RESUMEN

Prophylactic use of cabergoline has been associated with a decrease in the severity of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). A prospective randomized study was designed to evaluate the potential of cabergoline to decrease the incidence of OHSS in high-risk patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment; 166 patients with oestradiol concentrations over 4000 pg/ml on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration were evaluated. They all received 20 g routine preventive intravenous human albumin on the day of oocyte retrieval. They were then randomized into two groups: group A (n = 83) received 0.5 mg oral cabergoline per day for 3 weeks beginning on the day after oocyte retrieval, and group B (n = 83) received no medication. 'Early' OHSS was defined as being when the onset of the syndrome was initiated during the first 9 days after HCG administration, and 'late' OHSS was defined as being when the onset of the syndrome was initiated from 10 days after HCG administration. In group A, no patients progressed to 'early' OHSS and nine patients (10.8%) developed 'late' OHSS; in group B, 12 patients (15.0%) progressed to 'early' OHSS and three (3.8%) to 'late' OHSS. Although the risk of 'early' OHSS decreased significantly (P < 0.001), the risk of 'late' onset OHSS did not. The two groups presented no changes in pregnancy, implantation or miscarriages rates.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND Sperm aster organization during bovine and human fertilization requires a paternally-derived centriole that must first disengage from the sperm tail connecting-piece. We investigated the participation of the 26S proteasome in this process. METHODS Proteasome localization and enzymatic activity were studied in normal and pathological human spermatozoa by immunocytochemistry and enzyme-substrate assays. The role of proteasomes during bovine zygote development was investigated using a pharmacological proteasome-inhibitor, MG132, and with anti-proteasome antibodies delivered by Streptolysin O-permeabilization or with the Chariot reagent. Human zygotes discarded after ICSI failures (n = 28) were also examined. RESULTS Proteasomes were localized in the sperm acrosome and connecting-piece, as well as in the pronuclei of bovine and human zygotes. Proteasomal enzymatic activities were decreased in defective human spermatozoa. Disrupted sperm aster formation and pronuclear development were found after pharmacological and immunological block of proteasomes in human/bovine spermatozoa and oocytes, as well as in 28 discarded human post-ICSI fertilization failures. CONCLUSIONS Specific proteasome inhibition disrupts sperm aster formation and pronuclear development/apposition in bovine and human zygotes. Human spermatozoa with defective centriolar/pericentriolar structures have decreased proteasomal enzymatic activity. Release of a functional sperm centriole that acts as a zygote microtubule-organizing center probably relies on selective proteasomal proteolysis. These findings suggest an important role of sperm proteasomes in zygotic development.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Pioneer work in male mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiation into germ cells (GC) showed generations of male or female gametes in separate experiments, using genetically manipulated or preselected ES cells. In an attempt to produce both types of gametes from male mouse ES cells without any genetic manipulation or preselection, we induce the differentiation by retinoic acid (RA) within nonadherent embryoid bodies (EB). It seems that gamete-like cell formation occurs in the correct manner based on the expression of early and late GC-specific genes such as Oct-4, Mvh, Stella, Dazl, Piwil 2, Pdrd 1, Rex 14, Rnf 17, Bmp8b, Acrosin, Stra-8, Haprin, LH-R, Gdf9, Zp3, Zp2, Sycp1, and Sycp3. Immunofluorescence analysis of morphologically well-formed GC and presumptive gametes showed positive labeling for SSEA1, Oct-4, EMA-1, FE-J1, Dazl, Fragilis, Mvh, Acrosin, and acetylated alpha-tubulin. Conventional cytogenetic and FISH analysis indicated a chromosome reduction in ES-derived GC. Our data suggest that ES cells with XY chromosomes can produce under the same experimental conditions both types of presumptive gametes, and this production depends on their positional and temporal information within the EB context.

Asunto(s)

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the injection of testicular spermatozoa results in more viable embryos (higher implantation rate) than injection of epididymal spermatozoa in cases of obstructive azoospermia. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of 265 cases of testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) and percutaneous sperm aspiration (PESA), including 185 cases of obstructive azoospermia. SETTING: Private Infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): None, charts review. INTERVENTION(S): None, charts review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate (PR), implantation rate. RESULT(S): Although fertilization rates were higher in the PESA group, implantation rates were significantly better in the TESA group. There was also a trend to higher ongoing PR and lower miscarriage rates in TESA cases. CONCLUSION(S): In cases of obstructive azoospermia, embryos generated using testicular spermatozoa have higher developmental potential than those obtained using epididymal spermatozoa.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Fertilization rates increased continuously with the time elapsed after administration of hCG, reaching a peak of 84% when intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed >41 hours after hCG administration. However, the highest implantation rate, 24%, was achieved when ICSI was performed 37-41 hours after hCG administration.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This case report represents one of the few documented cases of parthenote embryo retrieval from an IVF patient with a history of ovarian teratomas. A 29-year-old woman presented at our centre with a history of primary infertility for 6 years due to male factor. She had undergone left oophorectomy 4 years before due to an ovarian teratoma. An ultrasound scan performed during basal evaluation revealed two complex images in the right ovary suggesting teratomas, measuring 2.5 x 2.4 and 1.7 x 1.3 cm. A significant extent of sonographically normal ovarian parenchyma was present, and the patient underwent the long leuprolide acetate protocol of ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH for an IVF-ICSI cycle. She had 13 metaphase II (MII), four metaphase I (MI), two germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes and one 4-cell embryo retrieved. Eight out of nine injected oocytes were fertilized normally while one was unfertilized. Embryo transfer was carried out 72 h after retrieval. The 4-cell (parthenote) embryo recovered at oocyte retrieval continued to cleave in culture, developing into a 7-cell embryo by the next day. The embryo was morphologically normal, presenting an evident nucleus in each blastomere. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) returned two signals for the X chromosome in each blastomere that was analysed. Of the eight normally fertilized embryos, three were transferred, resulting in a normal singleton pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To further evaluate the effects of intramural and subserosal uterine fibroids on the outcome of IVF-ET, when there is no compression of the endometrial cavity. DESIGN: Retrospective, matched-control study from January 2000 to October 2001. SETTING: Private IVF center. PATIENT(S): Two hundred forty-five women with subserosal and/or intramural fibroids that did not compress the uterine cavity (fibroid group) and 245 women with no evidence of fibroids anywhere in the uterus (control group). INTERVENTION(S): In vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The type of fibroid (intramural, subserosal), number, size (cm), and location of intramural leiomyomas (fundal, corpus) were recorded. Outcomes of IVF-ICSI cycles were compared between the two groups. RESULT(S): There was no correlation between location and number of uterine fibroids and the outcomes of IVF-ICSI. Patients with subserosal or intramural fibroids <4 cm had IVF-ICSI outcomes (pregnancy, implantation, and abortion rates) similar to those of controls. Patients with intramural fibroids >4.0 cm had lower pregnancy rates than patients with intramural fibroids 4 cm and that such patients be submitted to treatment before they are enrolled in IVF-ICSI cycles. Whether or not women with fibroids > 4 cm would benefit from fibroid treatment remains to be determined.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To assess hysteroscopic findings in patients undergoing IVF-ET who repeatedly failed to conceive despite transfer of good-quality embryos. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Clinical research unit for reproductive medicine in a private clinic. PATIENT(S): Fifty-five patients with a normal uterine cavity on hysterosalpingography before the initial IVF-ET cycle and two previous failed IVF-ET attempts despite transfer of a minimum of two good-quality embryos on each occasion. INTERVENTION(S): Standard transvaginal ultrasonography and diagnostic and therapeutic hysteroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endometrial findings on transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy and outcome of the cycles after surgical hysteroscopy and antibiotic therapy. RESULT(S): Twenty-five (45%) patients had abnormal endometrial findings and underwent treatment to correct the lesions. All patients underwent a third IVF-ET cycle. Pregnancy (50% vs. 20%) and implantation (19% vs. 5.5%) rates were significantly higher in patients who were treated for uterine abnormalities than in patients who had normal uterine cavities on hysteroscopy. CONCLUSION(S): The incidence of pathologic findings on hysteroscopy is high in patients with repeated failures of IVF-ET. Evaluation of endometrial integrity by hysteroscopy is highly valuable and should be applied to all such cases.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relative predictive value of implantation markers at different stages of preimplantation development. DESIGN: Correlation of pronuclear morphology with embryo morphology and implantation rates in retrospective and prospective analysis of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) treatment cycles. SETTING: Private infertility center. PATIENT(S): A total of 441 couples undergoing infertility treatment. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Size of pronuclei and distance between them, the number and polarization of nucleolus precursor bodies (NPB) at the one-cell stage, embryo cleavage and fragmentation rates on days 2 and 3, and pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULT(S): Polarization of the NPB in both pronuclei had a statistically significant correlation with normal membrane breakage during ICSI (40%, compared with 33% easy, and 31% difficult membrane breakage) and also with faster cleavage and lower fragmentation rates of embryos. Sixty-one percent of implanting embryos had polarization of the NPB in both pronuclei compared with 37% for all embryos. Larger distance between pronuclei and their unequal size had a statistically significant correlation with slower cleavage and inferior embryo quality. Embryo selection based on only pronuclear morphology or on only day-3 embryo morphology yielded implantation rates of 15.1% and 12.1%, respectively. Embryo selection based on sequential evaluation of both pronuclear morphology and embryo morphology on day 3 resulted in a 21.1% implantation rate. CONCLUSION(S): Polarization of NPB in both pronuclei is as reliable marker of implantation as embryo morphology on day 3. However, pronuclear morphology assessment improves embryo selection only when it is combined with embryo morphology evaluation on day 3.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

An inadvertent consequence of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the degeneration of some of the microinjected oocytes. Most patients may not suffer any disadvantage through losing oocyte(s) during micromanipulation; however, in some circumstances, this can result in a reduction of the chances for pregnancy. This study reports a clinical pregnancy obtained by a novel approach using laser-assisted micro-opening of the zona pellucida prior to ICSI to secure a non-traumatic microinjection that avoids degeneration of oocytes. A total of 12 oocytes were obtained from the 36 year old patient in her third IVF treatment cycle, following two previously failed attempts where very high degeneration rates of oocytes after ICSI were recorded, together with suboptimal embryo quality. Five of the 11 matured (MII) oocytes were submitted to conventional ICSI and the other six MII oocytes first underwent laser-assisted opening of the zona pellucida (5-7 microm hole size was created with a 1.48 microm diode laser) before microinjection (LA-ICSI). Three of the five conventionally microinjected oocytes degenerated while one oocyte fertilized normally and developed to a good quality embryo. After the LA-ICSI procedure, one of the six oocytes degenerated and four oocytes fertilized normally; of these, two developed to excellent quality embryos, one to a good quality embryo and one to a poor quality embryo. The three best embryos (LA-ICSI group) were transferred to the patient on day 3. Rising serum human chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations were measured 12 days after transfer and on week 7 two implantation sites were detected, together with regular heart activity. The results of the present report suggest that laser-assisted ICSI may provide a safer approach to non-traumatic microinjection of oocytes than conventional ICSI, thereby minimizing the risk of degeneration and possibly also improving embryo quality. Therefore, it is suggested that laser-assisted ICSI might be applied in all cases associated with difficult zona pellucida penetration or/and fragile oolemma, or where patients have very few oocytes available, to improve the chances for pregnancy.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This report presents a case of triplet heterotopic gestation after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)-IVF treatment, with a left ruptured ectopic tubal implantation with a living embryo and successful outcome of the concurrent intrauterine twin gestation. A couple whose infertility was caused by oligoasthenozoospermia was referred for ICSI treatment. Three good quality embryos were transferred at the request of the patient. Early gestational control was performed by ultrasound at weeks 5 and 7 of gestation. The patient reported to the centre during week 7 with severe abdominal pain and with signs of peritoneal irritation. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an extra-uterine ruptured implantantion. During the concomitantly performed laparoscopic procedure, a living embryo was observed after opening the extra-uterine embryonic sac. Heartbeat activity was present and lasted for 5 min after surgical resection of the tubal implantation. The patient was discharged from hospital without complications. The intrauterine twin gestation was not affected and two healthy infants were born at week 38 of gestation. Heterotopic pregnancy should be ruled out in patients submitted to IVF-embryo transfer, although no predisposing factors are present in some cases. Precise diagnosis may be delayed due to some important characteristics of the IVF-embryo transfer treatment. Nevertheless, this condition should be diagnosed by ultrasound before tubal rupture to avoid obvious complications. Laparoscopy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment in these cases. The presentation of the heterotopic pregnancy was recorded on video and may be viewed on the internet at www.rbmonline.com/Article/710.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: It is not well defined whether the elapsed time after vasectomy has any influence on the outcome of IVF-ICSI using epididymal sperm. We analysed retrospectively the results of 151 ICSI cycles in which sperm of vasectomized men were used at different time periods after vasectomy. METHODS: Oocytes were obtained after a desensitizing ovarian stimulation protocol using GnRH agonist in association with recombinant FSH and HCG. Sperm were retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration. The cycles were split into three groups: < or =10 years after vasectomy (group 1, n = 47), 11-19 years after vasectomy (group 2, n = 79), and > or =20 years after vasectomy (group 3, n = 25). RESULTS: As might be expected, the mean age of men differed in the three groups (group 3 > group 2 > group 1), and the mean age of the women was also significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2, although no differences were described between groups 2 and 3. All other laboratory and clinical parameters were similar in the three groups. Ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates (34, 25, 8% and 22, 15, 6% respectively) decreased significantly from group 1 to group 3. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy and implantation rates after ICSI with sperm from vasectomized men are negatively correlated with the time interval from vasectomy, which cannot be explained purely by male or female ageing.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

This retrospective review study, carried out in a private IVF clinic, compared pregnancy and implantation rates with day 3 versus day 5 embryo transfers in a selected group of patients. Participants were patients who failed to achieve pregnancy in at least one previous attempt with embryo transfer on days 2 or 3, and had more than five oocytes fertilized. A total of 296 patients who had undergone day 3 (group A) transfers were compared with 154 who had undergone day 5 transfers (group B). Interventions were intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), day 3 and day 5 embryo transfer. Outcome measures were pregnancy, implantation, multiple gestation and blastocyst formation rates. Overall, 86.4% of embryos were at the six- to eight-cell stage at 72 h and 30% developed to blastocyst by day 5. The mean number of embryos transferred was 4.0 on day 3 and 3.0 on day 5. Pregnancy and implantation rates were 34.8 and 11.5% in group A, versus 45.3 and 18.5% in group B. Multiple gestation rate was 47.1% in group A and 28.5% in group B. Prolonging embryo culture in vitro to day 5 improved embryo selection and implantation rates. A significant decrease in high order gestations was achieved by reducing the number of embryos transferred, without compromising the pregnancy rates.

RESUMEN

A esterilidade atinge aproximadamente 20 por cento dos casais e nos últimos anos houve intenso desenvolvimento de tecnologias, drogas e condiçöes laboratoriais que possibilitaram o oferecimento de maiores chances de sucesso no tratamento deste problema. Há um breve histórico da reproduçäo assistida e das tecnologias que atualmente podem ser oferecidas com o intuito de propiciar melhores condiçöes de desenvolvimento embrionário e, desta maneira, maiores taxas de gravidez

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Os autores apresentam uma revisäo de vários trabalhos publicados na literatura no período de janeiro de 1978 a julho de 1997 sobre histeroscopia, em particular o seu papel na infertilidade. Discutem-se as principais indicaçöes da histeroscopia, (HSC) nos pacientes que consultam por infertilidade e além disso apresentam-se a relaçäo da HSC com a histerosalpingografia (HSG), Laparoscopia e Ultra-sonografia Transvaginal (USGTV) que säo exames utilizados na rotina da mulher infértil. Aspectos relativos ao diagnóstico e tratamento histeroscópico das doenças da cavidade uterina presentes nesse grupo de pacientes, tais como septo uterino, sinéquias uterinas, miomas submucosos, pólipos endometriais e endometrite säo comentados de maneira sumária. Os autores descrevem ainda as indicaçöes da HSC nas pacientes submetidas à Fertilizaçäo In vitro (FIV) e a outras Técnicas de Reproduçäo Assistida.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJETIVO: relatar um caso de gravidez obtida após tratamento de fertilizaçäo "in vitro" usando FSH-recombinante. DESENHO: estudo restrospectivo de caso clínico. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: foi realizada técnica de fertilizaçäo in vitro (FIV), associada a técnica de injeçäo intracitoplasmática de espermatozóide (ICSI) em paciente de 42 anos de idade. Foram obtidos dois óvulos após induçäo da ovulaçäo com protocolo longo usando acetato de leuprolide e FSH-recombinante. Após a transferência dos embriöes o suporte da fase lútea foi feito com estradiol transdérmico e progesterona oleosa. RESULTADO: foram aspirados 2 oócitos M2 com 100 por cento de fertilizaçäo após o uso da ICSI. No 12§ dia pós transferência de 02 embriöes com 0 por cento de fragmentaçäo, foi constatada gravidez através de dosagem sérica de b-HCG e confirmada através de ultra-sonografia transvaginal realizada no 26§ dia pós transferência quando visualizou-se saco gestacional único e tópico com embriäo com comprimento crânio nádega de 2,8 mm, atividade cardíaca presente e vesícula vitelínica normal, compatível com gestaçäo única de 5 semanas de 3 dias. CONCLUSÃO: os autores relatam um caso de gravidez obtida através da técnica de FIV-ICSI em paciente de 42 anos onde foi utilizado FSH recombinante na induçäo da ovulaçäo.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJETIVO: relatar um caso de gravidez quadrigemelar após Injeçäo Intracitoplasmática de Espermatozóide (ICSI) com espermatozóides imóveis, obtidos através de Aspiraçäo direta do testículo (TESA), que resultou no nascimento de quatro crianças saudáveis. DELINEAMENTO: estudo retrospectivo de caso clínico. Local: Clínica e Centro de Pesquisa em Reproduçäo Humana Roger Abdelmassih. MÉTODO: Foi realizada técnica de Fertilizaçäo "in vitro" (FIV), associada a técnica de Injeçäo Intracitoplasmática de Espermatozóide (ICSI) em paciente de 37 anos de idade, utilizando espermatozóides totalmente imóveis recuperados por aspiraçäo direta do testículo. Os óvulos foram obtidos após induçäo da ovulaçäo com protocolo longo usando acetato de leuprolide e FSH altamente purificado associado com hMG (Pergonal, Serono laboratórios). Após a transferência dos embriöes, o suporte da fase lútea foi feito com estradiol transdérmico e progesterona oleosa. RESULTADOS: com a injeçäo de espermatozóides imóveis, 6 dos 7 oócitos injetados apresentaram fertilizaçäo e clivagem normais. No 17§ dia após transferência de 4 embriöes, foi constatada gravidez através de dosagem sérica de b-HCG. Através de ultra-sonografia foi constatada gestaçäo quadrigemelar com todos embriöes viáveis que resultou no nascimento de quatro crianças saudáveis através de TESA, resultando no nascimento de 4 crianças normais, demonstrando a viabilidade do tratamento proposto.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJETIVO: Revisar na literatura e comparar os nossos resultados com as taxas de sobrevivência dos oócitos submetidos à técnica de injeçäo intracitoplasmática de espermatozóides (ICSI). DELINEAMENTO: Revisäo bibliográfica e estudo retrospectivo comparativo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Analisar 554 ciclos realizados em nosso centro com a técnica ddo ICSI, comparando os resultados de lesäo oocitária pós injeçäo com os dados da literatura. RESULTADOS: Em 554 ciclos de ICSI realizados em nosso centro, foram injetados 3043 oócitos. Destes, apenas 90 oócitos degeneraram após a injeçäo do espermatozóide. A taxa de degeneraçäo observada foi de 3,0 po cento. CONCLUSÄO: Observamos que é necessário o aperfeiçoamento da técnica de injeçäo do espermatozóide, cuidado na quebra da membrana do oócito e material correto para realizar a técnica da microinjeçäo para evitar o aumento nas taxas de degeneraçäo dos oócitos, aumentando assim o número de embriöes a serem transferidos e futuras gestaçöes.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJETIVO: Relatar um caso de ovodoaçäo, com gestaçäo, em paciente com 57 anos de idade. DELINEAMENTO: Estudo Retrospectivo de Caso Clínico. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foi realizada a técnica de ovodoaçäo em paciente de 57 anos de idade, com conseqüente gravidez. Os óvulos foram obtidos de paciente do banco de doadoras da clínica, após induçäo de ovulaçäo com protocolo longo, usando-se Acetado de Leuprolide (Lupron, Abott, SÒo Paulo-Brasil) e FSH puro (Metrodin HP, Serono, MÚxico). A receptora fez uso de Acetato de Leuprolide e Estradiol transdérmico (Estraderm TTS 100, CIBA, SÄo Paulo-Brasil) até o dia da transferência dos embriöes e, posteriormente, suporte hormonal com Progesterona oleosa (Progesterone in oil, Steries Laboratories, Phoenix-Arizona-USA) e Estradiol transdêrmico. RESULTADO: Os autores relatam um caso de ovodoaçäo em paciente de 57 anos de idade e conseqüente gravidez. A paciente deu à luz de parto cesáreo com 38 1/2 semanas de gestaçäo, a um feto vivo do sexo masculino, medindo 49 cm., pesando 3.400 gr, no dia 19 de setembro de 1996. A paciente, por ocasiäo do parto, já havia completado 58 anos de idade.

Asunto(s)