This study examined the impact of 935MHz phone-simulating electromagnetic radiation on embryo implantation of pregnant mice. Each 7-week-old Kunming (KM) female white mouse was set up with a KM male mouse in a single cage for mating overnight after induction of ovulation. In the first three days of pregnancy, the pregnant mice was exposed to electromagnetic radiation at low-intensity (150 μW/cm(2), ranging from 130 to 200 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), mid-intensity (570 μW/cm(2), ranging from 400 to 700 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day) or high-intensity (1400 μW/cm(2), ranging from 1200 to 1500 μW/cm(2), for 2- or 4-h exposure every day), respectively. On the day 4 after gestation (known as the window of murine embryo implantation), the endometrium was collected and the suspension of endometrial glandular cells was made. Laser scanning microscopy was employed to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular calcium ion concentration. In high-intensity, 2- and 4-h groups, mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells was significantly lower than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). The calcium ion concentration was increased in low-intensity 2-h group but decreased in high-intensity 4-h group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in mitochondrial membrane potential of endometrial glandular cells between low- or mid-intensity groups and the normal control group, indicating stronger intensity of the electromagnetic radiation and longer length of the radiation are required to inflict a remarkable functional and structural damage to mitochondrial membrane. Our data demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation with a 935-MHz phone for 4 h conspicuously decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and lowered the calcium ion concentration of endometrial glandular cells. It is suggested that high-intensity electromagnetic radiation is very likely to induce the death of embryonic cells and decrease the chance of their implantation, thereby posing a high risk to pregnancy.
Animals ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Embryo Implantation ; physiology ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Mice

The process of human embryo implantation is mediated not only by evolutionarily conserved mechanisms, but also by a mechanism unique to humans. Evidence suggests that the cell adhesion molecules, L-selectin and trophinin, play a unique role in human embryo implantation. Here, we describe the dual roles of mucin carbohydrate ligand for L-selectin and trophinin protein and of the trophinin-associated proteins bystin and tastin. We then describe trophinin-mediated signal transduction in trophectoderm cells and endometrial epithelial cells. This review also covers cadherin and integrin in human embryo implantation.
Cadherins ; physiology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; physiology ; Embryo Implantation ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Integrins ; physiology ; L-Selectin ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Angiotensin-converting enzyme functions in the male reproductive system, but the extent of its function in reproduction is not fully understood. The primary objective of this work was to investigate the relationship between the testicular isoform of angiotensin-converting enzyme present in human spermatozoa and semen parameters, human embryo quality, and assisted reproduction success. A total of 81 semen samples and 635 embryos from couples undergoing oocyte donation cycles at the IVI Bilbao Clinic were analyzed. Semen parameters, embryos quality, and blastocyst development were examined according to the World Health Organization standards and the Spanish Association of Reproduction Biology Studies criteria. The percentage of testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme-positive spermatozoa and the number of molecules per spermatozoon were analyzed by flow cytometry. Both parameters were inversely correlated with human sperm motility. Higher percentages of testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme-positive spermatozoa together with fewer enzyme molecules per spermatozoon were positively correlated with better embryo quality and development. Our results suggest that embryos with a higher implantation potential come from semen samples with higher percentages of testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme-positive cells and fewer enzyme molecules per spermatozoon. Based on these findings, we propose that testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme could be used to aid embryologists in selecting better semen samples for obtaining high-quality blastocysts during in vitro fertilization procedures.
Adult ; Embryo Implantation/physiology* ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Development/physiology* ; Fertility/physiology* ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/metabolism* ; Sperm Motility/physiology* ; Spermatozoa/enzymology* ; Testis/enzymology*

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Humans

Endometrial receptivity has become the main cause of fertilization and pregnancy outcomes in infertile patients,bringing large psychological damage and economic loss to the patients and their family. In recent years,the role of non-coding RNA has increasingly been recognized. The relationship between non-coding RNA and endometrial receptivity is reviewed in this article.
Embryo Implantation ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; RNA, Untranslated ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), age of male, various parameters of sperm, rates of fertilization, high quality embryo and pregnancy and implantation rates.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven infertile couples were selected randomly, and DFI was tested by flow cytometry for the sperm used for IVF. The patients were divided into different groups according to the DFI scores. The results of each group were analyzed.

RESULTSThe IVF normal fertilization was significantly lower in couples with sperm DFI over 10% (60.5%) than that in couples with DFI below 10% (70.1%) (P<0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between DFI and the age of male (r=0.624, P<0.05). DFI was also significantly negatively correlated with the percentage of linearly progressive sperm (r=-0.360, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the rates of high quality cleaved embryos, pregnancy and implantation rate and sperm DFI.

CONCLUSIONDFI scores are increased with male's age, and it can influence the sperm motility. DFI=10% can be considered as a critical point which can be used to estimate the clinical fertility rate of IVF. But it could not provide relative information about the rates of high quality embryos and pregnancy for infertile couples undergoing IVF procedure.

Adult ; Aging ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryo Implantation ; genetics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Regression Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of endometrial microvessel density (MVD) in assessing the endometrial receptivity during the peri-implantation period.

METHODSA total of 104 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into clinical pregnancy group (50 cases) and nonpregnant group (54 cases) according to the IVF-ET outcome. Endometrial tissues were collected 7 days after the natural ovulation prior to IVF-ET for measurement of the endometrial MVD using electron microscopy, which was analyzed in relation to the clinical outcome of the treatment.

RESULTSThe endometrial MVD was significantly higher in the clinical pregnancy group than in the nonpregnant group [(4.12∓1.84)% vs (3.46∓1.26)%, t=-2.127, P=0.036). ROC curve analysis showed that the MVD had an area under the curve slightly over 0.5 (0.598) for predicting clinical pregnancy, suggesting a poor specificity in predicting the clinical outcome of the treatment.

CONCLUSIONIn IVF-ET cycles, the endometrial MVD during the peri-implantation period is helpful for assessing the endometrial receptivity, but the specificity remains low.

Adult ; Embryo Implantation ; physiology ; Embryo Transfer ; Endometrium ; blood supply ; physiology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Microvessels ; ultrastructure ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDReduced endometrial receptivity in hyperstimulated cycles may lead to a lower implantation rate and a lower clinical pregnancy rate, but it is unclear if it is also associated with an increase in pregnancy loss rate. The aim of this study was to compare the implantation, miscarriage, and pregnancy rates between fresh and frozen thawed transfer of one or two day-3 embryos, with a view to understanding whether or not reduced endometrial receptivity encountered in hyperstimulated cycles is associated with an increase in miscarriage rate.

METHODSThis study involved a consecutive series of 1 551 single day-3 embryo transfer cycles and consecutive 5 919 double day-3 embryo transfer cycles in the Assisted Reproductive Unit of the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou, China, between January 2010 and December 2012.

RESULTSThe implantation and clinical pregnancy rates (single embryo 30.7% and double embryos 33.4% and 51.4%) using fresh cycle were both significantly lower than that of frozen-thawed cycles (single embryo 35.8% and double embryos 38.1% and 57.8%). There was no difference in biochemical loss or clinical miscarriage rates between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSImpairment of endometrial receptivity associated with ovarian hyperstimulation leads to implantation failure at a very early stage, resulting in an increased number of non-pregnancy. It does not lead to increase in biochemical or clinical losses. The significantly reduced ongoing pregnancy rates in both fresh single and double embryo transfer are therefore due to failure to achieve a pregnancy, rather than pregnancy loss after conception.

Adult ; Cryopreservation ; Embryo Implantation ; physiology ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of sperm midpiece morphology observed under high-power microscope on embryo development following intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection.

METHODSMorphologically normal sperms from 57 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male-factor infertility were selected microscopically (magnification of ×200 or 400) and subjected to motile sperm organellar morphology examination (MSOME) at high magnification of ×6000. According to the morphology of sperm medpiece, the sperms were divided into 3 groups, namely group A with a/b of 1-1.2, group B with a/b≥1.5, and group C with irregular morphology. The sperms in the 3 groups were intracytoplasmically injected in oocytes and the outcomes of the embryos were compared.

RESULTSGroups A, B, and C showed significant differences in the rate of ET-D3 top quality embryo (79.7% vs 55.6 % vs 33.3%) and implantation rate (43.2% vs 11.1% vs 0%), but not in the fertilization rate (73.3% vs 80.4% vs 63.5%), blastocyst formation rate (23.2% vs 22.2% vs 9.09%), cryopreservation rate (29.2% vs 25.0 % vs 13.0%), or D3 top quality embryo rate (35.3% vs 37.8% vs 18.8%).

CONCLUSIONSIn ICSI cycle, selecting morphologically normal sperms for intracytoplasic injection can increase the normal fertilization rate and top quality embryo rate on the transfer day and improve the implantation rate of the embryo.

Cryopreservation ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Oocytes ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Sperm Midpiece ; physiology

The expression of tumor suppressor gene p16INK4a in mouse endometrium during early pregnancy and its possible role in blastocyst implantation were investigated in the present study. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect p16INK4a mRNA and protein expressions in endometrium of un-pregnant and pregnant mice on day 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, respectively. In addition, p16INK4a antibody was injected into the horns of uteri in pregnant mice on day 3 and its effect during blastocyst implantation was detected in vivo. The higher expressions of p16INK4a mRNA and protein were observed in pregnant mice compared with that in un-pregnant mice, with a steady increase from day 2 to day 5 and reaching the maximal level on day 5 of pregnancy and then decreasing. p16INK4a antibody decreased the number of implanted blastocysts compared with that of saline-injected group. The results suggest that p16INK4a may be associated with apoptosis of luminal epithelial cells and decidual cells, coordinating decidualization of endometrium and invasion of trophoblastic cells. Thus, we presume that p16INK4a participates in the process of blastocyst implantation in mice.
Animals ; Blastocyst ; physiology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; physiology ; Embryo Implantation ; Endometrium ; physiology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction