Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E最新文献

{"title":"The long noncoding RNA TARID regulates the CXCL3/ERK/MAPK pathway in trophoblasts and is associated with preeclampsia.","authors":"Lingyun Liao,&nbsp;Min Liu,&nbsp;Yijie Gao,&nbsp;Xiaohong Wei,&nbsp;Yangxue Yin,&nbsp;Linbo Gao,&nbsp;Rong Zhou","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01036-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01036-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The widely accepted explanation of preeclampsia (PE) pathogenesis is insufficient trophoblast invasion and impaired uterine spiral artery remodeling. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed transcriptome sequencing on placentas of normal and PE patients and identified 976 differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). TCF21 antisense RNA inducing demethylation (TARID) was one of the most significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs and was negatively correlated with the systolic and diastolic blood pressure in PE patients. Furthermore, we verified the effect of TARID on the biological behavior of trophoblasts and performed UID mRNA-seq to identify the effectors downstream of TARID. Then, co-transfection experiments were used to better illustrate the interaction between TARID and its downstream effector.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We concluded that the downregulation of TARID expression may inhibit trophoblast infiltration and spiral artery remodeling through inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and tube formation mediated through the CXCL3/ERK/MAPK pathway.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, these findings suggested that TARID may be a therapeutic target for PE through the CXCL3/ERK/MAPK pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"159"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9675252/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40695777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silk sericin alleviates aberrant photoperiod-induced alterations in testicular and adrenal steroidogenesis in adult mice.","authors":"Eman Hassan,&nbsp;Shahinaz Magdy,&nbsp;Amany Attaallah,&nbsp;Eman Gaber,&nbsp;Omnia Mansour,&nbsp;Rehab A Gomaa,&nbsp;Hala Odessy,&nbsp;Maria Augustyniak,&nbsp;Lamia M El-Samad,&nbsp;Abeer El Wakil","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01032-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01032-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Steroidogenesis is a complex process of sequential enzymatic reactions affected by climate change. Animals respond to altered day length, the so-called photoperiod, with changes in physiology. The study aimed to an evaluation of sericin effect in alleviating steroidogenesis disorders induced by disturbed photoperiod in mice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The animals were randomly divided into three groups according to the lighting cycle: a control group with a standard 12_Light:12_Dark cycle, a short-term photoperiod group with a 6_Light:18_Dark cycle, and a long-term photoperiod group with an 18_Light:6_Dark cycle. Both short and long-term groups were subdivided into two equal subgroups: The placebo and the sericin-treated subgroups received, for five weeks from prepubertal throughout adulthood, one intraperitoneal injection per week of the solvent and 1 g sericin/kg body weight, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Selected oxidative stress parameters and testicular and adrenal steroidogenic capacities of adult mice were measured. After five weeks, the placebo group with impaired photoperiod showed a decrease in the quality and quantity of sperm and a reduction in testosterone, corticosterone, aldosterone, total antioxidant capacity, xanthine oxidase, and melatonin. At the same time, in these groups, there was an increase in the level of aromatase, malondialdehyde, cholesterol, and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) expression in the adrenal cortex and an enhancement in histological lesions. Mice receiving sericin had parameters similar to the control group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings reveal that silk sericin can reduce the stress caused by photoperiod disorders regarding testicular function, sex hormone levels, and sperm quantity and quality. Thus, sericin is a biocompatible protein with a promising potential for its use in the case of organisms living under an abnormal photoperiod.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"158"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9673413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40484847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of a novel ESR1 mutation in a Chinese PCOS woman with estrogen insensitivity in IVF treatment.","authors":"Faying Liu,&nbsp;Lifeng Tian,&nbsp;Jun Tan,&nbsp;Zengming Li,&nbsp;Haiyan Qin,&nbsp;Dingfei Xu,&nbsp;Zhihui Huang,&nbsp;Xingwu Wu,&nbsp;Ge Chen,&nbsp;Qiongfang Wu,&nbsp;Yang Zou","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01029-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01029-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive disorder, that affects approximately 5-10% of women of reproductive age. The disease is complex because its evolution may be impacted by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Previous studies have emphasized the important roles of estrogen receptors in the pathogenesis of PCOS.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To use whole exome sequencing (WES) to assess possible pathogenic factors in a PCOS patient who exhibited estrogen insensitivity during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Genome sequencing and variant filtering via WES were performed in a patient with PCOS. DNA extraction from 364 unrelated female controls without PCOS was followed by PCR amplification, Sanger sequencing and sequence alignment. Evolutionary conservation analysis, protein structural modelling and in silico prediction were applied to analyse the potential pathogenicity of the novel ESR1 mutation.</p><p><strong>Result(s): </strong>During the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) period of an IVF cycle, the patient experienced markedly prolonged ovarian stimulation due to a poor response to gonadotropins (Gn) and elevated serum FSH. A novel heterozygous ESR1 mutation, c.619G > A/p.A207T, leading to the replacement of a highly conserved alanine with a threonine, was identified in this patient, via WES analysis. This novel variant was not identified in 364 unrelated female controls without PCOS, or in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) or 1000 Genome Project.</p><p><strong>Conclusion(s): </strong>We identified a novel heterozygous ESR1 mutation in a Han Chinese PCOS woman exhibiting clinical signs of estrogen insensitivity. This study may provide new strategies for IVF therapy, especially for patients who exhibit estrogen insensitivity during IVF cycle.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"157"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9673392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40695770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Poor semen parameters are associated with abnormal methylation of imprinted genes in sperm DNA.","authors":"Bing Song,&nbsp;Yujie Chen,&nbsp;Chao Wang,&nbsp;Guanjian Li,&nbsp;Zhaolian Wei,&nbsp;Xiaojin He,&nbsp;Yunxia Cao","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01028-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01028-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Altered sperm DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes as well as certain spermatogenesis-related genes has been proposed as a possible mechanism of male subfertility. Some reports suggest that there is an elevated risk of congenital diseases, associated with imprinted genes, in children conceived via intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, due to the involvement of spermatozoa with aberrant imprinted genes obtained from infertile men.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, the DNA methylation status of the promoter regions of six imprinted genes, namely potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 (KCNQ1), maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1), mesoderm specific transcript (MEST), and paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3), were detected by a next generation sequencing-based multiple methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis of sperm samples obtained from 166 men who sought fertility evaluation in our Reproductive Medicine Center. Thereafter, the semen samples were classified into subgroups according to sperm motility and DNA integrity status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As compared to the normozoospermic group, the samples of the asthenospermic group exhibited significant hypermethylation in two CpG sites of IGF-2 and significant hypomethylation in one CpG site of KCNQ1 as well as three CpG sites of MEST (P < 0.05). However, we did not observe any significant differences in the overall methylation levels of these six imprinted genes (P > 0.05). Additionally, we found that 111 of 323 CpG sites were hypomethylated in the group with DNA fragmentation index (DFI) ≥ 30% as compared to the group with DFI < 30% (P < 0.05). In this case, there were significant differences in the overall methylation levels of MEG3, IGF-2, MEST, and PEG3 (P < 0.05), but not in that of KCNQ1OT1 and KCNQ1 (P > 0.05). Hence, aberrant methylation patterns of imprinted genes were more prevalent in males with poor sperm quality, especially in those with severe sperm DNA damage.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, abnormal DNA methylation of some CpG sites of imprinted genes are associated with poor sperm quality, including asthenospermia and severe sperm DNA impairment.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"155"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9647922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40456197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defects of microtubule cytoskeletal organization in NOA human testes.","authors":"Xiaolong Wu,&nbsp;Damin Yun,&nbsp;Mengmeng Sang,&nbsp;Jianpeng Liu,&nbsp;Liwei Zhou,&nbsp;Jie Shi,&nbsp;Lingling Wang,&nbsp;Tiao Bu,&nbsp;Linxi Li,&nbsp;YingYing Huang,&nbsp;Dengfeng Lin,&nbsp;Fei Sun,&nbsp;C Yan Cheng","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01026-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01026-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The importance of actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons in testis function in rodents is known to some extent, but its role in the etiology of azoospermia in humans remains unexplored. Here, we examined if MT cytoskeleton was defective in NOA (non-obstructive azoospermia) testes versus normal human testes based on histopathological, immunofluorescence (IF), and scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling. Testis biopsy samples from n = 6 normal men versus n = 3 Sertoli cell only (SCO) and n = 3 MA (meiotic arrest) of NOA patients were used for histopathological analysis. IF analysis was also used to examine MT organization across the seminiferous epithelium, investigating the likely involvement of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling datasets from testes of 3 SCO patients versus 3 normal men in public domain in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Sample (GSM) with identifiers were analyzed to examine relevant genes that regulate MT dynamics. NOA testes of MA and SCO patients displayed notable defects in MT organization across the epithelium with extensive truncation, mis-alignments and appeared as collapsed structures near the base of the tubules. These changes are in contrast to MTs in testes of normal men. scRNA-Seq analyses revealed considerable loss of spermatogenesis capacity in SCO testes of NOA patients versus normal men. An array of genes that support MT dynamics displayed considerable changes in expression and in spatial distribution. In summary, defects in MT cytoskeleton were noted in testes of NOA (SCO) patients, possibly mediated by defective spatial expression and/or distribution of MAPs. These changes, in turn, may impede spermatogenesis in SCO testes of NOA patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"154"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9632130/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40443227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Circulating Anti-Müllerian hormone in a cohort-study of women with severe obesity with and without polycystic ovary syndrome and the effect of a one-year weight loss intervention.","authors":"Josefin Kataoka,&nbsp;Ingrid Larsson,&nbsp;Eva Lindgren,&nbsp;Li Oskarson Kindstrand,&nbsp;Johanna Schmidt,&nbsp;Elisabet Stener-Victorin","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01022-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01022-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have high circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels which is correlated with antral follicle count and polycystic ovarian morphology and negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI). Moreover, diet-induced weight loss in women with PCOS and overweight or obesity, reduce or normalize AMH-levels. There is, however, no previous study investigating the circulating AMH levels in women with severe obesity and how a structured diet-induced weight loss program affects circulating AMH levels in these women. Therefore, this study aims to investigate circulating AMH levels in a population of women with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) with and without PCOS, as diagnosed by the NIH-criteria, and to investigate the effect of a one-year weight loss program with a very low-energy diet (VLED) on circulating levels of AMH.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a prospective cohort-study, were 246 women with severe obesity were screened for PCOS diagnosis with the NIH-criteria, circulating AMH and anthropometry were measured at baseline and after a 12-month weight loss intervention with very low-energy diet (VLED).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean BMI was 39.9 ± 4.7 (PCOS), 39.6 ± 4.3 (non-PCOS) P = 0.960. Circulating AMH was higher in women with PCOS (5.47 ± 4.89 µg/L) compared with non-PCOS (2.66 ± 3.71 µg/L) P < 0.001 and was positively correlated with circulating total testosterone in both groups. Next, we performed ROC-analyses, and show that circulating AMH could not discriminate women with PCOS and severe obesity from non-PCOS women with severe obesity. Finally, a one-year weight reduction program does not affect circulating AMH levels despite significant weight loss neither in women with PCOS, nor without PCOS and severe obesity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Women with severe obesity and PCOS have elevated levels of circulating AMH compared to women without the syndrome. AMH-levels could not discriminate women with PCOS from non-PCOS because of low sensitivity and specificity. Significant weight loss was not associated with changes in circulating AMH levels, neither in women with, nor without PCOS and severe obesity. These results imply that in women with severe obesity, a greater weight loss may be needed to improve reproductive features, independent of PCOS diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>Clinical trial.gov: NCT01319162.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"153"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9617381/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40435980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endometrial compaction after human chorionic gonadotrophin administration reduces ectopic pregnancy rate following fresh embryo transfer in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles in patients with non-thin endometrium: a retrospective cohort study.","authors":"Qiuyuan Li,&nbsp;Ahui Liu,&nbsp;Haofei Shen,&nbsp;Xuehong Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01020-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01020-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to study whether the change of endometrial thickness between the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration and the day of embryo transfer (ET) has any effect on ectopic pregnancy (EP) rate following fresh in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study retrospectively analyzed 3134 patients who underwent fresh IVF/ICSI ET, including 3022 intrauterine, 112 ectopic cycles. Multiple logistic regression analysis and stratified analysis were used to study the effect of endometrial compaction after HCG administration on EP in patients with non-thin endometrium after adjusting for confounding factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After adjusting for confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis found that the risk of EP in the compaction group was significantly lower than that in the non-compaction group (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31-0.78; P = 0.0023). The results of the stratified analysis demonstrated the EP rate in patients with an endometrial thickness ≥ 8 mm on the day of ET; the compaction group significantly reduced the incidence of EP (OR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31-0.79; P = 0.0036). In patients with an endometrial thickness ≥ 8 mm on the day of ET, the incidence of EP had no statistical significance in two group (OR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.18-5.88; P = 9790).</p><p><strong>Conclusion(s): </strong>In patients with non-thin endometrium, endometrial thickness compaction from the day of HCG to the ET day reduced the risk of EP significantly.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"151"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9585867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40561945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delayed puberty, gonadotropin abnormalities and subfertility in male Padi2/Padi4 double knockout mice.","authors":"Kelly L Sams,&nbsp;Chinatsu Mukai,&nbsp;Brooke A Marks,&nbsp;Chitvan Mittal,&nbsp;Elena Alina Demeter,&nbsp;Sophie Nelissen,&nbsp;Jennifer K Grenier,&nbsp;Ann E Tate,&nbsp;Faraz Ahmed,&nbsp;Scott A Coonrod","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01018-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01018-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Peptidylarginine deiminase enzymes (PADs) convert arginine residues to citrulline in a process called citrullination or deimination. Recently, two PADs, PAD2 and PAD4, have been linked to hormone signaling in vitro and the goal of this study was to test for links between PAD2/PAD4 and hormone signaling in vivo.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Preliminary analysis of Padi2 and Padi4 single knockout (SKO) mice did not find any overt reproductive defects and we predicted that this was likely due to genetic compensation. To test this hypothesis, we created a Padi2/Padi4 double knockout (DKO) mouse model and tested these mice along with wild-type FVB/NJ (WT) and both strains of SKO mice for a range of reproductive defects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Controlled breeding trials found that male DKO mice appeared to take longer to have their first litter than WT controls. This tendency was maintained when these mice were mated to either DKO or WT females. Additionally, unsexed 2-day old DKO pups and male DKO weanlings both weighed significantly less than their WT counterparts, took significantly longer than WT males to reach puberty, and had consistently lower serum testosterone levels. Furthermore, 90-day old adult DKO males had smaller testes than WT males with increased rates of germ cell apoptosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Padi2/Padi4 DKO mouse model provides a new tool for investigating PAD function and outcomes from our studies provide the first in vivo evidence linking PADs with hormone signaling.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"150"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9555066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33526073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of virtual reality erotica on ejaculate quality of sperm donors: a balanced and randomized controlled cross-over within-subjects trial.","authors":"Daniel Rosenkjær,&nbsp;Allan Pacey,&nbsp;Robert Montgomerie,&nbsp;Anne-Bine Skytte","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01021-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01021-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Previous research has shown that the type and duration of erotic material that men have access to during masturbation can influence semen parameters. To our knowledge, the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets to present erotica has not previously been studied. We reasoned that, because VR can provide a more immersive experience to the user, semen parameters of masturbatory ejaculates may be altered.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study had a balanced and randomized controlled cross-over within-subjects design. 504 ejaculates were collected from 63 sperm donors at 4 locations in Denmark. During masturbation each donor was instructed to observe erotic material either on a touch screen monitor or using a VR headset. The order of each pair of within-subject treatments was randomized by the throw of a dice. Anonymized data were analysed with linear mixed and piecewise structural equation models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both abstinence period and VR-use influenced the total number of motile spermatozoa ejaculated. For short abstinence periods, VR-use increased the number of motile sperm in the ejaculate. However, the difference between VR and non-VR ejaculates decreased as abstinence period increased such that there was no difference at the mean abstinence period of 58 h. For longer abstinence periods, total motile sperm counts were lower, on average, when men used VR compared to those that did not.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The use of VR headsets to view erotica had a strong positive effect on the number of motile sperm in an ejaculate when the donor's abstinence time was short (< 24 h). VR-use could improve the ejaculate quality of men who are asked to provide samples after a short period of abstinence, such as men in infertile partnerships producing samples for ART or cancer patients depositing sperm before treatment.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Trial retrospectively registered on 13 July 2022 at ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT05457764.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"149"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9552463/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33523527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New hyaluronan-based biomatrix for 3-D follicle culture yields functionally competent oocytes.","authors":"Nina Desai,&nbsp;Maribeth Spangler,&nbsp;Vaani Nanavaty,&nbsp;Arsela Gishto,&nbsp;Alyssa Brown","doi":"10.1186/s12958-022-01019-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-022-01019-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Encapsulation of follicles within a biomatrix is one approach to maintaining 3-D follicle architecture during culture. Hyaluronan is one component of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides support to cells in vivo. This report describes the application of a novel tyramine-linked hyaluronan for 3-D in vitro follicle culture and the production of developmentally competent metaphase II oocytes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Enzymatically isolated mouse preantral follicles or follicle clusters (FL-C) from fresh or vitrified ovaries were encapsulated in 3 mg/ml of hyaluronan gel (HA). Follicle growth, antrum formation and meiotic maturation to metaphase II oocytes was monitored. Chromatin staining was used to assess GV oocyte progression towards meiotic competence. Functional competence of in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes was evaluated by in vitro fertilization and ability to develop to blastocyst. Modifying the HA gel by inclusion of laminin (HA-LM), mouse sarcoma extracellular matrix (Matrigel;HA-MG) or placental extracellular matrix (HA-PM) was also tested to see if this might further enhance IVM outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 402 preantral follicles were cultured in HA gel. After hCG trigger, 314 oocyte-cumulus complexes ovulated from the embedded follicles. Meiotic maturation rate to the metaphase II stage was 73% (228/314). After insemination 83% (188/228) of IVM oocytes fertilized with a subsequent blastulation rate of 46% (87/188). A pilot transfer study with 3 recipient mice resulted in the birth of a single pup. HA gel supported individually isolated follicles as well ovarian tissue fragments containing clusters of 6-8 preantral follicles. Meiotic maturation was lower with FL-clusters from vitrified versus fresh ovaries (34% and 55%, respectively; p < 0.007). Modification of the HA gel with ECMs or laminin affected antrum formation and follicle retention. Maturation rates to the metaphase II stage were however not significantly different: 74% for HA gel alone as compared to HA-LM (67%), HA-MG (56%) and HA-PM (58%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hyaluronan gel is an effective and versatile extracellular matrix based biomaterial for 3-D culture of ovarian follicles. This culture model allowed ovulation of functionally competent metaphase II oocytes, capable of fertilization, genomic activation and blastulation. Future testing with human follicles that require longer in vitro culture times should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":520764,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E","volume":" ","pages":"148"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9549656/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"33500493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}