Jingmei Hu

Spindle and chromosome changes of human MII oocytes during incubation after slow freezing/fast thawing procedures.

This experiment investigated the optimal time required for cryopreserved human oocytes to reform their spindles upon re-warming. Metaphase II oocytes were cryopreserved with a slow freezing method. Oocytes from each patient were randomly allocated into one of the 3 groups with different culture periods: 1, 3, or 5 hours, respectively, after thawing. Tubulin and chromosome configurations were visualized by confocal microscopy after immunostainings. By morphological assessment, 87.3% oocytes survived the process of freezing and thawing. Oocytes with normal spindle configuration increased significantly after 3 or 5 hours of incubation compared to those incubated for only 1 hour ( P < 0.05). There were no differences in the chromosome configurations among the treatment groups ( P > 0.05). This experiment demonstrated that cryopreserved human oocytes need a certain minimum period of incubation time (3 h) to recover their disrupted MII spindles and this information can be used in development of human IVF protocols with frozen oocytes.

Sperm retrieval in anejaculatory diabetic men who failed in drug treatment and penile vibratory stimulation during blood sugar under control

Ejaculatory dysfunction is an uncommon cause of male infertility. The aim of this study was to explore non‐invasive methods for sperm retrieval in anejaculatory diabetic men who failed in drug treatment and penile vibratory stimulation during blood sugar under control. Among 21 anejaculatory diabetic men who had failed in drug treatment and penile vibratory stimulation, sperm was collected by retrograde ejaculation in 10 patients (group A), and in eight patients, sperm was collected by prostatic massage (group B). We compared the outcome of subsequent assisted reproductive treatment between the two groups; the rate of fertility in group A and in group B was 78.3% and 66.6% respectively, and the rate of good embryo was 56.6% and 48.8% respectively. Eight singleton pregnancies were achieved in the 18 anejaculatory diabetic men, 5 in group A and 3 in group B, the rate of pregnancy between the two groups was 50% and 37.5% respectively. There was no significant difference in the rate of fertility, good embryo rate and pregnancy outcome between the two groups.

Chronic Pelvic Inflammation Diminished Ovarian Reserve as Indicated by Serum Anti Mülerrian Hormone.

Objective To explore the potential damaging effect of chronic pelvic inflammation on ovarian reserve. Design Case-control study. Patients A total of 122 women with bilateral tubal occlusion, diagnosed by hysterosalipingography (HSG) and 217 women with normal fallopians were recruited. Measurements Serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), basic follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteining hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) were measured; and antral follicle counts (AFCs) were recorded. Results Significantly lower level of AMH was observed in women with bilateral tubal occlusion compared to control group [2.62 (2.95) ng/ml vs. 3.37 (3.11) ng/ml, P = 0.03], and the difference remained after adjustment of BMI (Padjust = 0.04). However, no statistical difference was found in the levels of FSH [7.00 (2.16) IU/L vs. 6.74 (2.30) IU/L], LH [4.18 (1.52) IU/L vs. 4.63 (2.52) IU/L], E2 [35.95 (20.40) pg/ml vs. 34.90 (17.85) pg/ml], T [25.07±11.46 ng/dl vs. 24.84±12.75 ng/dl], and AFC [6.00 (4.00) vs. 7.00 (4.00)] between two groups (p>0.05). Conclusions Women with bilateral tubal occlusion showed decreased AMH level, suggesting that chronic pelvic inflammation may diminish ovarian reserve. More caution should be paid when evaluating the detriment of PID on female fertility.

Liquid nitrogen vapor is comparable to liquid nitrogen for storage of cryopreserved human sperm: evidence from the characteristics of post-thaw human sperm

OBJECTIVE To compare the differences in the characteristics of post-thaw human sperm after storage in either liquid nitrogen (LN2; -196 °C) or LN2 vapor (-167 °C). DESIGN Experimental study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENT(S) Thirty healthy volunteers who agreed to donate their normal semen samples for infertility or research were included in the study. INTERVENTION(S) Semen samples (n = 30) were divided into eight aliquots and frozen. Four aliquots of each human semen sample were stored in LN2 (-196 °C), and the other four aliquots were stored in LN2 vapor (-167 °C). After 1, 3, 6, or 12 months, samples were thawed and analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The motility was evaluated by the manual counting method. The viability was estimated by eosin staining. The morphology was analyzed by Diff-Quik staining. The sperm DNA integrity was determined with acridine orange fluorescent staining, and acrosin activity was assayed by the modified Kennedy method. RESULT(S) The characteristics of post-thaw human sperm, including motility, viability, morphology, DNA integrity, and acrosin activity, showed no significant difference between LN2 and LN2 vapor storage for the different time periods. CONCLUSION(S) LN2 vapor was comparable to LN2 in post-thaw sperm characteristics, suggesting that LN2 vapor may be substituted for LN2 for the long-term storage of human sperm.