Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction

208-216

Authors: Mohammed M. Laqqan, Maged M. Yassin

Objective: To speculate which of the following parameters: antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) and age can be used as a predictor of ovarian response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol in women under 45 years, and to determine the cutoff value of these parameters and their correlations for predicting low and high ovarian response. Methods: This prospective study included 462 women with the mean age of (29.3±6.5) years. All women were subjected to the GnRH antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol. On the second day of the menstrual cycle, ultrasonography was conducted to determine AFC in both ovaries. Peripheral blood samples were collected to evaluate the level of estradiol, FSH, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and AMH. The women were divided into three groups: low response (AHH<1 ng/mL, n=173), normal response (AMH=1.0-3.5 ng/mL, n=175), and high response (AMH >3.5 ng/mL, n=114). Results: A significant decrease was found in the age and FSH level in the high response group compared to other groups (P<0.001). Conversely, a significant increase was shown in AMH, estradiol on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) day, AFC, mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes, and embryos transferred in the high response group compared to the other two groups (P<0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that AFC and AMH had the highest accuracy, followed by basal FSH level and age in the prediction of low ovarian reserves (P<0.001) with cutoff values of ≤4.50 and ≤0.95 for AFC and AMH, respectively. Moreover, the ROC analysis showed that AFC had the highest accuracy, followed by AMH level and age in the prediction of high ovarian reserves with a cutoff value of ≥14.50, ≥3.63, and ≤27.50 years, respectively (P<0.01). A significant decrease was observed in women's age, estradiol level, and oocyte fertilization rate in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (P<0.001). Additionally, significant negative correlations were found between the AFC, the number of mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes, embryos transferred, and the age of pregnant women (P<0.001). Conclusions: AFC and AMH predict low and high ovarian response to GnRH antagonist stimulation multiple-dose protocol in women under 45 years.

223-230

Authors: Mohamed G. Hedia, Amr S. El-Shalofy

Objective: To investigate the effects of a single oxytocin injection on plasma steroid concentrations, testicular blood flow measures (resistive and pulsatility indexes), and testicular echogenicity in Baladi goats. Methods: Twelve Baladi goat bucks were randomly allocated into 2 groups and received an intravenous injection of either 0.7 IU/kg oxytocin or normal saline 0.9%. Venous blood samples were collected, and testicular blood flow Doppler parameters (i.e., peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, time average maximum velocity, resistive index, and pulsatility index) were assessed for supratesticular arteries in the left and right testes immediately before (0), and at 5, 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. Results: Plasma concentrations of testosterone significantly decreased in the oxytocin group at 60 min post-treatment compared to the control group, whereas plasma concentrations of estradiol-17β were not affected (P>0.05). Both resistive index and pulsatility index declined in the oxytocin group at 60 min post- treatment compared to the control group (P<0.05). Testicular pixel intensity increased at 30 min post-treatment in the oxytocin group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Oxytocin treatment significantly increases testicular blood flow and decreases plasma testosterone concentrations in male Baladi goats.

236-242

Authors: Avijit Kumar Modak, Md Nuronnabi Islam, Asma Khatun, Md Hasanur Alam, Ireen Akter, AKM Ahsan Kabir, Md Abul Hashem, Mohammad Moniruzzaman

Objective: To investigate the effect of L-carnitine on in vitro maturation and subsequent in vitro embryo production of buffalo oocytes. Methods: Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from ovaries of slaughtered buffaloes. COCs were classified into good and fair qualities based on morphological observation of numbers and integrity of cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte. Both categories of COCs were placed in in vitro maturation medium with supplementation of different concentrations (0, 0.250, 0.375 or 0.500 mg/mL) of L-carnitine. Oocytes from both qualities were in vitro fertilized and in vitro cultured for 7 days, to examine the developmental competence. Results: Supplementation of L-carnitine to in vitro maturation medium increased the cumulus cell expansion rate of COCs to grade A, and reduced the cumulus cell expansion of COCs to grade B and grade C in both good and fair quality oocytes. Similarly, L-carnitine induced the in vitro meiotic progression of buffalo oocytes to metaphase 栻 in both good and fair quality oocytes. Additionally, L-carnitine reduced the rate of oocyte degeneration in both good and fair quality oocytes. L-carnitine increased the rate of cleaved formation at day 2 and blastocyst formation at day 7 during in vitro culture in both qualities of oocytes. Moreover, a higher rate of blastocyst production was observed in L-carnitine-treated fair quality oocytes, which was higher than the results in the untreated good quality oocytes. Conclusions: L-carnitine enhances meiotic maturation and subsequent embryo development from both good and fair quality buffalo oocytes.