Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume:13 Issue: 1, 2012

The number of couples seeking consultation for infertility problems has steadily increased over the past decade, affecting 10%-15% of the sexually active population. Abnormal semen production, a male factor infertility (MFI), is thought to be the cause of up to 50% of all infertilities in developed countries. There are potentially many different causes of male infertility, including hormonal, anatomical, and secondary to exposure to exogenous substances. In many cases of MFI, a definitive cause for abnormalities is never identified. Recently, the research community has given greater attention to identifying causes of MFI ranging from genetic Y chromosome microdeletions to mechanisms of environmental damage on sperm production. Still evolving, is a clear understanding of how many pharmaceutical medications may cause MFI, which is often treatable and reversible. In this review we will out-line the data regarding various pharmaceutical medications that have been investigated as possible causes of MFI.

Oocyte maturation and subsequent in vitro production (IVP) of embryos are affected by diverse groups of chemicals in maturation medium which are needed for successful mammalian oocyte maturation during which the dramatic cytoplasmic and nuclear reprogramming events take place. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of protein source (fetal bovine serum, FBS, and bovine serum albumin, BSA) as well as two different maturation media during in vitro maturation of ovine oocytes on subsequent embryo development. Cumulus oocyte complexes were recovered from ovaries obtained from slaughter house and cultured for 24 hr in either TCM-199 or SOFaa maturation medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) FBS or 0.8% (w/v) BSA. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using Sigma Stat (Ver. 2). A p-value smaller than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The proportions of cleavage and total blastocyst (evaluated on days 3 and 6, respectively) were significantly higher in FBS than BSA supplemented groups, though no differences were observed between the two used different maturation media. The cryotolerance of blastocysts was negatively influenced by the presence of FBS rather than BSA during IVM. The quality of produced embryos, however, was affected neither by the source of macromolecules nor the maturation medium in terms of hatching rate, total blastocyst cells and inner cell mass/total cell ratio. The rate of oocyte development was improved by the presence of FBS, though the cryosurvival of resulting blastocysts was negatively influenced by the presence of the serum during in vitro production of sheep oocytes.

Gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is implicated in physicological processes and it is vitally important for granulosa cell (GC) differentiation and oocyte growth. We investigated the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), a gap junctional protein, in normal and androstenedione-induced polycystic ovary (PCO), the effects of androstenedione on Cx43 expression, GJIC and progesterone production in granulosa cells in vitro. Isolated GCs from rat ovary were supplemented with FSH and dripped with EHS-matrix (EHS-drip) in culture media, were treated with physiological (10-7 M) or pathological (10-5 M) androstenedione concentrations to induce differentiation. Cx43 protein levels were assessed by Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was also used to determine the localization of Cx43 in GCs and corpus luteum (CL) of controls and PCOs. Differentiation of GCs was determined by progesterone assay and Lucifer yellow dye transfer for GJIC status. The degree of significance of variations between the results was analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS (version 11.5; 2002). Cx43 localized in the GC layer of both the control and PCOs. Its protein levels were upregulated in PCO rat ovaries. GCs in culture with or without androstenedione had a punctate membranous distribution of Cx43. However, androstenedione increased GJIC and upregulated progesterone and Cx43 protein levels. Inhibiting GJIC by 18- GA in androstenedione-treated GCs caused partial inhibition of progesterone production, suggesting a possible role of GJIC in mediating the action of androstenedione on GC differentiation. This study presented a suitable culture model for polycystic ovary syndrome and showed that Cx43 and GJIC might contribute to the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Increase in world population is one of the serious and threatening issues in this century. Therefore, it is vitally important to find safe and effective contraceptive methods, especially for men which already have few choices in this regard. Medicinal plants that were used for contraception in ancient times could be good sources of investigation in this filed. Ruta graveolens L. is one the plants introduced in the Iranian traditional medicine as an oral male contraception to be used before intercourse. In this study we tried to investigate the probable effects of the plant on the spermatozoa of male rats. Ruta graveolens L. aqueous extract (5 g/kg) was administered orally to five groups of male rats and sperm motility was checked after half, one, two, four and six hours later. Moreover, one group of rats served as the control group. Subsequently, viability of cells (Eosin-Nigrosin staining), morphological changes (Diff-Quick staining), DNA status (acridine orange dye) and serum testosterone levels were assessed in the treated groups which had significant immotile spermatozoa. For statistical analysis, Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post-hoc test were employed for comparison between groups. A significant reduction in sperm motility was seen one hour after administration of the extract in the case groups compared to the controls (36% vs. 68.15%, respectively, p <0.01). The motility gradually increased afterwards, and by 6 hours, it was the same as the control group (65.43% and 68.15%, respectively). No significant changes were seen in viability, morphology or DNA structure of spermatozoa in each group. Testosterone levels did not show any significant changes in the treated groups when compared with the controls. Since a significant temporary immobility of spermatozoa without any adverse effects on other sperm characteristics occurred upon the administration of Ruta graveolens L. aqueous extract, it seems that this plant might have the potential to be used for the suggested male contraception.

This paper aims to examine the reproductive health and behaviors which might expose young people at risks of STIs/HIV and potential correlates of such behaviors among female college students in Tehran. This paper focuses on the study conducted on a sample of 1743 female undergraduate students in four multidisciplinary universities in Tehran during 2005-2006 using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling. The main focus was to determine the predictors of premarital heterosexual reproductive behavior among female students. The mean age of the unmarried students was 21.4 years. Low self-efficacy (OR=7.87, p <0.001), perceived peer's liberal attitude on virginity (OR= 4.33), perception of parent's liberal attitude towards relationship with the opposite sex and poor family atmosphere (OR=3.04 and 2.20, p <0.001, respectively) were predictors of ever having any type of sexual experience after controlling for other factors. The only predictors of penetrative sex remained in the logistic model were older age (OR=5.95), low self-efficacy (OR=10.86), poor family atmosphere (OR= 2.96), liberal parental attitude (OR=4.29) and liberal peer norms on virginity (OR= 4.90). Interventional programs need to be designed at various levels such as enhancing self-efficacy, informing families of the protective role of a balanced control and monitoring over adolescent's behavior and choices of peer network against premarital sexual activity.

Vitrification has proven to be more effective than slow freezing methods to cryopreserve mammalian oocytes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of vitrification on immature and in vitro matured, denuded and cumulus compact goat oocytes and their subsequent fertilization. Oocytes were either cryopreserved as immature cumulus compact (IMCC) (n=98 Exp 1; 102 Exp 2) and immature denuded (IMDN) (n=127 Exp 1; 109 Exp 2) or were first matured in vitro for 28 h and then cryopreserved as mature cumulus compact (MCC) (n=109 Exp 1; 89 Exp 2) or mature denuded (MDN) (n=112 Exp 1; 110 Exp 2) oocytes in four groups. The vitrification solution comprised of Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline supplemented with 0.5% sucrose, 0.4% bovine serum albumin and 8 M propylene glycol. After 7 days of cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, oocytes in all groups were evaluated for normal morphologic survival and in vitro maturation (Experiment 1) and fertilization in vitro using epididymal buck spermatozoa (Experiment 2). The number of oocytes retaining normal morphology was significantly higher (p <0.05) for cumulus compact oocytes (IMCC: 94.12% vs. IMDN: 89.22%, experiment 1 and MCC: 87.80% vs. MDN: 82.17%, experiment 2) compared to the denuded oocytes. The in vitro maturation of oocytes was highest for non-vitrified control oocytes. The maturation of vitrified IMCC oocytes was significantly higher than IMDN and their fertilizability was higher than MCC and MDN oocytes. The results suggest that immature cumulus compact goat oocytes better tolerate cryopreservation stress by vitrification in terms of fertilization rate.

Placenta accreta is a rare obstetrical condition that mainly occurs in the third trimester leading to life-threatening complications. Hereby, a case of uterine rupture due to placenta accreta occuring in the second trimester is presented. A forty-year old patient who conceived after in vitro fertilization treatment (oocyte donation and embryo transfer) presented in emergency department in the nineteen weeks of gestation with acute abdominal pain, heamoperitoneum and fetal death. Emergency laprotomy showed uterine rupture along with placenta accreta for which the patient underwent subtotal hysterectomy. Although, an uncommon occurrence, physicians in assisted reproductive techniques (ART) clinics should consider placenta accreta in gravid patients who present with acute abdominal pain and shock, considering the fact that they usually have associated high risk factors for abnormal placentation.

Mullerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are relatively common disorders that are particularly responsible for obstetrical complications and have a prevalence of about 3%-4% in the general population (1, 2).Uterine malformations may result from arrested development of the mullerian ducts, failure of fusion of the mullerian ducts or failure of resorption of the median septum (1, 2).