF group without HD (p=0.002).

With regard to significantly higher differences in maternal characteristics of IVF conceived pregnancies complicated with HD, compared to uncomplicated ones, development of a specific national prevention measure for HD of IVF conceived pregnancies in Kosovo is strongly suggested. In addition, setting up of a national registry is recommended in order to evaluate the outcomes of IVF treatments properly.

Endometrial mesenchymal stem stromal cells (EnMSCs) are critical for uterine function, repair, and regeneration.

This study introduced isolation technique of EnMSCs and compared the characteristics of EnMSCs in mature and immature ewes.

Endometrial tissue samples from the uterus of 10 ewes were collected from the slaughterhouse. Endometrial cells were isolated from tissue using cold incubation and then chopping and treating was performed with collagenase type I. Isolated cells were cultured in cell culture medium and then attached cells to flasks were harvested as EnMSCs and subcultured. To enumerate the cells, the population doubling time (PDT) was determined and 2.2×104 cells in passage 4 were seeded into 24-well culture plates to compare the growth curves of isolated cells. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for detection of CD34 and CD73 markers. The osteogenic and adipogenic potential of isolated cells were determined using differentiation tests.

EnMSCs adhered to the flasks and displayed spindle-shape. Based on findings of the cell count and the growth curves, the EnMSCs growth was significantly more prominent in immature ewes in comparison to mature sheep. The PDT of EnMSCs in immature ewes was about 21 hr whereas this time period was two times higher (45 hr) in mature sheep. RT-PCR analyses of EnMSCs were positive for CD73 and negative for CD34. EnMSCs were differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes.

Based on mesenchymal stem cells characters confirmed in EnMSCs, they can be a candidate for cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

Neopterin is a significant and sensitive marker in estimating the activity of cellular immune system. Oxidative stress plays a role in the etiology of male infertility. Increased reactive oxygen species is accompanied with increase in neopterin level. Hence neopterin may be involved in male infertility.

The objective of this case-control study was to determine neopterin level in idiopathic infertile and normospermic men; furthermore, to identify its relationship with oxidative stress markers including total oxidant, malondialdehyde, sperm DNA fragmentation, and total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma.

Forty seven infertile and forty three normospermic males were selected according to WHO criteria. Their semen and blood samples were taken; subsequently, the levels of neopterin, total oxidant, total antioxidant, malondialdehyde, and sperm DNA fragmentation were measured.

The levels of neopterin, total oxidant, and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma of infertile males were significantly higher than those of normospermic group (p=0.038, 0.018, and 0.028, respectively). Furthermore, sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men was higher than that of control group (p

The significant inverse correlation between seminal plasma neopterin and total antioxidant in the infertile males supports a possible role of neopterin in male infertility. Neopterin can be suggested as a marker in monitoring and diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility.

Quercetin is a flavonoid with the ability to improve the growth of embryos in vitro, and actinomycin D is an inducer of apoptosis in embryonic cells.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of quercetin on the number of viable and apoptotic cells, the zona pellucida (ZP) thickness and the hatching rate of preimplantation embryos exposed to actinomycin D in mice.

Two-cell embryos were randomly divided into four groups (Control, Quercetin, actinomycin D, and Quercetin actinomycin D group). Blastocysts percentage, hatched blastocysts, and ZP thickness of blastocysts was measured. The number of blastomeres was counted by Hoechst and propidium iodide staining and the apoptotic cells number was counted by TUNEL assay.

The results showed that the use of quercetin significantly improved the growth of embryos compared to the control group (p=0.037). Moreover, quercetin reduced the destructive effects of actinomycin D on the growth of embryos significantly (p=0.026).

quercetin may protect the embryos against actinomycin D so that increases the number of viable cells and decreases the number of apoptotic cells, which can help the expansion of the blastocysts, thinning of the ZP thickness and increasing the hatching rate in mouse embryos.

Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) is a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy-induced-hypertension can be prevented by identification of prenatal and antenatal factors. The uterine artery Doppler waveform transforms into a high flow with low resistance at 22-24 wk.

To study the maternal risk factors and uterine artery Doppler waveform in singleton mid-trimester pregnancy and predict the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

This is a cohort study comprising of Doppler ultrasound examination of the uterine arteries at 20-23 wk gestation in 697 women with singleton pregnancies attending a routine target scan. The pregnant women were followed up. PIH was recorded in 57 (8.18%) of all pregnancies.

Maternal age >34 yr, primiparity, the presence of chronic hypertension was also associated with increased risk of PIH. High pulsatility index (>95th percentile) as compared to low pulsatility index was a good tool for the detection of PIH (sensitivity 91.23% and specificity 99.06%, p

Uterine artery Doppler can be safely performed at the time of routine target anomaly scan in the second trimester. It is simple, economical, feasible and with good detection rates.

The state of the mother health is of great importance in the development of children renal pathology.

To reveal macroscopic features of the fetuses and newborns kidneys of the mothers whose pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia.

The study involved the kidneys of 106 full-term fetuses and newborns of mothers with physiological pregnancy, complicated pregnancy by preeclampsia. During the autopsies, the shape, texture, surface, color were assessed in each kidney, and then its weight, length, width and thickness were measured.

The kidneys in fetuses and newborns from mothers with severe preeclampsia were characterized by a more pronounced lobulation. In fetuses and newborns from mothers with mild preeclampsia, the mass of the left kidney prevailed over the mass of the right kidney. The organometric kidney values were greater in newborns compared to fetuses in the cases of complicated by mild and moderate preeclampsia maternal pregnancy.

Maternal moderate and severe preeclampsia delay renal growth in fetuses and newborns that manifest by a reduction of the kidneys organometric parameters.

Uterine arteriovenous malformation (UAVM) is a rare vascular condition in reproductive age presented mostly with bleeding. Although this malformation is infrequent, it is potentially life-threatening. Transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography is a widely available, noninvasive and excellent diagnostic method.

Case:

 The case is a 30-yr-old woman with a history of eight-yr infertility.following intrauterine insemination treatment, she had a molar pregnancy. Despite methotrexate treatment, there was persistent vaginal bleeding. Assessment of this patient was done with transvaginal sonography and color Doppler. According to suspicious appearances, angiography was planned for confirmation of UAVM.

UAVM is one of the molar pregnancy complications. The first step for diagnosis of UAVM is transvaginal ultrasonography and color Doppler assessment. Embolization is the best treatment for women who intend to preserve fertility.