International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Volume:17 Issue: 6, Jun 2019

Clomiphene citrate (CC) is one of the widely used drugs as an ovulation stimulant, but its adverse effects on the endometrium results in lowering down the pregnancy rate. Endometrium CD98 is also important in the process of implantation.

To evaluate the immunohistochemistry expression levels of endometrial CD98 following injection of CC with and without Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in ovariectomized and non-ovariectomized rats.

Seventy two (12-14 wk old) female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 36): (a) ovariectomized and (b) non-ovariectomized. Each group was further divided into six subgroups (n = 6/each): (1) CC 10 mg/kg, (2) CC 20mg/kg, (3) HCG, (4) CC 10 mg/kg with HCG, (5) CC 20 mg/kg with HCG, and (6) control. The experimental subgroups received a single dose of CC (daily, five days) and HCG
(after the last injection of CC) alone or in combination. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on paraffin-embedded endometrial tissues to evaluate the expression levels of CD98.

Animals undergoing ovariectomy presented a significantly lower expression level of endometrial CD98 (p < 0.001) when compared with non-ovariectomized in the same condition that groups were subdivided. There was also a dose-dependent reduction (p < 0.001) in the expression of CD98 in non-ovariectomized subgroups when compared with control group. In addition, injection of HCG following treatment with CC improved its expression.

It was concluded that CC impairs CD98 expression in endometrium and this impairment is intensified with the removal of the ovary. Also, an injection of HCG following treatment with CC can slightly improve the expression of CD98.

Diabetes mellitus deeply changes the genes expression of integrin (Itg) subunits in several cells and tissues such as monocytes, arterial endothelium, kidney glomerular cells, retina. Furthermore, hyperglycemia could impress and reduce the rate of successful assisted as well as non-assisted pregnancy. Endometrium undergoes thorough changes in normal menstrual cycle and the question is: What happens in the endometrium under diabetic condition?

The aim of the current study was to investigate the endometrial gene expression of α3, α4, αv, Itg β1 and β3 subunits in diabetic rat models at the time of embryo implantation.

Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, diabetic group, pioglitazone-treated group, and metformin-treated group. Realtime PCR was performed to determine changes in the expression of Itg α3, α4, αv, β1, and β3 genes in rat’s endometrium.

The expression of all Itg subunits increased significantly in diabetic rats’ endometrium compared with control group. Treatment with pioglitazone significantly reduced the level of Itg subunits gene expression compared with diabetic rats. While metformin had a different effect on α3 and α4 and elevated these two subunits gene expression.

Diabetes mellitus significantly increased the expression of studied Itg subunits, therefore untreated diabetes could be potentially assumed as one of the preliminary elements in embryo implantation failure.

The expression of miR-302 over the period of early embryogenesis could possibly regulate the maternal transcript clearance. Zygotic transcription activation is mostly related to maternal messages degradation.

In this study, the effects of in-vitro maturation technique (IVM) on the expression of miR-302 in human embryo produced from immature and mature human oocytes (matured in vitro and in vivo, before sperm exposure) obtained from females under gonadotrophin therapy were evaluated for assisted reproduction.

Immature oocytes were cultured in vitro. The injection of oocytes-producing polar bodies was given using fresh sperm. Then, the embryo quality score was assessed in the IVM group compared with the control group. In both the groups, embryos with normal morphology were included in the molecular study. Only one blastomere was removed from three-day embryos and then the embryos were frozen. The expression of miR-302 in embryos was measured through quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction.

Our data showed a significant reduction of miR-302 expression in the IVM group vs. the control group (p = 0.02). The embryo quality score showed a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.01).

The present study demonstrated that the IVM process had a negative effect on the expression level of miR-302 in human pre-implantation embryos. Considering the major role of expression miR-302, a decrease in miR-302 expression
could be related to a reduced potential  in the early embryonic development.

Raphia vinifera (Arecaceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used as a sexual enhancer.

To investigate the aphrodisiac potential of aqueous extract (AE) and methanolic extract (ME) of R. vinifera in sexually experienced male rats.

Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into six groups (5 rats per group) and administered for 14 days with distilled water (10 ml/kg), sildenafil citrate (1.44 mg/kg), and AE or ME of R. vinifera (100 or 500 mg/kg). The copulatory activity was tested on days 0, 7, and 14 using receptive females. Further, on day 14, rats were sacrificed and biochemical analyses (testosterone, total protein, and acid phosphatase) were performed.

Sildenafil citrate significantly decreased the intromission latency (day 14, p = 0.04) and frequency (days 7 and 14, p = 0.03) but increased the mount frequency (day 14, p=0.04), compared with control. Remarkably, R. vinifera enhanced the sexual activity by significantly decreasing the intromission latency (AE and ME, 500 mg/kg, day 14, p = 0.04) and increasing the mount frequency (AE and ME, 100 mg/kg, day 7, p = 0.02) compared with control. Moreover, R. vinifera improved plasmatic (AE, 100 mg/kg, p = 0.03; AE, 500 mg/kg, p = 0.001; ME, 100 mg/kg, p = 0.01) and testicular (AE, 100 mg/kg, p = 0.001; AE, 500 mg/kg, p = 0.01; ME, 100 mg/kg, p=0.001; ME, 500 mg/kg, p=0.01) testosterone levels as well as plasmatic total proteins concentration (ME, 500 mg/kg, p = 0.04).

These findings showed that R. vinifera possesses an aphrodisiac property which could further justify its folkloric use in traditional medicine as a sexual enhancer.

During recent years, increasing concern has been raised about the declining sperm count and human male infertility. Cichorium intybus L. (C. intybus) has traditionally been used in Iranian folk medicine as hepato protective and blood purifier and for its presumed fertility-enhancing properties.

A dose-response study was performed to determine the effect of C. intybus ethanolic leave extract on the reproductive parameters in adult Wistar male rats.

In this experimental study, 40 healthy adult male Wistar rats (8 wk old, 200-210 gr body weight) were randomly divided (n=10/each) as control and groups treated with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day of C. intybus extract via gavage for 70 days. Serum hormonal assay, epididymal sperm evaluation, and analysis of morphometrical parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation levels of testis were done in each experimental group.

Weights of testis and epididymis increase significantly in male rats treated with 200 mg/kg C. intybus extract. Sperm density and percent of morphologically normal sperm were significantly increased in a dose-related manner with C. intybus treatment.Serum testosterone was higher at 100 and 200 mg/kg C. intybus extracttreated groups. C. intybus significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels and also increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity in testicular tissue of rats.

It is concluded that C. intybus leave extract improves reproductive parameters in male rats which might be a consequence of both its antioxidant and androgenic properties.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are growth factors that have diverse biological activities including broad mitogenic and cell survival activities. They function through the activation of a specific tyrosine kinase receptor that transduces the signal
by activating several intracellular signaling pathways.

To identify the different signaling pathways involved in the mechanism of action of FGF8 and FGF18 on ovine granulosa cells using mass spectrometry.

Ovine ovarian granulosa cells were harvested from adult sheep independently at the stage of the estrous cycle and were cultured at a density of 500,000 viable cells in 1 ml DMEM/F12 medium for five days. The cells were then treated on day 5 of culture with 10 ng/mL FGF8 and FGF18 for 30 minutes, and total cell protein was collected for mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry showed that both FGF8 and FGF18 significantly induce simultaneous upregulation of several proteins, including ATF1, STAT3, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK14, PLCG1, PLCG2, PKCA, PIK3CA, RAF1, GAB1, and BAG2 (> 1.5-fold; p < 0.01).

ATF1 and STAT3 are important transcription factors involved in cell growth, proliferation and survival, and consequently can hamper or rescue the normal ovine reproductive system function.

Adequate endometrial growth is principal for implantation and pregnancy. Thin endometrium is associated with lower pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive technology. Some frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles are cancelled due to inadequate endometrial growth.

To assess the effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intrauterine infusion for the treatment of thin endometrium.

A total of 72 patients who had a history of cancelled frozenthawed embryo transfer cycle due to the thin endometrium (< 7mm) were assessed for the eligibility to enter the study between 2016 and 2017. Twelve patients were excluded for different reasons, and 60 included patients were randomly assigned to PRP or sham-catheter groups in a double-blind manner. Hormone replacement therapy was administered for endometrial preparation in all participants. PRP intrauterine infusion or shamcatheter was performed on day 11-12 due to the thin endometrium and it was repeated after 48 hr if necessary.

Endometrial thickness increased at 48 hr after the first intervention in both groups. All participants needed second intervention due to an inadequate endometrial expansion. After second intervention, endometrial thickness was 7.21 ± 0.18 and 5.76± 0.97 mm in the PRP group and sham catheter group, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups. (p < 0.001). Embryo transfer was done for all patients in PRP group and just in six cases in the sham-catheter group. Chemical pregnancy was reported in twelve cases in the PRP group and two cases in the shamcatheter group.

According to this trial, PRP was effective in endometrial expansion in patients with refractory thin endometrium.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder where the mutation in P450 family 17 subfamily A member 1 gene (CYP17A1) is involved in its etiology. The disorder represents itself with low blood levels of estrogens, androgens, and cortisol that generally couples with hypertension, Hypokalemia, sexual primary amenorrhea, infantilism and in affected individuals.

In this study, the CYP17A1 gene in a 14-year-old female was examined. The karyotype of the patient was 46, XX, and the analysis of the CYP17A1 gene by Sanger sequencing revealed a novel homozygous deletion c.1052-1054CCT which led to isolated 17,20-lyase deficiency.

In conclusion, this study report an in-frame deletion which results in isolated 17, 20-lyase deficiency, and the mutation might be used for diagnosis in other patients with distinctive clinical symptoms.