Search results for "Infertility"

Fetuin-B, a liver-derived plasma protein is essential for fertilization.

2013

SummaryThe zona pellucida (ZP) is a glycoprotein matrix surrounding mammalian oocytes. Upon fertilization, ZP hardening prevents sperm from binding to and penetrating the ZP. Here, we report that targeted gene deletion of the liver-derived plasma protein fetuin-B causes premature ZP hardening and, consequently, female infertility. Transplanting fetuin-B-deficient ovaries into wild-type recipients restores fertility, indicating that plasma fetuin-B is necessary and sufficient for fertilization. In vitro fertilization of oocytes from fetuin-B-deficient mice only worked after rendering the ZP penetrable by laser perforation. Mechanistically, fetuin-B sustains fertility by inhibiting ovastacin,…

Testing the water before swimming: satisfying the need for clinical trials of devices, media, and instruments before their use in assisted reproducti…

2011

Pregnancy after syngeneic uterus transplantation and spontaneous mating in the rat.

2010

BACKGROUND: Uterus transplantation (UTx) research aims towards the introduction of UTx as a treatment for uterine factor infertility. The rat model is the principal rodent model used and this study aims to assess the potential for pregnancy and to assess effects on pregnancy outcome. METHODS: Female Lewis rats underwent hysterectomy and received syngeneic uterine transplants (with one horn removed) by end-to-side anastomosis between the common iliac vessels of the recipient and the graft. The graft was placed in an orthotopic position with anastomosis to the upper part of the native uterine horn and vagina to allow for pregnancy by mating. Controls had only one uterine horn removed. Mating …

Failures (with some successes) of assisted reproduction and gamete donation programs

2013

Although the possibilities for the treatment of infertility have been improved tremendously, not every couple will be treated successfully.Crude overall pregnancy rates of 50-65% per patient can be achieved nowadays, irrespective of the type of profertility treatment applied first.IVF only accounts for about 20% of the pregnancies achieved. Dropout is an important reason for not reaching the estimated pregnancy rate. Even after failed IVF, spontaneous pregnancies do occur. Sperm and oocyte donation (OD) offer additional chances to subfertile couples. Severity of the male factor (in sperm donation) and young donor age (in OD) are important determinants of success.Analysis of assisted reprodu…

Perceived Partner’s Self-Control and Social Support Effects on Relationship Satisfaction in Couples Experiencing Infertility or Miscarriage: Dyadic A…

2022

The process that infertile couples and those after a miscarriage go through is unpredictable and difficult to control; therefore, it is associated with a lowered sense of control for both partners. Uncontrolled stress creates a higher level of anxiety, which is associated not only with a lower quality of life but also with worse results from infertility treatment and higher risks of miscarriage. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between the partner’s perceived self-control and marital satisfaction in the context of the partners’ coping strategies. The actor-partner interdependence model was applied to 90 heterosexual married couples. Our results show that men…

Male infertility: an obstacle to sexuality?

2016

International audience; Interactions between infertility and sexuality are numerous and complex. Infertile men may suffer from sexual dysfunction (SD) when undergoing an assisted reproductive technology programme. We undertook a review both in French and English of the available data on male SD when being diagnosed with a fertility problem with a specific focus on azoospermic men. The review was performed over a 30-year time period using PubMed/Medline. The sexual concerns and needs of infertile/sterile men for whom potential parenting can be compromised were evaluated. When diagnosed with infertility, men usually go through a crisis that can have a deleterious effect on their sexuality wit…

A Primary Evaluation of Potential Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Astacin Metalloproteinase Ovastacin, a Novel Drug Target in Female Infertility Tre…

2020

Abstract Despite huge progress in hormonal therapy and improved in vitro fertilization methods, the success rates in infertility treatment are still limited. A recently discovered mechanism revealed the interplay between the plasma protein fetuin‐B and the cortical granule‐based proteinase ovastacin to be a novel key mechanism in the regulation of fertilization. Upon sperm–egg fusion, cleavage of a distinct zona pellucida component by ovastacin destroys the sperm receptor, enhances zona robustness, and eventually provides a definitive block against polyspermy. An untimely onset of this zona hardening prior to fertilization would consequently result in infertility. Physiologically, this proc…

Effect of genetic variation in CYP450 on Gonadal impairment in a European cohort of female childhood cancer survivors, based on a candidate gene appr…

2021

Background: Female childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) carry a risk of therapy-related gonadal dysfunction. Alkylating agents (AA) are well-established risk factors, yet inter-individual variability in ovarian function is observed. Polymorphisms in CYP450 enzymes may explain this variability in AA-induced ovarian damage. We aimed to evaluate associations between previously identified genetic polymorphisms in CYP450 enzymes and AA-related ovarian function among adult CCSs. Methods: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels served as a proxy for ovarian function in a discovery cohort of adult female CCSs, from the pan-European PanCareLIFE cohort (n = 743

New methods to improve the safety assessment of cryopreserved ovarian tissue for fertility preservation in breast cancer patients

2015

Objective To develop a novel molecular panel of markers to detect breast cancer (BC) disseminated malignant cells in ovarian tissue, and to improve the safety of ovarian tissue transplantation. Design Experimental study. Setting University hospital. Patient(s) Ten ovarian biopsies from healthy patients, 13 biopsies with diagnosed BC metastasis, and 4 biopsies from primary BC tumor for designing a diagnostic panel of BC cell contamination; 60 ovarian biopsies from BC patients undergoing fertility preservation for validating the panel. Animal(s) Female nude mice. Intervention(s) A novel panel for BC malignant cell detection by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), inmmunoh…

CTLA4-Linked Autoimmunity in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis and Related Infertility: A Systematic Review

2022

Several studies, although with conflicting results, have sought to determine the concentration of soluble CTLA4 antigens in peripheral blood plasma and peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis-related infertility. A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) through a search of the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, The Cochrane Library, Health Technology Assessment Database and Web of Science, and Clinical Trials research register. We included observational or prospective human and animal studies with any features related to endometriosis and/or infertility studies involving CTLA4-rel…