BACKGROUND/AIMS Aquaporin-3 (AQP3), one isoform of water channel family, has been found to be expressed in mouse oocytes. The present study aimed to investigate whether functional AQP3 was expressed in oocytes induced by controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), and whether altered oocyte AQP3 expression was associated with changes in fertilization rate. METHODS Sixty ICR female mice were di...

The aim of this study was to investigate 2 quantification criteria to evaluate the developmental condition of follicles cohort and clarify their impacts upon the determining of human chorionic gonadotropin trigger timing and the reproductive outcome: the proportion of mature follicles in growing follicles cohort on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin trigger and the peak estradiol level per...

PURPOSE Cumulus cells have a critical role in normal oocyte development and fertilization. Prunus cerasus is an anthocyanin rich berry and performs strong antioxidant activity. The present study set to determine if Prunus cerasus can affect expression of HAS2 (hyaluronan synthase 2) and progesterone receptor in Cumulus cells and its consequences outcome of the in vitro fertilization. METHODS ...

Energy balance is regulated by ghrelin that is a neuroendocrine modulator. Ghrelin is expressed in reproductive organs. However, the role of ghrelin during in vitro maturation and bovine preimplantational development is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of ghrelin (GHRL) and its receptor growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1A (GHS-R1A) mRNA expression, and cumu...

Egg activation is the process by which a mature oocyte becomes capable of supporting embryo development. In vertebrates and echinoderms, activation is induced by fertilization. Molecules introduced into the egg by the sperm trigger progressive release of intracellular calcium stores in the oocyte. Calcium wave(s) spread through the oocyte and induce completion of meiosis, new macromolecular syn...

OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to simultaneously evaluate the association between expression of three potential factors [post-acrosomal sheath WW domain-binding protein (PAWP), phospholipase Cζ (PLCζ), and truncated form of the kit receptor (TR-KIT)] as candidates of oocyte activation with fertilization rate and early embryonic development. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this experimental study,...

Several reports suggest increasing age in oocyte donors decreases the chances of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) success, while others describe no effect. The published data concerning gravidity and parity are similarly conflicting. To further address these questions, we retrospectively studied 445 consecutive donor IVF cycles at two large university-based IVF practices. Donor cycles were analysed...

Background: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the choice option for treatment of couples with severe male infertility. Recent studies indicate that the ICSI procedure or the technique itself cannot increase chromosomal abnormalities observed in born children. It maybe result of the Materialss used during ICSI procedure such as PVP and hyalorunidase. Activation of the oocytes might be c...

This study aims to determine the relative contribution of oocyte and/or sperm dysfunction to the reduction of fertilization rates in vitro in cases of minor endometriosis and prolonged unexplained infertility. The results of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment with ovarian stimulation have been compared between couples with the above conditions and women with tubal infertility (as control fo...

In addition to functional nuclear pore complexes engaged in nucleo-cytoplasmic transport, the cytoplasmic stacks of pore complexes, called annulate lamellae, exist in numerous cell types. Although both annulate lamellae and nuclear pore complexes are present in fertilized mammalian oocytes, their relative roles in the process of fertilization and preimplantation development are not known. Using...