F Scarpellini, M Mastrone, M Andreoli, M S Grazioli, L Scarpellini
{"title":"Lag in endometrial morphology in artificially reproduced cycles (ARC).","authors":"F Scarpellini, M Mastrone, M Andreoli, M S Grazioli, L Scarpellini","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To observe if endometrial artificially reproduced cycles were identical to the natural spontaneous ones, we have matched for the endometria of 22 assessed spontaneous ovulating women and 16 postmenopausal ones sequentially treated with exogenous ovarian steroid hormones. The endometrial samples were drawn in the middle luteal phase (20th-22nd of an ideal cycle, 6-8 days from ultrasound assessed ovulation or progesterone exposure), because this is the \"implantation window\" period. These results can be particularly interesting in the FIV-OD technique that implyes the implantation of the zygote in a fully matured endometrium. Adversely to previous reports there was always an endometrial hystologic lag (2 min.-4 max. days) in all the artificially reproduced cycles observed, while no other endometrial anomalies were found in these last ones. Probably the contrasting results of the previous studies agree with the later timing of endometrial biopsy, because in the late luteal artificially reproduced or spontaneous endometrium there is no hystological difference.</p>","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 5","pages":"307-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18666714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C Cimino, M A Benigno, G Cassarà, G Ruvolo, M Bajamonte, D Mangione, G Catalano, E Cittadini
{"title":"Computer-assisted assessment of the variations of sperm kinetics after semen treatment with Pellet Swim-up (PSu), and with centrifugation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient at reduced volumes (mini-CDPG).","authors":"C Cimino, M A Benigno, G Cassarà, G Ruvolo, M Bajamonte, D Mangione, G Catalano, E Cittadini","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The semen of the male partners of 37 infertile couples was analyzed with the use of the HTM-S Motility Analyzer (HTM-S MA). For each sample it was thus possible to assess the Total Concentration (TC), the Motile Cell Population Concentration (MCPC), the Progressive Cell Population Concentration (PCPC), the Average Path Velocity (VAP), the Straight Line Velocity (VSL), the Curvilinear Velocity (VCL), the Straightness (STR), the Linearity (LIN), the Lateral Head Displacement (ALH) and the Head Size (HS). The same parameters were then measured on the same semen after treatment with the Pellet Swim-up (PSu) and following Centrifugation on reduced-volume Discontinuous Percoll gradient (mini-CDPG). There was a significant difference in the TC (51.63 M/ml +/- 43.99 in the untreated ejaculate, 11.48 M/ml +/- 9.66 after PSu, 7.94 M/ml +/- 7.3 after mini-CDPG; chi r2 = 50.392, p < 0.05), in the MCPC (20.95 M/ml +/- 26.29 in the untreated ejaculate, 3.79 M/ml +/- 4.26 after PSu, and 2.74 M/ml +/- 3.73 after mini-CDPG; chi r2 = 33.55, p < 0.05), and in the PCPC (7.8 M/ml +/- 12.87 in the untreated ejaculate, 1.81 M/ml +/- 2.36 after PSu, and 1.28 M/ml +/- 1.73 after min-CDPG; chi r2 = 6.38; p < 0.05). The overall comparison between the couples showed a significant difference in the MCPC after PSu and after mini-CDPG (z = -2.09, p < 0.05) whereas no significant difference was found in the comparison off the results of either the TC after PSu and after mini-CDPG (z = -1.9; NS), or of the PCPC after PSu and after mini-CDPG (z = -1.68; NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)</p>","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 5","pages":"283-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18664023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A Campisi, C Di Giacomo, V Sorrenti, R Castana, C La Delfa, A Vanella
{"title":"Glutathione-S-transferase and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase activities in rat placenta during pregnancy.","authors":"A Campisi, C Di Giacomo, V Sorrenti, R Castana, C La Delfa, A Vanella","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mammalian gestation depends on the continuous synthesis of steroid hormones such as progesterone, estrogens and gonadotrophic hormones. Placental microsomes are involved in the metabolism of steroid hormones via NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase; this last enzyme is involved in the generation of O2 and H2O2. These partially reduced oxygen forms are scavenged by endogenous antioxidants such as GSH and the related GSH-S-transferase enzyme. The present study has the aim of evaluating whether placental hormonal modification occurring during gestation influences NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase and GSH-S-transferase activities. The results demonstrate a gradual increase of both enzymatic activities which suggests a defense ability of the placenta.</p>","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 5","pages":"295-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18664025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Morphology of in vitro sperm phagocytosis by rat peritoneal macrophages under influence of oily contrast medium (Lipiodol).","authors":"D Mikulska, R Kurzawa, L Ròzewicka","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Morphology of sperm phagocytosing rat peritoneal macrophages (PM) in control and Lipiodol added cultures was evaluated under light as well as scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes. The spermiophagic index (SPI) was assessed to estimate an inhibitory effect of Lipiodol on sperm phagocytosis to be compared with the outcome of morphological studies. Lipiodol inhibits in vitro sperm phagocytosis as indicated by SPI and evaluation under light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes. The highest SPI was seen in control cultures (14.44), declined in cultures with 0.25% and 0.5% Lipiodol (3.3 and 3.02 respectively) to reach the lowest value with 1% Lipiodol (1.60). The macrophages in cultures with Lipiodol were covered by a thin layer of oily contrast medium. The layer produced changes in the macrophages' shape and the cytoplasmic surface configuration. Lipiodol hinders both sperm phagocytosis and movement of PM by altering their shape and impairing pseudopodia and protrusions formation. Morphological studies of sperm phagocytosis by PM can help explain therapeutic effects of oily contrast media used in hysterosalpingography. Number of studies have suggested therapeutic effects of hysterosalpingography (HSG). These studies have demonstrated an increase in pregnancy rates after HSG in previously infertile women (Fullenlove, 1969; Palmer, 1960). Pregnancies were even more numerous after applying oil, than water based contrast media (DeCharney et al., 1980; Schwabe, 1983). Sawatari et al., 1993 have lately shown, that Lipiodol significantly increases pregnancy rates in animals. Hypothesis has been put forward as to the possibility of modulating activity of these agents exerted upon the peritoneal and oviductal macrophages (Boyer et al., 1986; Schwabe et al., 1983).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)</p>","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 3","pages":"203-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18899994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What is the most idoneous developmental stage for embryo-freezing?","authors":"R Ciriminna, R Schillaci, E Cefalù, V Agrifoglio","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mammalian preimplantation embryos can be cryopreserved by a variety of methods involving different cryoprotectants. In the present study, we ultrarapidly froze 299 excess embryos at various early cleavage stages (zygotes, 2-cell embryos, 4-cell embryos and > 5-cell ones) after a brief exposure to high concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 3.5 M) and 0.25M sucrose. One-hundred seventeen of them were thawed in a warm water bath. Thirtyone embryos were completely destroyed after thawing but only 6% of them were originally at the pronuclear stage. Regarding the morphological aspects, 94% of pronucleate embryos were intact whereas just 12% of > 5-cell embryos showed more than 50% intact blastomeres after thawing. We froze also 60 embryos at the blastocyst stage by a slow freezing procedure. Eighteen blastocysts were thawed and 12 of them fully re-expanded were transferred in four patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 3","pages":"173-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18899990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
G Carmeli, G B La Sala, M Parmeggiani, P Terenzani
{"title":"The microbiological study in infertile couples.","authors":"G Carmeli, G B La Sala, M Parmeggiani, P Terenzani","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 3","pages":"187-202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18899992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Immunological infertility: its real significance.","authors":"C Cimino, A Perino, A R Borruso, A Vassiliadis","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7016,"journal":{"name":"Acta Europaea fertilitatis","volume":"25 3","pages":"131-60"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1994-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"18897420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}