Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

12-19

Authors: Mabel Olubunmi Omobude, Olaolorunpo Olorunfemi, Fidelis Uchendu Okafor

Objective: To identify factors that determine the uptake of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and to determine the predicting effect of the identified factors on the uptake of IVF among couples attending fertility clinic at a tertiary health institution in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design. A self-structured questionnaire tested was validated and administered to 250 couples who attended fertility clinic. Data were collected from March 2021 to June 2021 and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. Data were presented and interpreted using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as Chi-square, univariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 250 couples, 154 (61.6%) were willing to adopt IVF. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that catholic religion [odds ratio (OR) 0.21, 95% confident interval (CI) 0.54-0.73], family income (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.10-2.00) and age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.10) were the major factors that determined the uptake of IVF, with P-value of <0.001, 0.018 and 0.031, respectively. Conclusions: The uptake of IVF could be sustained or improved on, if the government should improve on the cost of living for families, and religious leaders need to be encouraged to pass on the information about IVF to their members to be well guided about the possibilities of IVF.

27-34

Authors: Nilesh Gaikar, Nishit Patel, Samir Patel, Priyal Patel, Piyush Chudasama, Manan Raval

Objective: To evaluate the effect of methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract prepared from the seeds of Blepharis (B.) persica on testosterone biosynthesis and also to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n=6 per group). Group I received 0.3% w/w gum acacia suspension p.o. and served as the normal control group. Group II was administered testosterone propionate in arachis oil i.m. as the positive control group. Group III to V received B. persica methanolic extract p.o. at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Group VI to VIII received B. persica ethyl acetate fraction p.o. at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. The testis was used for biochemical estimation and histological studies. The effects of methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of B. persica on testicular testosterone, mRNA expression corresponding to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) along with 3β -HSD enzyme assay were evaluated in testicular tissues and sperm concentration. Ethyl acetate fraction of B. persica was subjected to column chromatography. In- vitro studies were performed using TM3 cell line at three dose levels (50, 100, 200 μg/mL), each for methanolic extract, ethyl acetate fraction and 2-benzoxazolinone for evaluation of their comparative effect on testosterone production. Results: Ethyl acetate fraction and methanolic extract of B. persica could elevate the testicular testosterone content compared to the normal control group. The treatment with methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of B. persica increased the expression of mRNA corresponding to StAR by 6.7 fold and 10.6 fold, respectively, whereas the mRNA expression of 3β-HSD increased by 5.7 fold and 7.3 fold, respectively. Moreover, fraction and extract treatment exhibited increased 3β-HSD activity in the testicular tissues and were found to elevate sperm concentration in seminal fluid. The spermatogenic potential was further ensured by histological observations. 2-benzoxazolinone was isolated from ethyl acetate fraction and identified using spectral studies. It showed the ability to increase the testosterone content in the TM3 Leydig cells. Conclusions: Methanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of B. persica are able to increase the testicular testosterone in rats by elevating mRNA expression of StAR and 3β-HSD in testicular tissues, leading to increase the sperm concentration.

44-50

Authors: Hasan Sakhdary, Abbas Farshad, Jalal Rostamzadeh, Fateme Bahri Binabaj, Keyvan Sobhani

Objective: To evaluate the supplementation effects of vitamin E, vitamin C, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase to diluents on bull cryopreserved epididymal sperm. Methods: Sperm were retrieved from 20 bull testes and were then supplemented with 0.1 mM vitamin E, 5.0 mM vitamin C, 100.0 IU/mL SOD, and 100.0 μg/mL catalase alone, or in a combination. The control treatment contained no addition. After supplementation, samples were frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. The sperm parameters including motility, progressive motility, viability, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, kinematics and DNA damage were evaluated following the thawing process. Results: Vitamin E alone significantly increased the parameters of acrosome and membrane integrity compared to the control treatment (P<0.05). While compared to the control treatment, vitamin C had no improvement effect on sperm characteristics except for membrane integrity. Treatment of vitamin E+vitamin C had a significant improvement in total motility, progressive motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrity compared to the control and other treatments (P<0.05). Compared to the control treatment, addition of SOD or catalase alone significantly improved the percentages of total motility, progressive motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrity (P<0.05). Furthermore, SOD+catalase significantly increased total motility, progressive motility, viability, acrosome and membrane integrity characteristics compared to the catalase treatment (P<0.05). Vitamin E alone, vitamin E+vitamin C, and SOD in diluents decreased DNA damages and thereby improved the rate of intact sperm heads. Conclusions: Addition of 100.0 IU/mL SOD alone and 0.1 mM vitamin E+5.0 mM vitamin C, and also 5.0 mM vitamin C+100 μg/mL catalase in a combination improves the quality of cryopreserved bull epididymal sperm and could be used for cryopreservation.