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PubMed1992

Subnormal sperm parameters in conventional semen analysis are associated with discrepancies between fertilization and pregnancy rates in in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

Three hundred and twenty-eight consecutive treatment cycles in 168 couples were analysed retrospectively in order to examine the influence of conventional semen analysis results on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with respect to the occurrence of both fertilizations and pregnancies. All treatments were performed under maximally standardized and controlled conditions. Each of the three main determinants of the spermiogram, namely the concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in seminal plasma, was of significant importance for fertilization and subsequent pregnancy. Best correlations were achieved by counting the number of progressively (a+b) motile sperm and the number of normally formed sperm in seminal plasma. The pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in cases in which the sperm concentration was < 10 x 10(6) ml-1 (P < 0.01), or in which there was < 40% progressively motile sperm (P < 0.001), or < 30% normally formed sperm (P < 0.001). If more than one parameter in the spermiogram was abnormal, the fertilization rate depended mainly on the most disturbed sperm parameter. The implantation rate as well as the pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in patients with low progressive sperm motility and normal morphology rates. The difference could only be attributed partially to the lower number of embryos replaced. In conclusion, subnormal sperm quality seems to interfere with developmental stages beyond the process of fertilization.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Predictive value of selected sperm parameters for classical in vitro fertilization procedure of oocyte fertilization.

A proportion of fertilized oocytes during classical in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure was analysed depending on the following factors: number of mature oocytes, seminological criteria such as sperm morphology in raw semen and after its selection in a density gradient (six structural defects of a male gamete were taken into consideration), sperm concentration, motility parameters according to World Health Organization criteria and the functional tests: hypo-osmotic swelling assay and acrosomal reaction induced by calcium ionophore. Evaluation of DNA content in sperm by image cytometry and determination of malonyldialdehydes in seminal plasma were also performed. Seventy-nine semen samples from patients undergoing IVF were assessed. Apart from significant correlations obtained for selected semen parameters and proportion of fertilized eggs, logistic regression analysis showed that the best predictive factors for oocyte fertilization were normal morphology of sperm before and after gradient selection, grade B and C of sperm movement in raw semen, and DNA content after density gradient centrifugation, which all accounted for 76.7% of fertilization predictive value.

Fertilization in Vitro↗
PubMed2002

Fertilization ecology of egg coats: physical versus chemical contributions to fertilization success of free-spawned eggs.

Free-spawned eggs are typically enclosed within accessory structures that are shed early in development. Most research on the role of these structures in fertilization has focused on chemical constituents and their influence on sperm-egg interaction. Here I test an alternative hypothesis that accessory structures play an important physical role in fertilization by increasing the size and buoyancy of the egg, making it a better target for sperm. In the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus, the jelly coat increases egg target size sixfold. At nonsaturating sperm concentrations, fertilization declined consistently following jelly coat removal by two independent methods. Regression analysis using a standard fertilization kinetics model found that 54-73% of this decline on average was predicted by changes in the rate of sperm-egg collision, resulting from changes in egg target size and density. Sperm swimming speed, a key parameter in the model, did not vary as a function of sperm concentration or exposure to egg-water. The organic cost of jelly is a fraction of that of the ovum, providing an efficient means of extending target size beyond the ovum size that is optimal for larval or juvenile development. These results support the hypothesis that physical attributes of jelly coats can account for a significant portion of their contribution to fertilization, and may help to explain why coats and other accessory structures are often substantially larger than expected from the nature of chemical interactions between egg and sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The influence of psychological factors on the outcome of the fertilization step of in vitro fertilization.

Our objective was to determine whether psychological factors have an influence on the outcome of the fertilization step of in vitro fertilization (IVF) trials. The design was a prospective cohort study. We studied 48 women and 32 of their spouses. Each subject was assessed psychologically on the day before oocyte retrieval (OR) with the Child Project Questionnaire (CPQ) and the Ways of Coping Checklist. In addition, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was filled in by subjects 2 days before OR, and the State form was completed again for 6 additional days. The outcome measure was the success of the fertilization step. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the influence of psychological factors while taking into account the effect of medical and sociodemographic variables. The following variables were found to be statistically significant predictors of fertilization: normal sperm; tubal lesions or occlusion; women's factor II of the CPQ, i.e. Perception of Marital Harmony in the Project to Conceive a Child. We conclude that, even when the influence of biomedical variables is taken into account, the women's Perception of Marital Harmony in the Project to Conceive a Child, is a statistically significant predictor of the success of the fertilization step of IVF.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1983

Association of heifer fertility with cow fertility and yield in dairy cattle.

Genetic correlations of heifer fertility and first-parity yield usually were negative and opposite in sign from genetic correlations of first-parity fertility and yield. Most estimates of genetic correlation between heifer and first-parity fertility were not significantly different from zero. Increasing yield may improve genetic potential for fertility, but stress of increased yield may overcome genetic potential for improved fertility. Days open and 305-day yield for first parity were considered with index selection; sires were evaluated on daughter performance. Days open had a small influence on the selection index; genetic gains in days open for first parity were largely offset by correlated losses in service period for heifers. Restricted index selection, holding days open constant, required considerable economic importance of days open.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of poultry fertility data. 2. Comparison of long- and short-term fertility trials.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of egg collection interval on interpretation of fertility trial results. Low-fertility (LF) and randombred (RB) Delaware hens were inseminated with spermatozoa from LF or RB Delaware roosters. Three replicate trials were performed for each cross. Eggs were collected for 21 days following insemination. Fertility was analyzed with a log odds model following logit transformation. Separate analyses were performed on data collected throughout the first 7 days and the entire egg collection interval. Duration of fertility over the 21-day interval was analyzed by iterative least squares. Whereas the 21-day egg collection interval afforded detection of differences between males and between females, no differences were observed following analysis of data from the 7-day interval. Differences in reproductive efficiency also were detected when data were analyzed by iterative least squares. Thus, the value of a fertility trial is, in part, determined by the length of the egg collection interval.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Are there any advantages in immediate assisted fertilization compared with differed fertilization?].

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate a difference between the two assisted fertilization procedures. Can either of these procedures be preferred on the basis of preoperative parameters or criteria? A protocol was created to facilitate the patient's decision, as the results of IAF are better that those of DAF. METHODS: We have performed 39 in vitro fertilizations after testicular or epididymal sperm extraction since December 1995. We performed deferred assisted fertilization (DAF) in 19 patients with normal hormone assessment and normal testicular volume or after vasectomy and immediate assisted fertilization (IAF) for 20 patients with an abnormal assessment. RESULTS: The two groups, IAF and DAF, were homogeneous and did not present any differences in terms of age, aetiology of sterility, risk factors or preoperative hormonal parameters. Direct examination of sperm samples, the site of sampling and histological examination did not demonstrate any significant difference between the two groups. ICSI (IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection) was performed for 16 couples by IAF and for 14 couples by DAF. We obtained 6 pregnancies (37.5%) in the IAF group and 2 pregnancies (14.3%) in the DAF group. The two groups were identical in terms of the number of oocytes taken and embryos transferred. CONCLUSION: No significant difference was observed between the immediate and deferred fertilization techniques in terms of predictive factors, histology and quality of the direct examination, but the pregnancy rate was higher for IAF. We therefore think that this method should be preferred as the first-line procedure.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Altered protamine 2 expression is uncommon in donors of known fertility, but common among men with poor fertilizing capacity, and may reflect other abnormalities of spermiogenesis.

During the spermatid elongation stage of spermiogenesis approximately 85% of sperm nuclear histones are replaced by protamines. Protamines increase the packing ratio of sperm chromatin, presumably facilitating sperm motility and function. In this study we evaluated the incidence of abnormal protamine expression in 75 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 50 donors of known fertility by isolation of sperm nuclear proteins, quantitative gel electrophoresis, and Western blot analysis. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between abnormal protamine expression and semen quality, sperm penetration ability, chromatin stability, and IVF outcome. Seventeen percent (13/75) of IVF patients had no measurable protamine 2 (P2) versus 0% (0/50) of donors of known fertility (P < .005). Sperm penetration rates were decreased in 12 of 13 patients without P2, and mean penetration rates (4.6 +/- 1.2 vs 32.8 +/- 2.9, P < .005), normal morphology (22.4 +/- 3.6 vs 48.7 +/- 4.2, P < .05), and progressive motility (22.3 +/- 2.5 vs 35.4 +/- 2.1, P < .05) were all significantly decreased compared with patients with measurable P2. The mean sperm concentration was not significantly different. The presence of protamine precursor bands was also associated with a diminished penetration capacity (18.4 +/- 2.8 vs 36.7 +/- 3.0, P < .05). Sperm chromatin decondensation following exposure to heparin sulfate was significantly increased in patients without a measurable P2 band. Twelve patients with no measurable P2 underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with 6 patients (6/12, 50%) becoming pregnant. ICSI fertilization and subsequent embryo cleavage were not different in patients without P2 compared with other patients undergoing ICSI. These data indicate that abnormal sperm protamine levels are a common defect in infertility patients, but not in donors of known fertility. It appears that abnormal protamine levels may reflect defects of late spermiogenesis, including sperm penetration capacity.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2002

[A long-term field trial on fertilization and on use of recycled nutrients in farming systems IV. Soil fertility changes].

The fertility changes of soil under different fertilization treatments of a twelve years field trial indicated that the application of compost recycled in a farming system with appropriate amount of fertilizer applied to balance the soil nutrient budget, could not only produce higher crop yields and less surplus of nutrients into environment, but also improved soil fertility with significant increase of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in cultivated layer. However, maintaine higher soil available phosphorus, it was not sufficient just to balance the budget of soil phosphorus, and more phosphorus fertilizer application was needed.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Perpetual postponers? Women's, men's and couple's fertility intentions and subsequent fertility behaviour.

In this article data from the British Household Panel Study (BHPS) are used to analyse gender differences in fertility intentions, and the correspondence between fertility intentions and subsequent fertility behaviour. By exploiting couple-level data, we examine whether partners have conflicting preferences for future fertility. Focusing on women who remain childless in their thirties we look at socio-demographic factors related to the intention to remain childless, or to start a family later on in life. By following up women over time, the characteristics of women who go on to have a child later on in life are considered. The importance of having a partner and the fertility intention of that partner in predicting whether a birth will occur are also examined.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Controlled-release fertilizer (CRF): a green fertilizer for controlling non-point contamination in agriculture.

Fertilizers contribute greatly to high yields but also result in environmental non-point contamination, including the emission of greenhouse gas (N2O) and eutrophication of water bodies. How to solve this problem has become a serious challenge, especially for China as its high ecological pressure. Controlled-release fertilizer(CRF) has been developed to minimize the contamination while keeping high yield and has become a green fertilizer for agriculture. Several CRFs made with special coating technology were used for testing the fertilizer effects in yield and environment through pot experiment and field trial. The result indicated that the CRFs had higher N use efficiency, thus reducing N loss through leaching and volatilization while keeping higher yields. Comparing with imported standard CRFs, the test on CRFs showed similar fertilizer effect but with much lower cost. CRFs application is becoming a new approach for minimizing non-point contamination in agriculture.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1989

Structural studies of fertilization-associated carbohydrate-rich glycoproteins (hyosophorin) isolated from the fertilized and unfertilized eggs of flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Presence of a novel penta-antennary N-linked glycan chain in the tandem repeating glycopeptide unit of hyosophorin.

New glycoproteins of 100-120 kDa were isolated from the unfertilized eggs of flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Compositionally indistinguishable glycopeptides of 6 kDa were also purified from the activated or fertilized eggs. These high and low molecular mass glycoproteins are characterized by high (about 85%) carbohydrate content. Although some heterogeneities exist in the amino acid sequences, the 6-kDa glycopeptides (decapeptides with single large N-linked glycan chains), isolated from the fertilized eggs are the repeating units of the high molecular mass glycoproteins. As judged from several distinctive features the 100-120-kDa glycoproteins are apparently major components of cortical alveoli of flounder eggs and are regarded as members of glycoproteins we have defined under the name of "hyosophorin" (Kitajima, K., Inoue, S., and Inoue, Y. (1989) Dev. Biol. 132, 544-553). Composition analysis, Smith degradation, hydrazinolysis-nitrous acid deamination, permethylation analysis, and 400-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy provided evidence for the structure of a novel penta-antennary glycan chain attached to the repeating unit (decapeptide) of the protein core. The structure thus determined is: (Formula: see text). The presence of a unique class of carbohydrate-rich glycoproteins (H-hyosophorin) in the unfertilized eggs, their conversion to the repeating unit (L-hyosophorin) at fertilization, and the finding of a free glycan chain that was formed by scission between the GlcNAc and Asn residues of L-hyosophorin, in the fertilized eggs including embryos of 4-11-h postinsemination, support the view that these molecules may be important in fertilization and subsequent development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of male infertility by in vitro fertilization: factors affecting fertilization and pregnancy.

IVF was attempted in more than 100 couples where the man was considered to be the cause of the infertility. 57% of all oocytes were fertilized and embryo replacement was achieved in 60-70% of cases. Pregnancies following IVF were established in cases with a long duration of infertility and different male factors such as oligospermia, teratospermia, asthenospermia and auto-immunity. Almost 50% of men with very low numbers of active spermatozoa (0.5 X 10(6)/ml motile spermatozoa) were able to establish pregnancy. No correlation was found between the percentage motility and the chance of fertilization in cases with abnormal semen, but a reduction of the incidence of fertilization was noticed in cases with extreme oligospermia (5 X 10(6)/ml) where 41% of the oocytes were fertilized. The results of the post coital hamster egg tests were inaccurate in predicting the outcome of IVF. The collection of split ejaculates, and the careful preparation of spermatozoa using sedimentation and layering methods proved to be beneficial, improving sperm motility and raising the chance of fertilization.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fertility and family planning in Jordan: results from the 1985 Jordan Husbands' Fertility Survey.

The 1985 Jordan Husbands' Fertility Survey (JHFS) was designed to assess husbands' attitudes and behavior toward fertility and family planning. The 1985 JHFS was a follow-up survey to obtain data from husbands of women who were currently married in the 1983 Jordan Fertility and Family Health Survey (JFFHS). The results from the 1985 JHFS point to the usefulness of collecting fertility and family planning information from husbands. These findings showed that nearly 40 percent of the husbands do not believe in practicing contraception, and more than 50 percent of the husbands report that family size should be "up to God." How program officials address these issues will be important for the future success of the family planning program in Jordan.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Male fertility and positive Chlamydial serology. A study of 61 fertile and 82 subfertile men.

In this study, the frequency and titers of serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in fertile and subfertile subjects and possible correlations between a positive serology and the values of conventional semen parameters were investigated. The subfertile subjects were divided into those without and those with a history of genitourinary infection. No difference was noted between the proportion of seropositive patients in the fertile group (26.2%) as compared with those in the subfertile group with no history of genitourinary infection (27.7%). The percentage of positive tests was significantly increased only in the subfertile group with past genitourinary infection (53.5%). No difference was found between the antibody titers of the fertile and subfertile groups. Only the fertile group had any semen parameter, namely, the volume of the ejaculate, that was significantly different between the seropositive and seronegative patients. In conclusion, three main points should be stressed; the high frequency of serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in the control subjects and the apparent absence of effects of a positive serology on their fertility; the significant correlation between a past genitourinary infection and the presence of serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis; and the need for a test to assess Chlamydia in semen.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In vitro fertility evaluation of cryopreserved ram semen and its correlation with relative in vivo fertility.

The present study was designed to evaluate zona-free hamster ova assay conditions for cryopreserved ram semen and to investigate the correlation between ability to penetrate zona-free hamster ova and in vivo fertility. In vivo fertility was estimated for cryopreserved semen from 5 Merino rams using heterospermic insemination. Equal numbers of postthaw motile spermatozoa from a Merino ejaculate and pooled Suffolk ejaculates were mixed prior to insemination. Each Merino ejaculate was paired with the same pool of cryopreserved Suffolk semen. Relative in vivo fertility for each Merino ram was calculated as the proportion of offspring that were sired by the Merino (range 42 to 100%). These ejaculates also differed in their ability to penetrate zona-free-hamster ova (3.6 to 9.0 penetrated spermatozoa per ovum). Differences in penetration rate were correlated with in vivo fertility (P < 0.002, R2 = 0.69). Results of these studies suggest that the zona-free hamster ova bioassay may be a useful test in the assessment of cryopreserved ram sperm fertility.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Fertility and ovum fertilization rate after laparoscopic or transcervical intrauterine artificial insemination of oxytocin-treated ewes.

Based on our previous work, we found that exogenous oxytocin induces uterine tetany and cervical dilation, and permits transcervical access to the uterus. However, the oxytocin does not reduce sustained sperm transport from the uterus to the oviducts. Thus, we hypothesized that exogenous oxytocin may be a useful adjunct to transcervical intrauterine AI procedures for sheep: two experiments were conducted to test our hypothesis. In Experiment 1, purebred ewes (n = 75/group) were artificially inseminated intrauterine with either laparoscopic or oxytocin-transcervical (i.e., 200 USP units of oxytocin 30 min before AI) procedures. At 54 h after progestogenated pessaries were removed, ewes were inseminated with 200 x 10(6) sperm/0.25 ml of fresh, extended semen, which was collected from a purebred ram of the corresponding breed. Pregnancy rate was greater (P < 0.05) after laparoscopic (37.5%) than after transcervical AI (0%). Because of the disappointing results of Experiment 1, Experiment 2 was conducted to determine whether oxytocin or the AI procedure per se reduced ovum fertilization rate. Treatments were designed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. At 60 h after norgestomet implant removal and 10 min before either laparoscopic or transcervical (cervical in a saline group) AI with 100 x 10(6) sperm/0.25 ml, ewes (n = 10/group) received an intravenous injection of either isotonic saline or 200 USP units of oxytocin. Fertilization rate, which was determined 72 h after AI, was greater (P < 0.05) after laparoscopic than after transcervical/cervical AI (92.5 vs 28%), but oxytocin treatment did not affect fertilization rate. The results indicate that exogenous oxytocin did not reduce ovum fertilization rate, but the transcervical AI procedure per se seemed to reduce fertilization rate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

The measurement of urinary steroid glucuronides as indices of the fertile period in women. World Health Organization, Task Force on Methods for the Determination of the Fertile Period, special programme of research, development and research training in human reproduction.

The concentrations of various estrogen glucuronides and pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide have been measured in daily samples of early morning urine (EMU) and 24 h pooled collections throughout a total of 70 menstrual cycles (58 subjects). The immediate objective was to identify and assess the potential value of measuring hormone metabolites to locate the fertile period in women, with the ultimate aim of developing a non-invasive immunochemical test. The project was undertaken in five centres and the results showed that: (i) there was good agreement in the patterns and mean concentrations of metabolites between the centres; (ii) estrone-3-glucuronide should be the estrogen glucuronide selected for further study; (iii) the analysis of EMU provided information that was as useful as the corresponding measurements on pooled collections for 24 h; (iv) a rise in the concentration of estrone-3-glucuronide (50% over the mean of three preceding values) could be used to locate the start of the fertile period in greater than 90% of the ovarian cycles (from day LHmax -- 3 to day LHmax -- 7); attempts to locate the end of the fertile period by a threshold value or a defined rise in the level of pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide were disappointing. A 50% rise over the mean of three preceding values in the derived concentration ratio of estrone-3-glucuronide/pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide could be used to indicate the start of the fertile period, and a 50% decrease plus two days the start of the infertile period in greater than 80% of the ovarian cycles. The limitations, implications and future developments are discussed.

Adolescent↗