International Journal of Fertility and Sterility

197-202

Authors: Mohammad Reza Darabi, Ph.D , Abdolhossein Shiravi, Ph.D , Vida Hojati, M.Sc

Background: Arresting at a certain stage of development like the two-cell stage could be one of the causes of infertility. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of ethanol and strontium on growth and development of mice embryos arrested at the two-cell stage. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, female mice were coupled with a male following superovulation. Positive vaginal plug mice were sacrificed 48 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. Two-cell embryos were transferred to M16 medium and divided to four groups. The first control group was incubated without any exposure to low temperatures. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were exposed to 4°C for 24 hours. The second control group was incubated immediately, while the third and fourth groups were exposed to 10 mM strontium for five minutes and 0.1% ethanol for a further five minutes. Growth rate and developmental parameters of embryos were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The significant difference between the groups was determined by Post Hoc. Results: The data shows that developmental rate is decreased significantly by 4°C exposure. The mean percentage of degenerated embryo was significantly different between groups but the mean cleavage rate was not significantly different. The mean percent of morula, blastocyst and hatched blastocyst formation were significantly different between groups during a 120 hours study post hCG injection. Conclusion: The effect of strontium and ethanol on arrested two-cell embryos had no significant effect on the mean percentage of morula, but ethanol treatment significantly increased the percentage of blastocyst and hatched blastocyst formation compared to strontium.

207-210

Authors: Mitra Arjmandi Far, M.Sc , Saeideh Ziaei, M.D , Anoshirvan Kazemnejad, Ph.D

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicates 3-7% of all pregnancies and feto-maternal outcomes are strongly related to early diagnosis of GDM. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of risk factors in the prediction of an abnormal glucose challenge test (GCT). Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study conducted during 2009-2010 in two prenatal clinics in Rey, Iran. A total of 711 pregnant women who were in their first trimester of pregnancy and met the inclusion criteria were selected. The women were observed once every other week until 24-28 weeks of gestation. All patients at 24-28 weeks of gestation were screened with 50 g oral glucose GCT. The effects of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), maternal age, and weight gain until the time of GCT, and parity on abnormal GCT were evaluated. All confident intervals were calculated at the 95% level. Data was analyzed using student’s t test and the logistic regression test. Results: Maternal age (p<0.001), pre-pregnancy BMI (p<0.00), parity (p=0.05) and weight gain during pregnancy (p=0.05), were significantly higher in women with abnormal GCT compared to women who had normal GCT. Logistic regression analyses confirmed that pre-pregnancy BMI (OR=1.09), maternal age (OR=1.14), and weight gain during pregnancy (OR=1.13) were associated with abnormal GCT. Conclusion: Weight gain had a profound impact on the prevalence of abnormal GCT in our population. Therefore, we propose that pregnant women should only gain the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy.

217-224

Authors: Faranak Tavakolifar, M.Sc , Abdolhossein Shahverdi, Ph.D , Mehdi Pirouz, M.Sc , Malak Shakeri, Ph.D , Morteza Koruji, Ph.D , Hossein Baharvand, Ph.D

Background: This study compared neonatal and adult mice-derived Sertoli cells (NSCs and ASCs) to examine the influence of feeder cells derived from donors of different ages on the maintenance of mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro. Materials and Methods: SSCs were derived from the testes of six-day-old mice. They were subsequently transferred to Sertoli cells which were isolated by datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA) lectin from neonatal and adult mice for five days. Results: The numbers of spermatogonial colonies, the numbers of cells per colony, and cloning efficiency were assessed in presence of NSCs and ASCs. The expression of α6- and β1-integrin-positive cells was evaluated. Moreover, the functionality of the cells was assessed by their transplantation into the testes of busulfan-induced infertile mice. Colony efficiency assay showed that the number of colonies derived from single spermatogonial cells were significantly higher on NSCs. Additionally, the transplantation of dissociated colonies into the testes of busulfan-induced infertile mice showed their migration to the seminiferous basal membrane. Conclusion: These results show that NSCs may provide a more favorable microenvironment in comparison with ASCs for in vitro culture of spermatogonial colonies.

231-234

Authors: Zahra Rezaee, M.D , Azizeh Ghaseminejad, M.D , Mitra Forootan, M.D , Taraneh Hosseinipoor, M.D , Forough Forghani, M.D

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of endocrine disorders and main reasons for infertility due to unovulation and recurrent abortions. There is no consensus on effect of serum progesterone level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. This study aims to evaluate the effect of plasma levels of progesterone on the day of hCG injection on the rate of pregnancy in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles of PCOS cases. Materials and Methods: A stratified cohort study was conducted over a period of one year (2009) on 38 infertile women with PCOS who were suitable candidates for the IVF program. Patients were evaluated for other causes of infertility with hysterosalpingography (HSG), laparoscopy and normal sperm analysis. Patients were placed on the long protocol, followed by oocyte pick up, and finally IVF-embryo transfer (ET). Study patients were grouped according to progesterone levels of greater or less than 1.2 ng/ml on the day of hCG injection. Pregnancy rates were defined in each group. Levels on day of hCG day clinical pregnancy outcome were assessed. Experimental data were then compared against Fisher’s exact test in SPSS version 18. Results: The overall pregnancy rate in this study was 26.3%. In the group with progesterone levels more than 1.2 ng/ml on the day of hCG injection, the clinical pregnancy rate was 4 (21.1%) and chemical pregnancy rate was 3(15.8%). In the group with progesterone levels less than 1.2 ng/ml, the clinical pregnancy rate was 1(5.3%) and chemical pregnancy rate was 2(10. 5%). Conclusion: This study showed that PCOS patients with progesterone levels more than 1.2 ng/ml on the day of hCG injection resulted in higher chemical and clinical pregnancy rates. However, no significant statistical differences were found between the two groups. For further verification, we recommend additional studies with larger numbers of subjects.

241-244

Authors: Nahid Shahbazian, M.D , Mojgan Barati, M.D , Parvin Arian, M.D , Najmie Saadati, M.D

Background: A significant number of pregnancies are associated with the cytogenetic abnormalities of the fetus. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are procedures used for prenatal genetic diagnosis. In this study, we compare the safety and complications of mid-trimester amniocentesis and transabdominal CVS. Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was performed in 308 patients from 2.11.2007 to 26.10.2009. We had 155 cases of amniocentesis, which we performed in weeks 15-23 of pregnancy; and 153 cases of CVS, which we performed during weeks 10-14 of pregnancy. Results: There were 2 cases (1.2%) of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) in amniocentesis which occurred 1 and 10 days after the procedure and caused pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. We had 1 case (0.7%) of abortion in CVS, which occurred 10 days after the procedure. Additionally, there was 1 case of amniotic fluid leakage (0.7%) in which, after admission to the hospital and observation, leakage was stopped and the pregnancy continued normally. Conclusion: In this study, we had more complications with amniocentesis cases than CVS. CVS is a procedure performed in the earlier stages of pregnancy and its complications are less than amniocentesis. We suggest CVS to be the procedure of choice for genetic diagnosis.

241-244

Authors: Jinsong Gao, M.D , Juntao Liu, M.D , Xiya Zhou, M.D , Xuming Bian, M.D , Qing Dai, M.D , Feng Feng, M.D , Min Sheng, M.D

Background: A significant number of pregnancies are associated with the cytogenetic abnormalities of the fetus. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are procedures used for prenatal genetic diagnosis. In this study, we compare the safety and complications of mid-trimester amniocentesis and transabdominal CVS. Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was performed in 308 patients from 2.11.2007 to 26.10.2009. We had 155 cases of amniocentesis, which we performed in weeks 15-23 of pregnancy; and 153 cases of CVS, which we performed during weeks 10-14 of pregnancy. Results: There were 2 cases (1.2%) of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) in amniocentesis which occurred 1 and 10 days after the procedure and caused pregnancy loss before 20 weeks. We had 1 case (0.7%) of abortion in CVS, which occurred 10 days after the procedure. Additionally, there was 1 case of amniotic fluid leakage (0.7%) in which, after admission to the hospital and observation, leakage was stopped and the pregnancy continued normally. Conclusion: In this study, we had more complications with amniocentesis cases than CVS. CVS is a procedure performed in the earlier stages of pregnancy and its complications are less than amniocentesis. We suggest CVS to be the procedure of choice for genetic diagnosis.