1.Can Endometriosis Affect the Clinical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing IVF-ET?.
Byeong Jun JUNG ; Hyun Jin SONG ; Ik Hwan OH
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):223-227
No abstract available.
Endometriosis*
;
Female
;
Humans
2.Polymorphisms of 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C) Gene in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.
Nam Keun KIM ; Yoon Sung NAM ; Suman LEE ; Sun Hee KIM ; Seung Joo SHIN ; Sung Woon CHANG ; Se Hyun KIM ; Kwang Yul CHA ; Doyeun OH
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):215-222
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that hyperhomocysteinemia and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) mutations are associated with increased risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Recently, a second site polymorphism in MTHFR, 1298A-->C, which changes a glutamic acid into an alanine residue, was shown to be associated with a decreased enzyme activity. We tested whether the variant alleles of MTHFR C677T and A1298C are risk factor (biomarker) for RSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed DNA from a case-control study in the Korean DNA was extracted from blood samples of 118 patients with RSA and 123 healthy fertile patients as the controls. MTHFR variant alleles were determined by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS: We found no evidence for an association between 677TT genotype and risk of RSA (OR=1.95, 95% CI=0.84~4.50, p=0.12). However, the MTHFR 1298AC (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.20~ 0.63, p=0.0004) and 1298AC+CC (OR=0.35, 95% CI=0.20~0.61, p=0.0002) genotypes were lower among 118 RSA cases compared with 123 controls, conferring a 2.8-fold decrease in risk of RSA, respectively. Moreover, the combined genotypes of MTHFR 677CC/1298AC (OR=0.30, 95% CI= 0.10~0.88, p=0.029) and 677CT/1298AC (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.60~0.99, p=0.043) also showed significantly lower risk than those with MTHFR 677CC/1298AA type. CONCLUSION: MTHFR 1298AC, MTHFR 677CC/1298AC and 677CT/1298AC genotypes may represent genetic markers for the protection of RSA at least in Korean women.
Abortion, Spontaneous*
;
Alanine
;
Alleles
;
Case-Control Studies
;
DNA
;
Female
;
Genetic Markers
;
Genotype
;
Glutamic Acid
;
Humans
;
Hyperhomocysteinemia
;
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
;
Oxidoreductases*
;
Pregnancy
;
Risk Factors
;
Vascular Diseases
3.Clinical Consideration of Obese Infertile Women.
Yoon Sung NAM ; Chang Jin JEONG ; Nam Keun KIM ; Tae Ki YOON ; Kwang Yul CHA
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):209-214
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose / insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. RESULTS: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.
Body Weight
;
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
;
Diabetes Mellitus
;
Female
;
Glucose
;
Humans
;
Hyperandrogenism
;
Hyperinsulinism
;
Incidence
;
Infertility
;
Insulin
;
Insulin Resistance
;
Obesity
;
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
;
Plasminogen Activators
;
Testosterone
;
Thrombophilia
4.In vitro Fertilization and Embryo Development in Simple Media of the Frozen-Thawed Cumulus-free Mouse Oocytes Cryopreserved by Vitrification.
Soo Kyung JUNG ; Sung Kun KIM ; Jung Jae LEE ; Ji Hyun OH ; Yong Ho LEE ; Sun Haeng KIM
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):201-208
OBJECTIVE: To observe the capability of fertilization and embryo development including blastocyst formation of the oocytes in simple media after thawing of the cryopreserved cumulus-free mouse oocytes by vitrification method. METHODS: Oocytes were collected from 5 to 6 weeks old ICR female mice, and were denuded from the cumulus cells by 0.1% hyaluronidase. Recovered mature oocytes in study group were cryopreserved by vitrification method using EM grid for 5~7 days. In brief, oocytes were exposed in dPBS containing 1.5 M EG and 5.5 M EG+1 M sucrose for 2.5 minutes and 20 seconds each, and then executed vitrification by plunging in LN2 after loading on EM grid. Thawing treated by exposure of 1, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 M sucrose solution for 2.5 minutes each in order and used for experiments. Spermatozoa aspirated form the epididymis of 12 weeks old ICR male mice were used for insemination after capacitation. T6 media containing 0.4% BSA were used for fertilization and development. RESULTS: Survival and fertilization rates after thawing were 76.9% and 79.6% respectively. Fertilization rate was lower (p<0.005) than that of control group (92.9%). There was no difference in embryo developmental rates from 2-cell to morula, however, the blastocyst formation rate and mean cell numbers of blastocysts in study group (63.3%, 58.9+/-9.2) were lower compared with those of control group (76.1%, 63.5+/-8.9). CONCLUSION: Vitrification is an effective method for mouse mature oocyte cryopreservation with high survival and fertilization rate after thawing. And in simple media, fertilization rates and embryo development of frozen-thawed mouse oocytes are satisfactory.
Animals
;
Blastocyst
;
Cell Count
;
Cryopreservation
;
Cumulus Cells
;
Embryonic Development*
;
Embryonic Structures*
;
Epididymis
;
Female
;
Fertilization
;
Fertilization in Vitro*
;
Humans
;
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
;
Insemination
;
Male
;
Mice*
;
Morula
;
Oocytes*
;
Pregnancy
;
Spermatozoa
;
Sucrose
;
Vitrification*
5.The Immunologic Expression of Apoptosis Related Proteins and Apoptotic Cells in Human Ovarian Follicles.
Sung Rok PARK ; Byung Seok LEE ; Woo Ick YANG ; Jong Hwa KIM ; Byung Joo PARK ; Ki Hyun PARK ; Dong Jae CHO ; Chan Ho SONG
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):195-200
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of apoptosis related proteins and apoptotic cells on the human ovarian follicles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human ovarian tissue blocks were selected from the surgical pathology files of the department of pathology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, for the period from 1996 to 1998. All specimen were from premenopausal women aged from 32~45. Ovarian tissues were collected from the patients performing hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for the detection of DNA fragmented cell, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-ligand. RESULTS: Bcl-2 and bax were not expressed on the surrounding cells and oocyte of the primary, primordial and preantral follicles. Fas and Fas-ligand (Fas-L) were not expressed on the surrounding cells on the primordial and primary follicles. But expressed on the surrounding granulosa cells and oocyte in the primordial and primary follicles. In the healthy follicles, Bcl-2 was expressed on the granulosa cells, however, Bax was not expressed. DNA fragmented cells were expressed on the inner granulosa cell layer of atretic follicles. CONCLUSION: Fas, Fas-ligand, and Bax may be responsible for the follicular atresia and Bcl-2 may be involved in the follicular survival in the human ovary.
Apoptosis*
;
DNA
;
Female
;
Follicular Atresia
;
Granulosa Cells
;
Humans*
;
Hysterectomy
;
Oocytes
;
Ovarian Follicle*
;
Ovary
;
Pathology
;
Pathology, Surgical
;
Uterine Diseases
6.The Analysis of Interrelationship between Homocysteine and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Mutation in Patients with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.
Yoon Sung NAM ; Kwang Yul CHA ; Nam Keun KIM ; Myung Seo KANG ; Se Hyun KIM ; Doyeon OH
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):187-194
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the interrelationship between homocysteine and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Homocysteine and MTHFR mutation were tested by fluorescent polarizing immunoassay and PCR-RFLP method, respectively. RESULTS: In patients with homocysteine level less than 5 mmol/L, there was no case of normal group but there were four cases of heterozygosity and one case of homozygosity. In patients with homocysteine level 5~10 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were eleven, eighteen and eight, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level 10~15 mmol/L, the number of normal, heterozygosity and homozygosity group were four, one and one, respectively. In patients with homocysteine level more than 15 mmol/L, there was no case of normal and heterozygosity group but there were two cases of homozygosity. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperhomocysteinemia due to MTHFR mutation is a cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion. And there was a significant relationship between homocysteine and MTHFR mutation.
Abortion, Spontaneous*
;
Female
;
Homocysteine*
;
Humans
;
Hyperhomocysteinemia
;
Immunoassay
;
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)*
;
Pregnancy
7.Binding of Lectins to the Zona Pellucida on Sperm-oocytes Interaction in the Pig.
In Sun HWANG ; Choung Ik KIM ; Hee Tae CHEONG ; Boo Keun YANG ; Choon Keun PARK
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):179-186
OBJECTIVE: Lectins are cell-agglutinating and sugar specific proteins or glycoproteins of non-immune origin that precipitate glycoconjugates having saccharides of appropriate complementarity. Because of these properties, plant lectins have been used to help characterize the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins in the zona pellucida (ZP) of several mammalian species including pigs. Treatment of oocytes with various lectins blocks sperm binding to the ZP in various mammalian species. This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of sugar residues in the ZP of pig oocytes matured in vitro and the ability of spermatozoa to bind to ZP and in vitro penetration in oocytes treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lectins of Banderiaea simplicifolia (BS-II, bind to beta-D-Nacetylglucosamine), Canavalin ensiformis (Con A, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Lens culinaris (LCA, bind to alpha-D-Mannose), Ricinus communis (RCA-I, bind to beta-D-Galactose) and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I, bind to alpha-L-Fucose) were examined for spermatozoa penetration, binding capacity to ZP and distribution of lectins. RESULTS: The penetration rates were significantry (p<0.05) higher in control oocytes (63%) than those treated with all lectins, but penetration rates (40~49%) were simililar in group treated with lectins. The incidence of monospermy was similar in oocytes untreated and UEA-I, but it was higher in oocytes treated with BS-II, Con A, RCA-I and LCA. The porcine oocytes cultured for 48 h in TC-199 medium were freed from cumulus cells and treated for 30 min with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled lectins. When examined under fluorescein illumination, higher (p<0.001) proportions of oocytes showed fluorescein of zona pellucida after treatment with Con A (93%), LCA (93%) and RCA-I (100%) than BS-II (37%) and UEA-I (50%). All of the oocytes treated with RCA-I exhibited strong fluorescein in the outer region of the zona pellucida while those treated with LCA exhibited strong fluorescein throughout the zona pellucida. BS-II bounded mainly to the outer region and UEA-I bounded mainly to the inner region of the zona pellucida, with either strong or weak fluorescein. At 120 min after insemination in vitro, fewer spermatozoa were bound to the zona pellucida of the oocytes treated with BS-II, Con-A and RCA-I. Of the lectins, Con A most inhibited sperm binding. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that beta-D-Galactose residues in the porcine zona pellucida may act as primary sperm receptors and inducers of the sperm acrosome reaction and these sugar residues may be involved in the block to polyspermy.
Acrosome Reaction
;
Cumulus Cells
;
Fluorescein
;
Glycoconjugates
;
Glycoproteins
;
Herpes Zoster*
;
Incidence
;
Insemination
;
Lectins*
;
Lens Plant
;
Lighting
;
Oocytes
;
Plant Lectins
;
Ricinus
;
Sperm-Ovum Interactions
;
Spermatozoa
;
Swine
;
Ulex
;
Zona Pellucida*
8.The Study on Apoptosis and Expression of Fas, Fas-ligand, Bax, and Bcl-2 in Human Fragmented Embryos.
Jong Sik KIM ; Myoung Shin KIM ; Hyun Won YANG ; Chai Hyeock YU ; Yong Dal YOON ; In Ha BAE ; Byeong Jun JUNG ; Hyun Jin SONG
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):167-178
OBJECTIVE: The present study was performed to investigate whether apoptosis occur in human embryos by annexin staining and detect the expression of Fas, Fas-ligand (FasL), Bax, and Bcl-2 in human fragmented embryos derived from IVF-ET by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using annexin staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis on normal and fragmented embryos, we were able to detect apoptotsis and apoptotic gene products in fragmented embryos. RESULTS: Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, the marker for apoptosis, were detected frequently in fragmented embryos. Bcl-2 and Bax protein were detected in both fragmented and non-fragmented embryos. When fragmented embryos compared to normal embryos, immunofluorescent intensity of Bcl-2 tended to be lower in fragmented embryos. Bax gene expression increased in the fragmented embryos compared to the normal embryos. This result supports a model in which the molar ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax determines whether apoptosis induced or inhibited in human embryo. Fas was highly expressed in human preimplantation embryos but not FasL. It suggests that embryo may undergo apoptosis by binding with FasL produced by follicular or immune cells. CONCLUSION: The over expression of Bax and Fas will trigger apoptosis to lead embryo fragmentation and change embryo to be nonviable.
Apoptosis*
;
bcl-2-Associated X Protein
;
Blastocyst
;
Blotting, Western
;
Embryonic Structures*
;
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
;
Gene Expression
;
Humans*
;
Molar
9.Expression of Dazla Gene in the Development of Mouse Ovary.
Chang Suk SUH ; Yong Beom KIM ; Seung Yup KU ; Byung Chul JEE ; Young Min CHOI ; Jung Gu KIM ; Shin Yong MOON ; Jin Yong LEE ; Seok Hyun KIM
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2002;29(3):159-166
No abstract available.
Animals
;
Female
;
In Situ Hybridization
;
Mice*
;
Ovary*
10.Analysis of Factors Affecting Survival and Pregnancy Rate in Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfers.
Jeong Wook KIM ; Hye Kyung BYUN ; Hye Won YOUM ; Yong Seog PARK ; In Ok SONG ; Ji Hong SONG ; Bum Chae CHOI
Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 2000;27(1):59-66
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the important factors affecting survival and pregnancy rate in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. METHODS: we performed reprospective analysis in 738 cycles of frozen-thawed embryo transfers, in relation to the insemination methods, the freezing stage of embryo, patient's age, infertility factors and the origin of injected sperm in ICSI cycles. After conventional IVF or ICSI, the supernumerary PN stage zygotes or multicellular embryos were cryopreserved by slow freezing protocol with 1,2-propandiol (PROH) as a cryoprotectant. RESULTS: The survival rates of thawed embryos were 69.3% (1585/2287) in conventional IVF group and 71.7&% (1645/2295) in ICSI group. After frozen-thawed embryo transfers, 27.0% (92/341) and 32.0% (109/341) of pregnancy rates were achieved in conventional IVF and ICSI group, respectively. There were no significant difference in the survival and pregnancy rates according to the insemination methods, the freezing stage and patient's age. However, the pregnancy rate (36.2%) of male factor infertility (22.9%). In ICSI group, the origin of injected sperm did not affect the outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that acceptable clinical outcomes can be achieved after the transfer of frozen-thawed embryos regardless of the stage of embryos for freezing, the patient's age and the origin of injected sperm.
Embryo Transfer*
;
Embryonic Structures*
;
Freezing
;
Humans
;
Infertility
;
Insemination
;
Male
;
Pregnancy Rate*
;
Pregnancy*
;
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
;
Spermatozoa
;
Survival Rate
;
Zygote