Sperm-specific phospholipase C ζ (PLCζ) activates embryo development by triggering intracellular Ca(2+) oscillations in mammalian eggs indistinguishable from those at fertilization. Somatic PLC isozymes generate inositol 1,4,5-trisphophate-mediated Ca(2+) release by hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P(2)) in the plasma membrane. Here we examine the subcellular source of ...

BACKGROUND Since March 2004, only a maximum of three oocytes were allowed to be subjected to ICSI at one time in Italy. A previous study failed to show an impact of this restriction on fresh embryo transfer outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare ICSI outcomes before and after this restriction in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. METHODS Patients underwent testicular sper...

The validity of the cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR) calculated by life-table approach, obtained in a transport in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme, was tested by the determination of possible influence of selective drop-out of patients with a poor treatment prognosis. A cohort of 1211 patients who had a first IVF cycle was followed, and the CPR after three IVF cycles was assessed. First cycl...

OBJECTIVE To estimate whether alcohol use at the initiation of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is associated with IVF outcomes. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, men and women completed a self-administered questionnaire before their first IVF cycle. Participants reported alcohol type, amount, and frequency consumed. Discrete survival analysis was applied to calculate the odds ra...

Sperm-induced Ca2+ signals mediate the events of oocyte activation at fertilization. In this study, the development of mechanisms involved in the generation of Ca2+ signals in human oocytes was investigated. The thiol reagent, thimerosal, which induces oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) similar to those seen during fertilization, was used to mobilize Ca2+ in in-vivo matured, immature ...

background: blood donation safety is one of the basic goals of the organization of blood transfusion in the world. self-exclusion and failed options are additional screening tests to routine diagnostic tests which is performed to detect the transmitted infection through blood or blood products. the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of these systems on the improvement of bloo...

background: determination of oocyte and embryo quality are one of the most important goals in ivf. anti-mullerian hormone (amh) is secreted by the ovarian granulosa cells into blood flow and follicular fluid. follicular fluid anti-mullerian hormone level is probably a marker of activity of granulose cells. objective: to evaluate whether high level of follicular fluid anti-mullerian hormone leve...