F&S science最新文献

{"title":"The deficiency of CD14 weakens the biological function of miR-296-3p inhibitor in polycystic ovary syndrome granulosa cells by inhibiting NF-κB pathway.","authors":"Le Pang, Ai-Hui Wang, Ming Ni","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To understand the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), investigating the molecular mechanism of granulosa cell dysfunction is vital.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>On the basis of bioinformatics analysis, we analyzed the differentially expressed genes and their enrichment pathways between patients with PCOS and normal samples. We also analyzed the levels of CD14 and miR-296-3p in the patients with PCOS. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between CD14 expression and PCOS-related inflammatory factors. The CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting were performed to explore the mechanism of CD14 modulation via miR-296-3p in KGN cells in vitro.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>The gene expression data of patients with PCOS and healthy individuals in the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, as well as the experimental data in KGN cells.</p><p><strong>Exposure: </strong>The KGN cells were subjected to the following interventions: transfection with miR-296-3p inhibitor to suppress miR-296-3p expression; transfection with small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeting CD14 (si-CD14) to knock down CD14; co-transfection with si-CD14 and miR-296-3p inhibitor to evaluate the rescue effect. The detections included CCK-8, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and western blotting.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>The expression of CD14 in patients with PCOS and KGN cells, and its correlation with inflammatory factors; the expression of miR-296-3p in patients with PCOS, and its regulatory relationship with CD14; the effect of miR-296-3p/CD14 on the viability and apoptosis of KGN cells; the influence of miR-296-3p/CD14 on the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CD14 was up-regulated in patients with PCOS and KGN cells, and the expression of CD14 was positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory factors (CAT, CCL2, ICAM1, IL10, MMP9, and TGFB1) related to PCOS. The miR-296-3p was the upstream regulatory factor of CD14, and miR-296-3p inhibitor could promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell viability. On the contrary, knockdown of CD14 in KGN cells inhibited apoptosis and promoted cell viability. Importantly, KGN cells cotransfected with si-CD14 and miR-296-3p could reverse the effects of miR-296-3p inhibitor and si-CD14 on the biological behavior of KGN cells. Moreover, miR-296-3p/CD14 axis mediated activation of NF-κB pathway in KGN cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Down-regulation of CD14 attenuated the miR-296-3p inhibitor-induced increase in apoptosis and decrease in cell viability by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings contribute to further understanding of the pathogenesis of PCOS and provide potential biomarkers for PCOS.</p>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148655144","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":"Rosuvastatin mitigates ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis.","authors":"Nima Vahedi, Saleh Jafary, Rahim Beheshti","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the protective effects of rosuvastatin against ovarian ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in a rat model.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Controlled experimental study using an induced ovarian torsion-detorsion model.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>Fifty adult female Wistar rats (aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 100-150 g).</p><p><strong>Exposure: </strong>Intraperitoneal administration of rosuvastatin (5 mg/kg) 30 minutes before induction of ischemia in the designated treatment groups.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Ovarian tissue levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT); mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and caspase-3; and semiquantitative histopathological scoring of tissue damage.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ischemia and I/R significantly elevated MPO, MDA, VEGF, bFGF, TNF-α, and caspase-3 levels while worsening histological damage. Rosuvastatin pretreatment reduced MPO by 13%-16%, MDA by 9%, VEGF by 7%-14%, bFGF by 14%-37%, TNF-α by 34%-38%, and caspase-3 by 31%-39%; increased TAC by 20%; and markedly improved histopathological scores, including reduced follicular atresia. No significant changes were observed in SOD, GPx, or CAT activities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Rosuvastatin exerts protective effects against ovarian I/R by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, excessive angiogenesis, and apoptosis, independent of major antioxidant enzyme induction. These preclinical findings suggest potential adjunctive utility in limiting reperfusion injury after detorsion; however, protein-level validation, dose-response studies, postischemic administration, long-term fertility outcomes, and safety assessments are required before any clinical translation.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Not applicable. This study is an experimental animal study and was not registered as a clinical trial.</p>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581377","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":"A preliminary time-lapse morphokinetic framework to stratify developmental competence in three-pronuclear zygotes on the basis of pronuclear volume ratios and second polar body extrusion.","authors":"Hayato Asama, Junko Otsuki, Keiko Takahashi, Xingqiang Wei, Noritoshi Enatsu, Daigaku Kamibayashi, Yasuhito Michikura, Masahide Shiotani","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To develop a noninvasive, time-lapse imaging-based approach to stratify three-pronuclear zygotes by developmental competence and to identify embryos with higher potential for good-quality blastocyst development and live birth.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Retrospective observational study.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>Zygotes exhibiting three pronuclei after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, collected from three fertility clinics.</p><p><strong>Exposure: </strong>Time-lapse imaging assessment of second polar body (PB2) extrusion and quantitative measurement of pronuclear volumes.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Discriminative performance of the ratio of combined female pronuclear volume to male pronuclear volume for classifying three-pronuclear zygotes on the basis of PB2 extrusion status (operational definition); blastocyst formation and good-quality blastocyst formation (≥3BB); and supportive posttransfer clinical outcomes (where available).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 222 three-pronuclear zygotes were analyzed, including 173 operationally classified as putative diploid and 49 as putative triploid according to PB2 extrusion status. The ratio of combined female to male pronuclear volume demonstrated strong discrimination between the PB2-extruded and PB2 extrusion-failed categories (area under the curve, 0.863), with a candidate cut-off of 1.189 yielding high sensitivity and specificity. The overall blastocyst formation rate was 40.1% (69/172) in the PB2-extruded and 32.7% (16/49) in the extrusion-failed group. The good-quality blastocyst formation rate was 23.3% (40/172) in the PB2-extruded and 10.2% (5/49) in the extrusion-failed group. After adjustment for maternal age, PB2 extrusion-based classification was not significantly associated with overall blastocyst formation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-2.86) but remained associated with higher odds of good-quality blastocyst formation (aOR, 2.82; 95% CI: 1.03-7.71). Posttransfer live birth outcomes were available for a subset of transferred embryos under site-specific transfer policies; seven live births were observed, and all live birth cases had volume ratios within 0.61-0.83.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A time-lapse imaging-based framework integrating PB2 extrusion and pronuclear volumetrics feasibly provides a clinically actionable, noninvasive method to stratify three-pronuclear zygotes by developmental competence and may aid selection of embryos with developmental potential when genetic testing is unavailable or undesirable.</p>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474510","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":"Selection of blastocysts with higher implantation potential based on reactive oxygen species levels before embryo transfer in mice.","authors":"Haruka Asano, Momoka Nakazato, Emiko Fukui, Hiromichi Matsumoto","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate and select blastocysts with higher implantation potential using reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and glutathione (GSH) regulated by arginine (Arg) with leucine (Leu).</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Experimental study.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>ICR mice.</p><p><strong>Exposure: </strong>In vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived blastocysts were treated with Arg and Leu for 24 hours. A microgrid array was used for live-cell imaging of individual blastocysts, followed by embryo transfer to recipient females.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Both ROS and GSH levels in individual blastocysts, selection of blastocysts at the ROS level, embryo transfer (ET), and implantation rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For each in vitro fertilization cycle followed by ET, approximately 20 blastocysts were provided to measure levels of ROS and GSH. The ROS levels in individual blastocysts showed substantial variation, whereas the GSH levels were low and similar in each blastocyst. Therefore, the blastocysts were ranked and divided into two groups based on their ROS levels. The top six blastocysts were classified as the high-ROS group, and the bottom six as the low-ROS group. Blastocysts from the high- and low-ROS groups were transferred to one or the other uterine horns of the same female recipient mice, respectively. The implantation rate was significantly higher in the high-ROS group than in the low-ROS group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that blastocysts with higher implantation potential can be selected on the basis of their ROS levels before ET. Increased ROS levels caused by the combination of Arg and Leu indicate a higher implantation potential in the blastocysts. This study also proposes a direct selection method for blastocysts using a live-cell imaging assay for ET.</p>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148474515","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":"Timing matters: molecular signatures linked to developmental and implantation processes in day 5 and day 6 blastocysts.","authors":"David Ortega-Jaén, Antonio Capalbo, Carlos Mora-Martinez, Julia Gil, María Luisa Pardiñas, Ángel Martín, Mireia Boluda-Navarro, Amparo Mercader, María José de Los Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To determine whether human blastocysts requiring an additional day of in vitro culture to achieve expansion exhibit differences in trophectoderm transcriptomic profiles associated with developmental and implantation-related processes.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Prospective in vitro experimental cohort study including ribonucleic acid sequencing of mural trophectoderm biopsies from day 5 (D5) and day 6 (D6) (euploid) blastocysts.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>Twenty-one blastocysts donated by 16 couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Transcriptomic comparison focused on 21 blastocysts, classified as D5 (n = 13) vs. D6 (n = 8) embryos, and euploid D5 (n = 6) vs. euploid D6 (n = 4) embryos.</p><p><strong>Exposure: </strong>Blastocyst developmental timing (D5 vs. D6) and embryo ploidy status.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and deregulated molecular pathways between D5 and D6 (euploid) embryos, including functional enrichment analysis to explore their potential roles in embryo development and implantation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Global transcriptomic analysis revealed partial overlap between D5 and D6 blastocysts, indicating a largely shared gene expression landscape with underlying biological variability. Differential expression analysis identified 111 DEGs between D5 and D6 embryos, with functional enrichment analyses highlighting pathways related to translation, metabolism, and cellular organization. An exploratory euploid-only subanalysis yielded a larger number of genes meeting the selected differential expression thresholds, potentially reflecting reduced biological variability within the subset, together with enrichment of pathways associated with oxidative phosphorylation, ribosomal function, and energy metabolism, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the limited sample size.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Human D5 blastocysts exhibit transcriptomic profiles enriched in pathways related to translation, metabolism, and cell adhesion compared with D6 blastocysts. However, these differences are subtle and occur within a largely shared global transcriptomic landscape, suggesting that they reflect variations in developmental timing rather than clearly distinct functional states. Although these findings are consistent with biological processes relevant to implantation, they should be interpreted within the broader context of embryo development, where additional molecular and cellular mechanisms also contribute to implantation competence.</p>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148439291","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":"Self-rated health and embryo transfer outcomes in women with infertility: evidence from a prospective cohort study","authors":"Qi Jin M.D,&nbsp;Dong-Sheng Di M.D.,&nbsp;Xiao-Hua Jiang M.D.,&nbsp;Shun Bai M.D.,&nbsp;Bao-Lu Shi M.D.,&nbsp;Qun-Ying Fang M.D.,&nbsp;Huan Zhang M.D.,&nbsp;Mei-Hong Hu M.M.,&nbsp;Lei Luo M.D.,&nbsp;Lu Zong M.D.,&nbsp;Nan Guo M.M.,&nbsp;Ze-Ling Zhang M.M.,&nbsp;Li-Min Wu M.D.,&nbsp;Rui-Xue Leng M.D.,&nbsp;Bo Xu M.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.05.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.05.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To study the association between self-rated health and in vitro fertilization outcomes in women with infertility undergoing embryo transfer.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Prospective cohort study.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>A total of 800 women with infertility undergoing embryo transfer at a tertiary reproductive center in China.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Self-rated health assessed across physical, psychological, social, and overall domains on the day of embryo transfer.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>Clinical pregnancy, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy, and early miscarriage.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Self-rated health in any domain was not significantly associated with clinical pregnancy, implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy, or early miscarriage after adjustment for demographic and clinical confounders.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Self-rated health was not associated with in vitro fertilization outcomes, suggesting that treatment prognosis is primarily driven by biological and clinical factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":"7 4","pages":"Pages 346-356"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148102393","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":"Extracellular vesicles released by uterine fibroid cells: modulation by omega-3 fatty acids and impact on recipient myometrial cells","authors":"Stefania Greco Ph.D.,&nbsp;Rachele Agostini Ph.D.,&nbsp;Michela Battistelli Ph.D.,&nbsp;Giovanni Delli Carpini M.D.,&nbsp;Andrea Faragalli Ph.D.,&nbsp;Abel Duménigo González Ph.D.,&nbsp;Andrea Ciavattini M.D.,&nbsp;Michele Guescini Ph.D.,&nbsp;Pasquapina Ciarmela Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.04.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.04.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To study the effects of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from primary myometrial and leiomyoma cells, as well as suitable cell lines, and to evaluate the release of EVs after omega-3 fatty acid treatment and their impact on fibronectin protein expression in recipient myometrial cells.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Case-control laboratory study.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>Patients with uterine fibroids.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Primary cells were obtained from uterine tissue samples (leiomyoma and healthy myometrium) of premenopausal women (41–49 years) undergoing surgery. Immortalized myometrial (A00-9) and leiomyoma (A00-10) cell lines were also used.</div></div><div><h3>Main outcome measure</h3><div>Cross-sectional in vitro study comparing untreated and omega-3-treated primary and immortalized myometrial and leiomyoma cells. Extracellular vesicles were isolated after 48 hours of treatment, characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and then used to treat myometrial cell lines. Fibronectin expression was measured in recipient cells.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Extracellular vesicles were isolated and fractionated into small (s) and large (l) EVs. Small extracellular vesicle release was significantly induced by eicosapentaenoic acid treatment. These vesicles derived from leiomyoma cells showed a trend toward increased fibronectin expression in recipient myometrial cells, whereas EVs from omega-3-treated leiomyoma cells showed attenuated effects. Those from myometrial cells, treated or untreated, did not alter fibronectin expression. Results were consistent across biological replicates (n = 3).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion (s)</h3><div>These data suggest that leiomyoma-derived EVs contribute to fibrotic changes in surrounding myometrium and that omega-3 fatty acids can modulate EV release and EV-mediated profibrotic signaling. This may represent a potential proof-of-concept strategy for managing fibroid-associated fibrosis, although further in vivo validation is required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":"7 4","pages":"Pages 327-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824387","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 letrozole alone or combined with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on inflammation, folliculogenesis, and estrogen levels in a rat model of peritoneal endometriosis","authors":"Sena Bekdemir M.D.,&nbsp;Nefise Nazlı Yenigül M.D.,&nbsp;Alperen Aksan M.D.,&nbsp;Sabire Güler Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the effects of letrozole alone and in combination with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on inflammatory cytokines, folliculogenesis, and hormonal profiles in a rat model of surgically induced peritoneal endometriosis.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Prospective, controlled experimental laboratory study.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>Twenty-eight adult female Wistar albino rats randomly assigned to four groups (<em>n</em> = 7 each): sham, untreated endometriosis, letrozole, and letrozole plus gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Endometriosis was induced by autologous uterine tissue transplantation onto the pelvic peritoneum. After a 28-day lesion development period, intraperitoneal letrozole or combined letrozole plus gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy was administered for 30 days.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>Peritoneal interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations; serum estradiol, CA-125, and antimüllerian hormone levels; and histological counts of ovarian follicle subtypes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Untreated endometriosis increased peritoneal interleukin-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, as well as serum estradiol and CA-125 levels, reduced antimüllerian hormone concentrations, and disrupted folliculogenesis with higher atretic follicle counts compared with controls. Letrozole alone and combination therapy significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines, estradiol, and CA-125, and decreased atretic follicle numbers. Antimüllerian hormone levels and most follicular subtypes did not differ among treatment groups. No significant advantage of combination therapy over letrozole monotherapy was observed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Letrozole alone and combined therapy effectively attenuate inflammatory activity and reduce follicular atresia in experimental peritoneal endometriosis. No significant advantage of combination therapy over letrozole monotherapy was observed. However, direct comparisons between regimens should be interpreted with caution because of the different letrozole doses used across treatment arms and the inherent limitations of the experimental animal model.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":"7 4","pages":"Pages 339-345"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464349","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":"Stereological assessment of resveratrol’s impact on folliculogenesis and sex hormone levels in busulfan-treated rats","authors":"Negin Rafati Nia M.Sc.,&nbsp;Morteza Golbashirzadeh Ph.D.,&nbsp;Atousa Moradzadegan Ph.D.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To study the stereological effects of resveratrol on folliculogenesis and sex hormone concentrations in busulfan-treated rats.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Experimental animal study.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>Twenty-four adult female Sprague–Dawley rats.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Animals were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control, busulfan (10 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal dose), busulfan plus resveratrol (10 mg/kg), and busulfan plus resveratrol (20 mg/kg). Resveratrol was administered orally for 35 days.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone were measured. Ovarian stereological analysis assessed follicle counts and corpus luteum volume.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Busulfan exposure caused severe ovarian damage, including reduced estradiol and progesterone levels, diminished corpus luteum volume, and increased gonadotropins and atretic follicles. High-dose resveratrol (20 mg/kg) partially improved estradiol and progesterone concentrations, increased healthy follicle counts, and enhanced corpus luteum volume, while reducing gonadotropins and atretic follicles (<em>P</em>&lt;.05). These findings indicate attenuation but not complete restoration of busulfan-induced ovarian dysfunction.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Busulfan disrupts ovarian function and impairs folliculogenesis. Resveratrol partially mitigates these adverse effects, suggesting its potential as a protective agent against chemotherapy-associated reproductive toxicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":"7 4","pages":"Pages 265-275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357828","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":"Follicular fluid per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, metabolomics, and live birth after in vitro fertilization: a pilot study","authors":"Elvira S. Fleury M.P.H.,&nbsp;Emily L. Silva Ph.D.,&nbsp;Elizabeth Peebles B.A.,&nbsp;Anna S. Young Ph.D.,&nbsp;Catherine E. Mullins B.S.,&nbsp;Douglas I. Walker Ph.D.,&nbsp;Zifan Wang Ph.D.,&nbsp;Daniel W. Cramer M.D., Sc.D.,&nbsp;Allison F. Vitonis M.S.,&nbsp;Kathryn L. Terry Sc.D.,&nbsp;Bo Rueda Ph.D.,&nbsp;Shruthi Mahalingaiah M.D., M.S.","doi":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.xfss.2026.03.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in follicular fluid (FF) and live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and characterize the FF metabolome in relation to both.</div></div><div><h3>Design</h3><div>Retrospective cohort.</div></div><div><h3>Subjects</h3><div>Thirty-six women who underwent IVF treatment at 1 of the 3 centers in Eastern Massachusetts between 1999 and 2003.</div></div><div><h3>Exposure</h3><div>Twenty-four PFAS were measured in FF retrieved from the first follicle aspirated during the first treatment cycle. The 8 PFAS detected in &gt;90% of samples were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3><div>We analyzed the FF metabolome using untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. We used linear regression to estimate associations between FF PFAS and metabolic feature intensities, and logistic regression to estimate associations of FF PFAS and metabolites with live birth, adjusting for age and infertility type. We subsequently conducted pathway enrichment analyses and used a meet-in-the-middle approach to screen for overlapping metabolic pathways associated with FF PFAS and live birth.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Higher FF perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) was associated with lower odds of live birth (odds ratio = 0.42 [95% confidence interval: 0.15–0.97]). All other FF PFAS, except perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), were also inversely associated with live birth, although confidence intervals included the null value. We evaluated 27,903 features detected in &gt;25% of participant samples. For PFAS-feature associations, the top 5% of features for each PFAS were enriched for bile acid biosynthesis. Thirty-eight FF metabolic pathways enriched for features associated with live birth (yes/no) overlapped with pathways enriched for features associated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), PFHpS, or perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS). These included pathways related to lipid (n = 11), carbohydrate (n = 9), and vitamin and cofactor metabolism (n = 6), among others.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Higher FF PFAS concentrations were associated with lower odds of achieving live birth, although most 95% confidence intervals included the null. Metabolic pathways enriched for features associated with live birth overlapping with those associated with FF PFAS were related to lipid, carbohydrate, vitamin, and cofactor metabolism. Although our sample size was small, our findings align with other studies characterizing environmental exposures in reproductive organs and using the metabolome to assess their impact on fertility.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73012,"journal":{"name":"F&S science","volume":"7 4","pages":"Pages 287-297"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147576732","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}