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PubMed2003

Comparison of methods to evaluate the plasmalemma of bovine sperm and their relationship with in vitro fertilization rate.

The objectives of this study were to compare different methods of evaluating sperm plasmalemma and to determine their relationship with in vitro fertilization rate. A single batch of frozen semen from each of eight beef bulls was used for assessment of sperm viability and for in vitro fertilization. Conventional viability tests included sperm morphology, motility, acrosome integrity, and abnormal DNA condensation. Methods for evaluation of the sperm plasmalemma included eosin/nigrosin (EN) and trypan-blue (TB) vital stains, propidium iodide (PI) in combination with carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) or SYBR-14 (SYBR) fluorescent vital stains, and the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST). A total of 133-150 oocytes were fertilized in vitro with sperm from each bull and cleavage rates were determined. There were high correlations between the results obtained with vital stains and good to excellent interclass correlation coefficients of agreement, indicating that these stains provide measures of the same sperm attribute, i.e. plasmalemma integrity. However, the proportions of membrane-intact sperm identified by EN or TB stains were greater (P<0.0001) than identified by CFDA/PI or SYBR/PI fluorescent stains. The results obtained with the HOST had moderate correlations but poor agreement with the results of the vital stains. The proportion of viable sperm identified by the HOST was lower (P<0.05) than the proportion identified by vital stains, indicating that response to the HOST did not depend only on the integrity of the plasmalemma. Although there were significant differences in fertilization rates and sperm viability among bulls, there was no sharp distinction for the results of sperm viability tests from bulls producing different in vitro fertilization rates. Proportions of normal, motile, acrosome-intact, and HOST-responsive sperm were identified as significant predictors of in vitro fertilizing potential; each of these endpoints explained 12-18% of the variation when evaluated separately (linear regression) and 48% when evaluated collectively (stepwise regression). In conclusion, EN and TB stains overestimated the proportion of plasmalemma-intact sperm compared to PI-based fluorescent stains. Vital stains evaluated the morphological integrity of the plasmalemma, whereas the HOST assessed plasmalemma function. In that regard, the HOST was the only plasmalemma evaluation method that significantly contributed to conventional sperm quality tests in predicting in vitro fertilization rate, indicating that the test could be incorporated to the routine of semen analysis.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1998

Effect of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid on bovine in vitro fertilization.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid on the in vitro fertilization process. Frozen bovine semen was prepared using extenders with and without addition of vitamin E. Samples were capacitated with heparin in the fertilization medium. In vitro matured oocytes were inseminated with spermatozoa frozen with and without vitamin E and, after thawing, fertilized in TALP medium (control) and in TALP medium with vitamin E (1 mg/ml), with ascorbic acid (5 mM) and with vitamin E plus ascorbic acid. Gametes were incubated in the respective fertilization medium for 48 h; those frozen without vitamin E yielded 75, 76, 69 and 49% of fertilized oocytes in the control, vitamin E, ascorbic acid and vitamin E plus ascorbic acid media, respectively. The last value was significantly different (P < 0.01). In bovine sperm frozen with vitamin E, fertilization rates were 74, 50, 47 and 34%, respectively for the 4 groups. Values observed for the different supplements were significantly different inter se (P < 0.01), except between the media with vitamin E and with ascorbic acid. These results indicate that preserved antioxidant capacity of vitamin E impairs the success of the in vitro fertilization process.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The relationship of increased susceptibility of sperm DNA to denaturation and fertility in the stallion.

The relationship between fertility and susceptibility of sperm DNA to denaturation was determined in a group of 84 actively breeding, clinically fertile stallions. Susceptibility of DNA to denaturation was determined using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). The SCSA measures, mean of alpha-t (mean alpha t), standard deviation of alpha-t (SD alpha t), and the COMP of alpha-t (cells outside the main population)] were significantly correlated with the percentage seasonal pregnancy rate (SPR; mean alpha t, r = -0.24, P < or = 0.05; % COMP alpha t, r = -0.27, P < or = 0.05); percentage pregnant per first cycle (FCP; SD alpha t, r = -0.30, P < or = 0.01; % COMP alpha t, r = -0.42, P < or = 0.0001); and the percentage pregnant per cycle (PC; mean alpha t, r = -0.31, P < or = 0.01; SD alpha t, r = -0.32, P < or = 0.01; % COMP alpha t, r = -0.41, P < or = 0.0001). This study describes detectable intrinsic variation in sperm chromatin structure among fertile stallions (SPR, mean = 83%; FCP, mean = 58%; PC, mean = 57%) in an active breeding population (number of mares bred/stallion/year, mean = 37), in the absence of overt reproductive abnormalities and apparent diseases such that an increase in the susceptibility of sperm DNA to denaturation is associated with reduced fertility, both in terms of efficiency of reproduction (FCP and PC) and seasonal pregnancy rate (SPR). Both COMP alpha t and mean alpha t were useful indicators of fertility, with COMP alpha t being the only SCSA value able to identify mean differences between fertility groupings for SPR and FCP, and overall it was the most reliable indicator of fertility in this group of stallions. The SCSA is able to evaluate a compartment of the spermatozoa which is different from that of traditional tests for sperm quality such as motility and morphology.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Bull-specific effect on fertilization rate and viable embryo recovery in the superovulated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

This study was conducted to compare fertilization rate and viable embryo recovery rate in superovulated buffalo (n = 64) following insemination with semen from buffalo bulls (n = 5) having different fertility rates as determined by AI. Frozen-thawed semen from fertile bulls with similar post-thaw progressive motility and sperm morphology was used to inseminate buffalo at superovulatory estrus. Fertilization and viable embryo recovery rates differed among bulls, but this bull-specific effect was not related to the overall herd fertility rate as determined by AI in normal cyclic animals. These results indicate that individual bulls differ in their contribution to fertilization of superovulated donors and also to embryonic development, as determined by viable embryo recovery. Moreover, the results also suggest that buffalo bulls can be screened for optimal fertility and embryo recovery rates in superovulated donors. Further studies are warranted to ascertain the factors which contribute to such bull-specific effects.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of equine seminal plasma proteins and their correlation with fertility.

The objectives of this study were to 1) identify proteins found in stallion seminal plasma utilizing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) in conjunction with Western blot analysis; and 2) to determine if any of these individual proteins were correlated with stallion fertility utilizing regression analysis. Fertility was quantified by assigning a breeding score for each stallion. Each score was calculated by dividing the number of conceptions by the number of breedings for each stallion for four successive breeding seasons (1992-1995). Ejaculates from stallions of known fertility (n = 6) were collected with a Missouri-style artificial vagina. Immediately after collection, the semen sample was filtered and the gel fraction removed. The resultant sperm-rich fraction was centrifuged in a Beckman Microfuge E at 10,000 x g and the seminal plasma aspirated from the pelleted sperm cells. Two-dimensional PAGE of the seminal plasma was performed under denaturing conditions which revealed that 14 proteins were common in all stallions in the research population. Four of these proteins (SP-1, SP-2, SP-3, and SP-4) were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the breeding score assigned for each stallion. Regression analysis of protein optical densities with breeding score indicated that SP-1 (72 kDa, pI 5.6) was positively correlated with fertility (P < 0.05, r2 = 0.706), while SP-2 (75 kDa, pI 6.0), SP-3 (18 kDa, pI 4.3), and SP-4 (16 kDa, pI 6.5) were found to be negatively correlated (P < 0.05, r2 = 0.762, 0.730, 0.775 respectively) with fertility. Western blot analysis of SP-1 indicated there was an antigenic homology with a bovine 55 kDa fertility-associated seminal plasma protein identified in a study by Killian et al. (19). This suggests that the two proteins may have a similar physiological role and therefore common biological properties. These results indicate that analysis of stallion seminal plasma proteins can be used as an indicator of fertilizing capacity. Identification of such proteins in stallion seminal plasma could lead to better insight into the nature of subfertility or infertility in the horse, as well as to indicate better cryopreservation strategies.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

The motility and fertility of golden hamster sperm cultured in BSA-free medium.

Before fertilization, capacitation and the acrosome reaction in mammalian spermatozoa must be completed. The motility and fertility of hamster sperm were examined in four kinds of modified Tyrode's solution with or without bovine serum albumin (BSA). Since the presence or absence of polyvinylalcohol (PVA) in the media was another variable, its effect on the sperm motility and fertility was also studied. Sperm were incubated in four different media for up to 6 h at 37.5 degrees C. After 4 h of incubation in the media containing BSA alone or BSA and PVA, sperm were hyperactivated, showing a high sperm motility index (SMI) and were able to fertilize more than 80% of eggs. However, their fertility rapidly decreased during further incubation. In contrast, sperm in the medium containing PVA and no BSA showed low SMI scores after 4 h. However, during the following 2-h period, the SMI progressively increased and sperm were hyperactivated. Furthermore, the hyperactivated sperm in the PVA containing medium were able to effectively fertilize eggs. Our results indicate that hamster sperm can be capacitated in BSA-free medium and that capacitation occurs much more slowly in such a medium. We suggest that PVA is a reasonable alternative to BSA in in vitro fertilization and that this slowly progressing system may be a good model for studying various steps in sperm activation.

Acrosome↗
PubMed2001

Speciation of rare earth elements in soil and accumulation by wheat with rare earth fertilizer application.

A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the accumulation of rare earth elements (REEs), La, Ce, Pr and Nd, in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and the speciation of these elements in soil following the application of REE-based fertilizers. Improved crop yield was confirmed by the experiment. The accumulation behavior of La, Ce, Pr and Nd in wheat varied depending on the concentration of REE fertilizer application, i.e. increased with increasing REE concentration at low fertilization application, constant over the medium REE range, and decreased with increasing REE concentration at high fertilizer application. Significant negative correlation was obtained between REE contents in roots and soil pH (r = -0.5787 to -0.8442 for La). REEs in both the fertilized and unfertilized soils were fractionated by a three-stage sequential extraction procedure into three chemically distinct fractions: water soluble, exchangeable and carbonate bound (B1), Fe-Mn oxide bound (B2), and organic and sulfide bound (B3). REEs in fertilized soils were found mainly in the B2 and B3 fractions, with only a small amount in the B1 fraction. REEs in B1 and B2 fractions were negatively correlated with soil pH (r = -0.6892 to -0.8927 and -0.7462 to -0.9482). Significant correlation was obtained between REEs in B1 fraction and REE contents in root. The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.6159 to 0.7410 when fertilizer application was lower than 20.0 mg/kg soil. No acceptable relationship was observed between REE contents in shoot and any of the extractable fractions in soils.

China↗
PubMed2002

The effects of type of female circumcision on infertility and fertility in Sudan.

This study explores the association between type of female circumcision and infertility and fertility in Sudan using the 1989-90 Demographic and Health Survey. It is hypothesized that women with either Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision would have higher infertility and lower fertility compared with women with Sunna circumcision, and that uncircumcised women would have the lowest infertility and highest fertility of the three groups. This hypothesis, a widely held assumption, proved to be largely incorrect. Though women with Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision did have a higher prevalence of primary infertility than uncircumcised women, women with Sunna circumcision had even lower rates of primary infertility compared with uncircumcised women. This pattern prevailed in multivariate models controlling for confounding variables, where women with Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision had significantly higher primary infertility. Moreover, though women with Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision also had the highest prevalence of secondary infertility, once confounding covariates were controlled in multivariate models, there was no significant difference among the three groups of women. With respect to fertility, the total fertility rate was 7.6 for women with Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision, 8.1 for women with Sunna circumcision and 8.3 for uncircumcised women. Differences in fertility were found to be insignificant when covariates were controlled. The multivariate models were estimated using logistic regression. In conclusion, Pharaonic or Intermediate circumcision may be associated with higher primary infertility while there was no evidence suggesting that either secondary infertility or fertility was associated with a woman's circumcision status.

Circumcision, Female↗
PubMed2004

Recent trends and components of change in fertility in Nepal.

The objectives of this article are, first, to provide improved estimates of recent fertility levels and trends in Nepal and, second, to analyse the components of fertility change. The analysis is based on data from Nepal's 1996 and 2001 Demographic and Health Surveys. Total fertility rates (TFR) are derived by the own-children method. They incorporate additional adjustments to compensate for displacement of births, and they are compared with estimates derived by the birth-history method. Fertility is estimated not only for the whole country but also by urban/rural residence and by woman's education. The own-children estimates for the whole country indicate that the TFR declined from 4.96 to 4.69 births per woman between the 3-year period preceding the 1996 survey and the 3-year period preceding the 2001 survey. About three-quarters of the decline stems from reductions in age-specific marital fertility rates and about one-quarter from changes in age-specific proportions currently married. Further decomposition of the decline in marital fertility, as measured by births per currently married woman during the 5-year period before each survey, indicates that almost half of the decline in marital fertility is accounted for by changes in population composition by ecological region, development region, urban/rural residence, education, age at first cohabitation with husband, time elapsed since first cohabitation, number of living children at the start of the 5-year period and media exposure. With these variables controlled, another one-third of the decline is accounted for by increase in the proportion sterilized at the start of the 5-year period before each survey.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Parental perceptions of costs and benefits of children as correlates of fertility in Kuwait.

Kuwait is a high fertility country where the average number of desired children still exceeds 5. However, fertility behaviour is beginning to show a noticeable change and the current TFR is about 4.2 children. In order to understand the decline in fertility, the impact of perceived benefits and costs of children on Kuwaiti women's desired and achieved fertility is analysed. Data from a nationally representative survey of Kuwaiti households held in 1999 are used. Bivariate analyses show that the mean desired number of children is significantly higher among those who rank higher on the perceived value of children, and lower among those who are concerned about the cost of raising children. Achieved fertility (children ever born) shows a similar pattern. In the multivariate analysis, however, large family values emerge as the only significant predictor of (higher) desired as well as achieved fertility, net of the respondent's demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The sociocultural, economic and political contexts that shape the mother's perceptions of the benefits and costs of children are analysed and it is concluded that the need for children as social and national capital is currently the most important driving force behind fertility desires and behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Fertility desires of Yoruba couples of South-western Nigeria.

Using the matched wife-husband (763) sample from the data collected from Ogbomoso and Iseyin towns in Oyo State, Nigeria, this paper examines factors associated with couples' fertility intention. The analysis used logistic regression models for predicting the effects of selected socioeconomic background characteristics on a couple's fertility intention. Results indicate high levels of concurrence among husbands and wives on fertility intention. Where differences exist, husbands are more pronatalists than their wives. About 87% of pairs of partners reported similar fertility preferences. Of these couples, 59.5% wanted more children while only 27.8% reported otherwise. The logistic regression models indicated that a couple's fertility intention was associated with age, education, place of residence, frequency of television-watching and number of living children. Therefore, programme interventions aimed at promoting fertility reduction in Nigeria should convey fertility regulation messages to both husbands and wives.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Zinc transformations in neutral soil and zinc efficiency in maize fertilization.

The effect of six Zn sources (Zn-phenolate, Zn-EDDHA, Zn-EDTA, Zn-lignosulfonate, Zn-polyflavonoid, and Zn-glucoheptonate) was studied by applying different Zn levels to a representative Calcic Haploxeralf neutral soil (the predominant clay is montmorillonite) in incubation and greenhouse experiments. Zinc soil behavior was evaluated by sequential DTPA and Mehlich-3 extraction procedures. In the incubation experiment, the highest percentage recovery values of Zn applied to soil occurred in the water-soluble plus exchangeable fraction (29%) in fertilization with 20 mg of Zn kg(-1) of Zn-EDTA fertilizer. In the greenhouse experiment with maize (Zea mays L.), a comparison of different Zn carriers showed that the application of six fertilizers did not significantly increase the plant dry matter yield among fertilizer treatments. The highest yield occurred when 20 mg of Zn kg(-1) was applied as Zn-EDDHA fertilizer (79.4 g per pot). The relative effectiveness of the Zn sources in increasing Zn concentration in plants was in the following order: Zn-EDTA (20 mg kg(-1)) > Zn-EDDHA (20 mg kg(-1)) approximately Zn-EDTA (10 mg kg(-1)) > Zn-EDDHA (10 mg kg(-1)) approximately Zn-phenolate (both rates) approximately Zn-polyflavonoid (both rates) approximately Zn-lignosulfonate (both rates) approximately Zn-glucoheptonate (both rates) > untreated Zn. The highest amounts of Zn taken up by the plants occurred when Zn was applied as Zn-EDTA fertilizer (20 mg kg(-1), 7.44 mg of Zn per pot; 10 mg kg(-1) Zn rate, 3.93 mg of Zn per pot) and when Zn was applied as Zn-EDDHA fertilizer (20 mg kg(-1) Zn rate, 4.66 mg Zn per pot). After the maize crop was harvested, sufficient quantities of available Zn remained in the soil (DTPA- or Mehlich-3-extractable Zn) for another harvest.

Fertilizers↗
PubMed2001

Relation between different human sperm nuclear maturity tests and in vitro fertilization.

PURPOSE: To consider the relationship between different sperm nuclear maturity tests and in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate, in order to select the most sensitive, specific, and independent factor(s) for prediction of in vitro fertilization. METHODS: Infertile couples (101) were randomly selected from IVF candidates referred to Isfahan Fertility and Infertility center. Semen samples were collected on the day of oocyte recovery. Following routine semen analysis, major portion of the semen was prepared for routine IVF insemination and the remaining was used for following sperm nuclear maturity tests: chromomycin A3 (CMA3), aniline blue, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) test, and acridine orange test with or without heat shock (87 degrees C, 5 min). Sperms (200) were evaluated for each test. The results were recorded and analyzed for their correlation to fertilization rate, using correlation coefficient, logistic regression analysis, student t-test, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Among these tests, aniline blue and CMA3, and semen parameters, sperm morphology, and sperm motility showed a significant correlation with fertilization rate. Using logistic regression analysis, sperm morphology and CMA3 were the only independent factors related to in vitro fertilization. ROC curves showed that among above tests, CMA3 is the most specific and sensitive for sperm nuclear maturity. CONCLUSION: Among CMA3, aniline blue, SDS test, and acridine orange, CMA3 was the most sensitive and specific test that can be used along with routine semen analysis for more precise prediction of fertilization rate.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed2001

Acrosome index is not an absolute predictor of the outcome following conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

PURPOSE: To investigate if including evaluation of acrosome index (AI) in the semen analysis of teratozoospermic samples could help to predict for which patients intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is necessary. METHODS: The fertilization rate, pregnancy rate, and percentage of good quality embryos were compared after performing conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ICSI, respectively, using sibling oocytes. The role of AI was evaluated by dividing patients into two groups; Group A (AI < 7%) and Group B (AI > or = 7%). RESULTS: A significant difference in fertilization rate was observed between Group A and B after conventional IVF. In Group A, the fertilization rate, embryo transfer rate, and percentage of good quality embryos were higher after ICSI than after IVF. In Group B, the fertilization and pregnancy rates were numerically but not significantly higher after IVF compared to ICSI. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of acrosome index will not accurately predict fertilization, although this study shows that a sperm sample with less than 5% normal forms and an AI greater than 7% may achieve a mean fertilization rate > 70% after conventional IVF.

Acrosome Reaction↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of sperm fertilizing ability using the Sperm Quality Analyzer.

The Sperm Quality Analyzer is an inexpensive device which provides a quantitative estimation of sperm motility. To evaluate the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa using a Sperm Quality Analyzer, correlations amongst the sperm motility index, the sperm penetration index (as assessed using the sperm penetration assay; SPA), and the fertilization rate in the treatment of standard IVF-ET were analysed retrospectively. The sperm motility index demonstrated a significant correlation with sperm concentration (p < 0.001), sperm motility (p < 0.001) and the motile sperm concentration (p < 0.001) in a total of 104 fresh semen samples from 81 men donating samples for IVF-ET. The sperm motility index also showed a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with the sperm penetration index in 60 patients, assessed using the SPA, before they were treated by standard IVF-ET. The correlation between the sperm motility index and the IVF-ET fertilization rate was higher than that between the sperm penetration index and the fertilization rate. The sperm motility index was classified into three categories: 'poor' (sperm motility index < 80), 'medium' (sperm motility index 81-160) and 'good' (sperm motility index > 160). The relationships between the IVF-ET fertilization rate and each category of the sperm motility index values were also evaluated. For the three categories in the sperm motility index, the fertilization rates (76.0%) of 60 samples judged as 'good' were significantly higher than those (44.2%) of 15 samples judged as 'medium' (p < 0.001) and those (34.7%) of 13 samples judged as 'poor' (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the Sperm Quality Analyzer provides a reliable estimation of the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed2003

Genetic characterization of a pentatricopeptide repeat protein gene, orf687, that restores fertility in the cytoplasmic male-sterile Kosena radish.

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants is a maternally inherited inability to produce functional pollen, and is often associated with mitochondrial DNA abnormalities. Specific nuclear loci that suppress CMS, termed as restorers of fertility (Rf), have been identified. Previously, we identified an Rf for the CMS Kosena radish and used genetic analysis to identify the locus and create a contig covering the critical interval. To identify the Rf gene, we introduced each of the lambda and cosmid clones into the CMS Brassica napus and scored for fertility restoration. Fertility restoration was observed when one of the lambda clones was introduced into the CMS B. napus. Furthermore, introduction of a 4.7-kb BamHI/HpaI fragment of the lambda clone is enough to restore male fertility. A cDNA strand isolated from a positive fragment contained a predicted protein (ORF687) of 687 amino acids comprising 16 repeats of the 35-amino acid pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) motif. Kosena CMS radish plants were found to express an allele of this gene possessing four substituted amino acids in the second and third repeats of the PPR suggesting that the domains formed by these repeats in ORF687 are essential for fertility restoration. Protein levels of the Kosena CMS-associated mitochondrial protein ORF125 were considerably reduced in plants in which fertility was restored, although mRNA expression was normal. Regarding the possible role for PPR-containing proteins in the regulation of the mitochondrial gene, we propose that ORF687 functions either directly or indirectly to lower the levels of ORF125, resulting in the restoration of fertility in CMS plants.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

Effect of human sperm chromatin anomalies on fertilization outcome post-ICSI.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sperm chromatin anomalies on fertilization outcome post-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Therefore, along with semen parameters, Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining for protamine deficiency, aniline blue staining for excessive histones, SDS for sperm chromatin stability and SDS + EDTA for the ability of sperm to undergo decondensation were carried out on 55 semen samples from patients referred to the Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center for ICSI. The results showed that among the aforementioned tests and semen parameters only CMA3 showed a significant correlation with fertilization outcome post-ICSI. Patients were also grouped according to CMA3 level of <30% or >30% or fertilization rate of <50% or >50%. The results show that the mean percentage fertilization and mean percentage of CMA3 positivity is different in both groups, respectively. The area under receiver operator characteristics curve shows that CMA3 is a highly sensitive and specific test for prediction of fertilization outcome post-ICSI. In conclusion, that sperm protamine deficiency has profound effect on fertilization failure in ICSI.

Chromatin↗
PubMed2000

Cumulus assessment by three-dimensional ultrasound for in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the appearances of intrafollicular cumulus-like structures using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound technology with the recovery of mature oocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study using 3D ultrasound examination was performed in 50 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) after ovarian stimulation. Examination was performed on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-ovulation induction. Estradiol-17-beta (E2) levels were measured on the same day. The ovaries were examined for the presence of cumuli in all follicles greater than 15 mm in diameter. Only cumuli demonstrable in all three planes, or in a computer-animated 3D reconstruction, were recorded as 'visible'. The number, maturity, and fertilization rate of retrieved oocytes were compared with the pre-ovulatory assessment of cumuli by 3D ultrasound. STATISTICS: Correlation coefficients (Pearson) between the variables were calculated and stepwise regression analyses performed. RESULTS: A total of 262 cumuli were visualized within 318 follicles from which 296 mature oocytes were retrieved and 218 fertilized. There was a significant correlation between the number of detected cumuli and the number of retrieved oocytes (r2 = 0.83; P < 0.0001), mature oocytes (r2 = 0.78; P < 0.0001), and the number of the fertilized oocytes (r2 = 0.65; P < 0.0001). There was a marked correlation between E2 and the number of follicles and the number of fertilized oocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulus visualization by 3D ultrasound appears to be an indicator for mature oocytes and successful fertilization. Follicles in which the cumulus cannot be visualized in all three planes are unlikely to contain mature oocytes or oocytes in which fertilization is achieved.

Adult↗