Search results for "fertility"

Anti-aging activity of the Ink4/Arf locus.

2009

The proteins encoded by the Ink4/Arf locus, p16Ink4a, p19Arf and p15Ink4b are major tumour suppressors that oppose aberrant mitogenic signals. The expression levels of the locus are progressively increased during aging and genome-wide association studies have linked the locus to a number of aging-associated diseases and frailty in humans. However, direct measurement of the global impact of the Ink4/Arf locus on organismal aging and longevity was lacking. In this work, we have examined the fertility, cancer susceptibility, aging and longevity of mice genetically modified to carry one (Ink4/Arf-tg) or two (Ink4/Arf-tg/tg) intact additional copies of the locus. First, increased gene dosage of …

Cigarette smoking affects specific sperm oxidative defenses but does not cause oxidative DNA damage in infertile men

2008

Objective To evaluate the effects of tobacco consumption on the oxidative defenses of sperm, the glutathione system (GS), and sperm DNA oxidation. Design Double-blind experimental study. Setting Andrology laboratory in a university-affiliated private setting. Patient(s) One hundred seventeen semen samples from infertile males. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) (a) sperm GS enzymatic activity with respect to glutathione peroxidase isoforms GPx-1 and GPx-4, glutathione reductase (GR), and cellular glutathione (GSH) content (n = 29); (b) GPx-1, GPx-4, and GR m RNA expression analysis (n = 33); (c) oxidative DNA damage quantification using OXIDNA assay kit (n = 55). Two groups were …

Management of undescended testes: European Association of Urology/European Society for Paediatric Urology Guidelines.

2016

Summary Context Undescended testis is the most common endocrinological disease in the male newborn period. Incidence varies between 1.0% and 4.6% in full-term neonates, with rates as high as 45% in preterm neonates. Failure or delay of treatment can result in reduced fertility and/or increased testicular cancer risk in adulthood. Objective To provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of boys with undescended testes which reduce the risk of impaired fertility and testicular cancer in adulthood. Evidence acquisition Embase and Pubmed were searched for all relevant publications, from 1990 to 2015 limited to English language. Data were narratively synthesized in light of methodolo…

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…

Sperm kinematic characterization of alpaca ( Vicugna pacos L.) during the reproductive season

2018

Semen analysis is a key factor when determining the fertility ability in males. South American camelids, and in particular the alpaca, have been studied very little when compared with other farm animals. The aim of this work was to perform the kinematic characterization of alpaca spermatozoa collected directly from the deferent duct by using CASA-Mot (Computer Assisted Semen Analysis for Motility) technology. Samples were obtained every three days throughout the reproductive season during two periods and with a break of seven days in the middle. During both periods, the quality of the sample's motility and kinematics increased over the first two days and then subsequently decreased. This pa…

Transient and Permanent Experience with Fatty Acids Changes Drosophila melanogaster Preference and Fitness

2013

Food and host-preference relies on genetic adaptation and sensory experience. In vertebrates, experience with food-related cues during early development can change adult preference. This is also true in holometabolous insects, which undergo a drastic nervous system remodelling during their complete metamorphosis, but remains uncertain in Drosophila melanogaster. We have conditioned D. melanogaster with oleic (C18:1) and stearic (C18:0) acids, two common dietary fatty acids, respectively preferred by larvae and adult. Wild-type individuals exposed either during a transient period of development-from embryo to adult-or more permanently-during one to ten generation cycles-were affected by such…

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…