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Reproductive Biomedicine Online Apr 2024Is acrosin activity related to cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) over 1 year after IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment or both?
RESEARCH QUESTION
Is acrosin activity related to cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) over 1 year after IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment or both?
DESIGN
Retrospective monocentric cohort study of 5704 couples who started IVF/ICSI treatments between 2016 and 2021. Acrosin activity was determined by a modified Kennedy method using a commercial kit. Patients were divided into two groups according to their acrosin activity: below 25 μIU/10 spermatozoa; and an acrosin activity 25 μIU/10 spermatozoa or above. Primary outcome was the CLBR, defined as an ongoing pregnancy leading to live birth that had arisen from all embryo transfers carried out within 1 year after the first ovum retrieval. Both conservative and optimistic methods were used for estimating CLBRs.
RESULTS
The CLBRs of patients with an acrosin activity below 25 μIU/10 spermatozoa were found to be significantly lower than those of patients with an acrosin activity 25 μIU/10 spermatozoa or above by conservative (48.5% versus 55.4%, P = 0.02) and optimistic (63.7% versus 70.3%, P = 0.047) methods after adjusting for confounders. When acrosin activity was regarded as a continuous variable, significant negative relationships between acrosin activity and CLBR were identified in subgroups: young couples (men and women aged younger than 30 years) and couples from whom no more than 10 eggs were retrieved.
CONCLUSION
Low acrosin activity levels were correlated with decreasing CLBRs over 1 year. These findings suggest that acrosin activity can be used as a predictor for CLBRs before starting IVF/ICSI treatment to enhance the effectiveness of counselling.
PubMed: 38901380
DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2024.103993 -
Journal of Biomedical Materials... May 2024Utilizing natural scaffold production derived from extracellular matrix components presents a promising strategy for advancing in vitro spermatogenesis. In this study,...
Utilizing natural scaffold production derived from extracellular matrix components presents a promising strategy for advancing in vitro spermatogenesis. In this study, we employed decellularized human placental tissue as a scaffold, upon which neonatal mouse spermatogonial cells (SCs) were cultured three-dimensional (3D) configuration. To assess cellular proliferation, we examined the expression of key markers (Id4 and Gfrα1) at both 1 and 14 days into the culture. Our quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed a notable increase in Gfrα1 gene expression, with the 3D culture group exhibiting the highest levels. Furthermore, the relative frequency of Gfrα1-positive cells significantly rose from 38.1% in isolated SCs to 46.13% and 76.93% in the two-dimensional (2D) and 3D culture systems, respectively. Moving forward to days 14 and 35 of the culture period, we evaluated the expression of differentiating markers (Sycp3, acrosin, and Protamine 1). Sycp3 and Prm1 gene expression levels were upregulated in both 2D and 3D cultures, with the 3D group displaying the highest expression. Additionally, acrosin gene expression increased notably within the 3D culture. Notably, at the 35-day mark, the percentage of Prm1-positive cells in the 3D group (36.4%) significantly surpassed that in the 2D group (10.96%). This study suggests that the utilization of placental scaffolds holds significant promise as a bio-scaffold for enhancing mouse in vitro spermatogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; Male; Humans; Placenta; Pregnancy; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Spermatogonia; Tissue Scaffolds; Decellularized Extracellular Matrix; Stem Cells
PubMed: 38733611
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.35414 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Gonadotoxic agents could impair spermatogenesis and may lead to male infertility. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of IL-1β on the development of...
Gonadotoxic agents could impair spermatogenesis and may lead to male infertility. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of IL-1β on the development of spermatogenesis from cells isolated from seminiferous tubules (STs) of normal and busulfan-treated immature mice in vitro. Cells were cultured in a 3D in vitro culture system for 5 weeks. We examined the development of cells from the different stages of spermatogenesis by immunofluorescence staining or qPCR analyses. Factors of Sertoli and Leydig cells were examined by qPCR analysis. We showed that busulfan (BU) treatment significantly reduced the expression of testicular IL-1β in the treated mice compared to the control group (CT). Cultures of cells from normal and busulfan-treated immature mice induced the development of pre-meiotic (Vasa), meiotic (Boule), and post-meiotic (acrosin) cells. However, the percentage of developed Boule and acrosin cells was significantly lower in cultures of busulfan-treated mice compared to normal mice. Adding IL-1β to both cultures significantly increased the percentages of Vasa, Boule, and acrosin cells compared to their controls. However, the percentage of Boule and acrosin cells was significantly lower from cultures of busulfan-treated mice that were treated with IL-1β compared to cultures treated with IL-1β from normal mice. Furthermore, addition of IL-1β to cultures from normal mice significantly increased only the expression of androgen receptor and transferrin but no other factors of Sertoli cells compared to their CT. However, the addition of IL-1β to cultures from busulfan-treated mice significantly increased only the expression of androgen-binding protein and the FSH receptor compared to their CT. Adding IL-1β to cultures of normal mice did not affect the expression of 3βHSD compared to the CT, but it significantly reduced its expression in cultures from busulfan-treated mice compared to the CT. Our findings demonstrate the development of different stages of spermatogenesis in vitro from busulfan-treated mice and that IL-1β could potentiate this development in vitro.
Topics: Animals; Busulfan; Spermatogenesis; Male; Interleukin-1beta; Mice; Sertoli Cells; Testis; Leydig Cells; Seminiferous Tubules; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 38732137
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094926 -
Heliyon Apr 2024Low fertilization rate (LFR) and total fertilization failure (TFF) are often encountered in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. To solve this problem,...
Low fertilization rate (LFR) and total fertilization failure (TFF) are often encountered in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. To solve this problem, multivariate analyses on the relationship between male factors and in vitro fertilization rate were performed, and a nomogram for prediction of LFR was constructed. This retrospective study contained 2011 couples who received IVF treatment from January 2017 to December 2021. Man factors and in vitro fertilization rate were collected. Among these couples, 1347 cases had in vitro fertilization rates ≥30 % (control group), and 664 cases had in vitro fertilization rates <30 % (LFR group). Univariate analyses of male factors found that between the two groups there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in sperm progressive motility (SPR), sperm concentration (SC), total sperm number, normal sperm morphology rate (NSMR), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), sperm acrosin activity (SAA) and the clinical diagnosis of primary or secondary infertility. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that SPR, SAA, and SC were independent risk factors for LFR. An algorithm and a correspondent nomogram for predicting high LFR risk were constructed using data from the training cohort. The LFR nomogram exhibited an excellent discrimination power and a high fitting degree in both the training cohort (AUC = 0.90, 95 % CI: 0.88-0.92), (H-L: x = 5.43, p = 0.71) and validation cohort (AUC = 0.89, 95 % CI:0.87-0.92), (H-L: x = 7.85, p = 0.45), respectively. The decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated a high efficiency of the LFR nomogram for clinical utility. SPR, SAA, and SC are independent risk factors for LFR. The LFR nomogram established based on these factors could be a useful tool to predict high risk of LFR, and patients with high risk of LFR can be guided to direct ICSI procedure. Clinical application of the LFR nomogram may increase the in vitro fertilization rate by facilitating the decision making in IVF service.
PubMed: 38623219
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29271 -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Apr 2024To evaluate the impact of male hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and serostatus on sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal outcomes following intrauterine...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of male hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and serostatus on sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal outcomes following intrauterine insemination for infertility.
DESIGN AND METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed data from 962 infertile couples undergoing intrauterine insemination treatment at a single center. The case group comprised 212 infertile couples with male HBV infection, and the control group comprised 750 noninfected infertile couples. The couples were further divided into subgroups according to their hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/anti-HBe status: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)HBeAg (group A), HBsAgHBeAg (group B), and HBsAgHBeAg (control group). The main outcome parameters, including the seminal parameters, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, preterm delivery rate, multiple pregnancy rate, delivery type, birth weight, and sex ratio, were compared.
RESULTS
A lower sperm acrosin activity, higher cesarean rate, and newborn sex ratio were observed in the HBV-infected group and group A in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). However, the standard sperm parameters, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, preterm delivery, and birth weight showed no statistically significant differences among the groups.
CONCLUSION
Male HBV infection does not adversely impact standard sperm parameters or pregnancy outcomes but can influence sperm acrosin activity and some neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the effect may vary among different HBV serostatuses.
PubMed: 38619358
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15545 -
Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT May 2024Successful treatment of pediatric cancers often results in long-term health complications, including potential effects on fertility. Therefore, assessing the male...
Successful treatment of pediatric cancers often results in long-term health complications, including potential effects on fertility. Therefore, assessing the male reproductive toxicity of anti-cancer drug treatments and the potential for recovery is of paramount importance. However, in vivo evaluations are time-intensive and require large numbers of animals. To overcome these constraints, we utilized an innovative organ culture system that supports long-term spermatogenesis by placing the testis tissue between a base agarose gel and a polydimethylsiloxane ceiling, effectively mirroring the in vivo testicular environment. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of this organ culture system for accurately assessing testicular toxicity induced by cisplatin, using acrosin-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic neonatal mouse testes. The testis fragments were treated with different concentrations of cisplatin-containing medium for 24 h and incubated in fresh medium for up to 70 days. The changes in tissue volume and GFP fluorescence over time were evaluated to monitor the progression of spermatogenesis, in addition to the corresponding histopathology. Cisplatin treatment caused tissue volume shrinkage and reduced GFP fluorescence in a concentration-dependent manner. Recovery from testicular toxicity was also dependent on the concentration of cisplatin received. The results demonstrated that this novel in vitro system can be a faithful replacement for animal experiments to assess the testicular toxicity of anti-cancer drugs and their reversibility, providing a useful method for drug development.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Child; Infant, Newborn; Male; Testis; Organ Culture Techniques; Cisplatin; Spermatogenesis; Green Fluorescent Proteins
PubMed: 38262615
DOI: 10.1002/jat.4584 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jan 2024Since the unexplained in vitro fertilization failure occurs frequently, it is of great importance and clinical value to identify potential underlying predictors. This...
PURPOSE
Since the unexplained in vitro fertilization failure occurs frequently, it is of great importance and clinical value to identify potential underlying predictors. This study aimed to explore whether the percentage of sperm with a small acrosome was correlated with unexplained in vitro fertilization failure.
METHODS
A new acrosomal function evaluation index (the percentage of sperm with a small acrosome) was introduced into the analysis of sperm morphology. The association between the index and acrosome function by acrosin activity detection test and acrosome reaction test was investigated. In addition, the correlation with unexplained in vitro fertilization failure was further explored. Finally, the ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy on the failure of in vitro fertilization and the cutoff value was calculated.
RESULTS
As the increasing of the percentage of sperm with a small acrosome, the value of acrosin activity, acrosome reaction rate, and in vitro fertilization rate were reduced, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The index in the low fertilization rate group was significantly higher than that in the normal fertilization rate group (P < 0.05). Finally, the results of ROC curve found that when the index was 43.5%, the sensitivity and specificity were 74.2% and 95.3%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The percentage of sperm with a small acrosome was positively correlated with unexplained in vitro fertilization failure, which could be potentially used as a prognostic index for the failure of in vitro fertilization.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
[Ethics review acceptance No IIT20210339B].
Topics: Male; Humans; Acrosome; Acrosin; Semen; Spermatozoa; Fertilization in Vitro
PubMed: 38212716
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-06205-0 -
Theriogenology Mar 2024Liquid storage of turkey semen without the loss of fertilizing ability is of practical interest to the poultry industry. However, fertility rates from liquid-stored...
Liquid storage of turkey semen without the loss of fertilizing ability is of practical interest to the poultry industry. However, fertility rates from liquid-stored turkey semen decline within a few hours. A clear cause of the decline in spermatozoa quality remains unidentified. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to monitor the dynamics of proteomic changes in spermatozoa during 48 h of liquid storage by 2-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. A total of 57 protein spots were differentially expressed between fresh and stored spermatozoa; 42 spots were more and 15 were less abundant after 48 h of semen storage. Raw proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD043050. The selected differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were validated by western blotting and localized in specific spermatozoa structures by immunofluorescence, such as the head (acrosin and tubulin α), midpiece (acrosin, aconitate hydratase 2, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and tail (tubulin α). Most of the DEPs that changed in response to liquid storage were related to flagellum-dependent cell motility, energy derivation through oxidation of organic compounds and induction of fertilization, suggesting the complexity of the processes leading to the decrease in stored semen quality. The damaging effect of liquid storage on spermatozoa flagellum manifested as more microtubule proteins, such as tubulins and tektins, most likely formed by posttranslational modifications, tubulin α relocation from the tail to the sperm head, which appeared after 48 h of semen storage, and decreases in fibrous shelf proteins at the same time. Motility could be affected by dysregulation of Ca-binding proteins and disturbances in energy metabolism in spermatozoa flagellum. Regarding sperm mitochondria, DEPs involved in energy derivation through the oxidation of organic compounds indicated disturbances in fatty acid beta oxidation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle as possible reasons for energy deficiency during liquid storage. Disturbances in acrosin and 1-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase zeta may be involved in rapid declines in the fertility potential of stored turkey spermatozoa. These results showed the complexity of the processes leading to a decrease in stored semen quality and broadened knowledge of the detrimental effects of liquid storage on turkey spermatozoa physiology.
Topics: Male; Animals; Semen; Semen Analysis; Acrosin; Tubulin; Proteomics; Sperm Motility; Semen Preservation; Spermatozoa; Turkeys
PubMed: 38159387
DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.12.026 -
Biomolecules Sep 2023The global trend of rising (male) infertility is concerning, and the unidentifiable causes in half of the cases, the so-called unknown origin male infertility (UOMI),...
The global trend of rising (male) infertility is concerning, and the unidentifiable causes in half of the cases, the so-called unknown origin male infertility (UOMI), demands a better understanding and assessment of both external/internal factors and mechanisms potentially involved. In this work, it was our aim to obtain new insight on UOMI, specifically on idiopathic (ID) and Unexplained male infertility (UMI), relying on a detailed evaluation of the male gamete, including functional, metabolic and proteomic aspects. For this purpose, 1114 semen samples, from males in couples seeking infertility treatment, were collected at the Reproductive Medicine Unit from the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), from July 2018-July 2022. Based on the couples' clinical data, seminal/hormonal analysis, and strict eligibility criteria, samples were categorized in 3 groups, control (CTRL), ID and UMI. Lifestyle factors and anxiety/depression symptoms were assessed via survey. Sperm samples were evaluated functionally, mitochondrially and using proteomics. The results of Assisted Reproduction Techniques were assessed whenever available. According to our results, ID patients presented the worst sperm functional profile, while UMI patients were similar to controls. The proteomic analysis revealed 145 differentially expressed proteins, 8 of which were specifically altered in ID and UMI samples. Acrosin (ACRO) and sperm acrosome membrane-associated protein 4 (SACA4) were downregulated in ID patients while laminin subunit beta-2 (LAMB2), mannose 6-phosphate isomerase (MPI), ATP-dependent 6-phosphofructokinase liver type (PFKAL), STAR domain-containing protein 10 (STA10), serotransferrin (TRFE) and exportin-2 (XPO2) were downregulated in UMI patients. Using random forest analysis, SACA4 and LAMB2 were identified as the sperm proteins with a higher chance of distinguishing ID and UMI patients, and their function and expression variation were in accordance with the functional results. No alterations were observed in terms of lifestyle and psychological factors among the 3 groups. These findings obtained in an experimental setting based on 3 well-defined groups of subjects, might help to validate new biomarkers for unknown origin male infertility (ID and UMI) that, in the future, can be used to improve diagnostics and treatments.
Topics: Humans; Male; Semen; Semen Analysis; Proteomics; Spermatozoa; Infertility, Male
PubMed: 37892144
DOI: 10.3390/biom13101462 -
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue = National Journal... Dec 2022To investigate the effect of pricking-reinforcing -reducing therapy (PRRT) on the semen quality and seminal plasma biochemical indexes of varicocele (VC) infertility...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of pricking-reinforcing -reducing therapy (PRRT) on the semen quality and seminal plasma biochemical indexes of varicocele (VC) infertility patients.
METHODS
We randomly and equally assigned 160 patients with VC infertility into a PRRT and a control group, the former treated by PRRT and the latter with oral ShengjingCapsules. Before and after treatment, we obtained the semen parameters, sperm morphology, sperm survival rate, sperm acrosin activity, seminal plasma neutral α glucosidase and seminal plasma zinc in the patients and compared them between the two groups.
RESULTS
Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences between the PRRT and control groups in sperm concentration ([16.81 ± 7.83] vs [16.80 ± 7.54] ×106 /ml, P > 0.05), total sperm count ([42.01 ± 19.57] vs [41.99 ± 18.84] ×106, P > 0.05), percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) ([15.37 ± 11.03]% vs [14.68 ± 10.27]%, P > 0.05) and morphologically normal sperm ( MNS) (1.62 ± 1.51]% vs [1.62 ± 1.13]%, P > 0.05), sperm survival rate ([28.11 ± 18.95]% vs [28.23±18.38]%, P > 0.05) and sperm acrosin activity ([28.11 ± 14.64] vs [27.19 ± 14.07] U/L, P > 0.05). After three months of treatment, all the patients showed evident increases in the above parameters (P < 0.05), even higher in the PRRT than in the control group, more significantly in sperm concentration ([38.88 ± 30.54] vs [25.60 ± 14.71] ×106 /ml, P < 0.05), PMS ([32.60 ± 12.46]% vs [27.67 ± 12.27]%, P < 0.05) and sperm acrosin activity ([65.74±31.81] vs [67.94±17.95] U/L, P < 0.05), though not significantly in total sperm count (97.20 ± 76.35] vs [88.19 ± 39.56] ×106, P > 0.05), MNS ([2.35 ± 1.83]% vs [1.87 ± 1.20]%, P > 0.05) and sperm survival rate ([61.44 ± 20.02]% vs [59.12 ± 22.48]%, P > 0.05). Compared with the baseline, after treatment, the patients in the PRRT group also exhibited elevated levels of neutral α-glucosidase ([14.42 ± 5.90] vs [28.43 ± 19.76] U/L, P < 0.05) and seminal plasma zinc ([2.11 ± 1.22] vs [2.89 ± 1.23] mmol/L, P < 0.05), and so did the controls ([14.44 ± 5.61] vs [26.66 ± 17.69] U/L , P < 0.05) and ([2.09 ± 1.10] vs [2.82±1.08] mmol/L, P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference, however, was observed between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
PRRT can significantly improve semen quality in patients with VC infertility, even more effective than ShengjingCapsules in improving sperm concentration, PMS, sperm survival rate, and sperm acrosin activity, which may be related to its effect of elevating the levels of seminal plasma neutral-α glucosidase and zinc providing sufficient energy for basic sperm metabolism, maturation, energy acquisition and motility.
Topics: Humans; Male; Semen Analysis; Semen; Infertility, Male; Varicocele; Acrosin; Sperm Count; Spermatozoa; Zinc; Sperm Motility
PubMed: 37846632
DOI: No ID Found