This is a retrospective cohort study comparing blastocyst transfer outcomes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection utilizing epididymal versus testicular sperm for men with obstructive azoospermia. All cases at a single center between 2012 and 2016 were included. Operative approach was selected at the surgeon's discretion and included microepididymal sperm aspiration or testicular sperm extraction. Blastocyst culture was exclusively utilized prior to transfer. The primary outcome was live birth rate. Secondary outcomes included fertilization rate, blastulation rate, euploidy rate, and implantation rate. A mixed effects model was performed. Seventy-six microepididymal sperm aspiration cases and 93 testicular sperm extraction cases were analyzed. The live birth rate was equivalent (48.6% vs 50.5%, P = 0.77). However, on mixed effects model, epididymal sperm resulted in a greater likelihood of fertilization (adjusted OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.05-1.81, P = 0.02) and produced a higher blastulation rate (adjusted OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.1-1.85, P = 0.01). As a result, the epididymal sperm group had more supernumerary blastocysts available (4.3 vs 3, P < 0.05). The euploidy rate was no different. Pregnancy rates were no different through the first transfer cycle. However, intracytoplasmic sperm injection following microepididymal sperm aspiration resulted in a greater number of usable blastocysts per patient. Thus, the true benefit of epididymal sperm may only be demonstrated via a comparison of cumulative pregnancy rates after multiple transfers from one cohort.
Adult ; Azoospermia ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Epididymis/cytology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa/cytology* ; Testis/cytology*

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule (MDZG) on the development and maturation of epididymal sperm in experimental varicocele (VC) rats.

METHODSSixty SD male rats were randomly divided into six groups of equal number, sham operation, VC model, Aescuven forte, and low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG. The model of left VC was made by the Turner method in all the rats except those of the sham operation group, followed by treatment with 0.9% normal saline for the animals in the sham operation and VC model groups, Aescuven forte tablets at 54 mg per kg of the body weight for those in the Aescuven forte group, and MDZG at 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 g/ml for those in the low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG groups, all administered intragastrically qd for 8 successive weeks. Then, all the rats were sacrificed and their left epididymides harvested for examination of the quality of the epididymal sperm and the local microscopic and ultrastructural changes of the epididymal tissue.

RESULTSThe VC model rats showed significant apoptosis of the epididymal sperm cells, interstitial edema, microvascular dilatation, degeneration and degeneration of the epithelial cells, degeneration of some principal cells and basal cell vacuoles, and immature spermatids in the lumen. Sperm motility was significantly increased in the Aescuven forte and low-, medium- and high-dose MDZG groups as compared with the VC models (P <0.01). Both sperm concentration and motility were markedly higher in the high-dose MDZG than in the Aescuven forte group (P <0.05). Remarkable apoptosis of epididymal sperm cells was observed in the microenvironment of sperm development in the VC models, which exhibited no statistically significant difference from that in the rats of the medium- and high-dose MDZG groups.

CONCLUSIONSExperimental varicocele induced local apoptosis of epididymal sperm cells, interstitial edema and microvascular dilatation in the rat epididymis, while Modified Dahuang Zhechong Granule could improve the stability of epididymal sperm maturation and contribute to their development.

Aesculus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Edema ; chemically induced ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; Varicocele ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of Wuziyanzong Pills (WYP) in the rat model of oligoasthenospermia (OAS) and its action mechanism.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were equally randomized into six groups: normal control, OAS model, Shengjing Capsules (1.6 g per kg of the body weight), low-dose WYP (1 g per kg of the body weight), medium-dose WYP (2 g per kg of the body weight), and high-dose WYP (4 g per kg of the body weight). The OAS model was established by intragastric administration of Tripterygium glucoside at 30 mg per g per d for 6 weeks. From the 3rd week of modeling, the rats of the medication groups were treated intragastrically with corresponding drugs for 4 weeks. Then all the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the testicular and epididymal organ coefficients, examination of epididymal sperm quality and apoptosis, and detection of the openness of the sperm mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP). Histopathological changes in the testis were observed by HE staining and the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells determined by Hochest staining.

RESULTSWYP obviously improved the organ coefficients of the testis and epididymis, increased sperm concentration, motility and viability, decreased the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, and inhibited the abnormal openness of MPTP in the OAS model rats. HE staining showed that the number and levels of spermatogenic cells were significantly increased while Hochest staining manifested that the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was remarkably inhibited in the seminiferous tubules of the testis in the WYP-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONSWYP can improve sperm quality and reduce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells (including sperm) in OAS model rats, which may be related with its inhibitory effect on the abnormal openness of MPTP.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testis ; drug effects ; Tripterygium

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of sperm source and sperm parameters on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: This retrospective study included 433 ICSI cycles from June 2005 to December 2008 in Reproductive Medical Center of Xiangya Hospital. The patients were divided into 2 major groups according to the source of spermatozoa used for ICSI: ejaculated (group A, n=336) and epididymal (group B, n=97). Group A was divided into 3 subgroups according to the sperm parameters: normal (Group A1, n=95), single parameter defect (Group A2, n=119), and multiple parameter defect (Group A3, n=122). RESULTS: The basic characteristics among the 4 groups had no statistic difference (P>0.05), and the difference in the fertilization rate, normal fertilization rate, cleaving embryo rate,good quality embryo rate, implanted rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and early abortion rate among the 4 groups were not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The outcome is similar no matter whether the spermatozoa is from ejaculated sperm or epididymis. ICSI can treat male infertility of various factors, and the outcome is the same with one or multiple sperm parameter abnormality. ICSI with epididymal spermatozoa through percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration is effective for infertility due to obstructive azoospermia.
Adult ; Epididymis ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa ; physiology

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an crucial part of assistant reproductive technology nowadays, mainly used in severe male infertility. It's a very hot question whether different origin of sperms will affect the outcome and safety of ICSI. In this article,we reviewed the present researches on the outcome and safety of ICSI by different origin of sperms, including ejaculated sperms, testicular sperms,epididymal sperms and frozen-thawed sperms.
Cryopreservation ; Ejaculation ; Epididymis ; cytology ; Female ; Fertilization ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Safety ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo compare the outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with retrieved epididymal and testicular sperm for obstructive azoospermia and with ejaculated sperm for severe oligozoospermia and asthenospermia.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 431 ICSI cycles, which were divided according to sperm sources into Groups A (n=287 in patients with severe oligozoospermia or asthenospermia using ejaculated sperm), B (n=109 in obstructive azoospermia patients with sperm retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, PESA) and C (n=35 in obstructive azoospermia patients with sperm retrieved by testicular sperm extraction, TESE). Comparisons were made among the three groups in the rates of embryo implantation, fertilization, pregnancy, cleavage, and miscarriage.

RESULTSGroup A showed statistically significant differences from Groups B and C in the rates of embryo implantation and pregnancy (18.46% vs. 25.23% and 28.76%, 31.23% vs. 42.16% and 39.39%, P < 0.05). But no significant differences were seen in the rates of fertilization, cleavage and miscarriage among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe rates of embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy are higher in patients with obstructive azoospermia than in those with severe oligozoospermia or asthenospermia after ICSI with ejaculated sperm.

Azoospermia ; therapy ; Epididymis ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; cytology ; physiopathology

To determine the direct effect of leptin on adipose tissue apoptosis in vitro using rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), we isolated the ADSCs of rat epididymis adipose tissue by collagenase digestion, filtration, and subsequent centrifugation. Cell cultures with or without leptin (10(-9) mol/L, 10(-8) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L and 10(-6) mol/L) were incubated for different time. We examined the cell surface phenotype by immunofluorescence and detected the apoptosis morphological changes of ADSCs by laser scanning confocal microscope (LCSM). The number of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry assay after annexin V binding and PI staining. Caspase-3 activity was measured by spectrofluorometry. The present study demonstrates that leptin treatment causes a marked increase in adipose-derived stem cell apoptosis. With the LCSM, after being treated with leptin, ADSCs showed the typical characteristic of apoptosis. Leptin in used concentrations (0 mol/L, 10(-8) mol/L, 10(-7) mol/L, 10(-6) mol/L) caused a marked increase in cell apoptosis after 48 h incubation time (for 2.50% +/- 0.72%, 6.78% +/- 1.99%, 11.99% +/- 1.58% and 17.93% +/- 4.82%, respectively, P < 0.05). Caspase-3 activity increased and reached a maximal level after 48 h in a linear fashion. The effect of leptin was dose-dependent and time-dependent. Leptin has been demonstrated to induce preadipocyte and adipocyte apoptosis, and today we demonstrate that leptin can induce ADSCs apoptosis, which can contribute to the decrease of adiposity. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating the direct peripheral effect of leptin on ADSCs.
Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Epididymis ; cytology ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of subchronic exposure to acrylamide on the reproduction and testis endocrine function of rats.

METHODSForty healthy adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of equal number, exposed to acrylamide at the dose of 0, 4, 10 and 18 mg/(kg x d) respectively for 9 weeks, and then subjected to the determination of the hindlimb landing foot splay, sperm vitality and morphology, the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the testis homogenate, and the levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in the serum and testis homogenate. Based on the primary Leydig cell culture models exposed to acrylamide of 0, 0.1, 0.75, 4 and 8 mmol/L, the activity of Leydig cells was measured by the CCK-8 method.

RESULTSFollowing acrylamide exposure, the hindlimb landing foot splay increased markedly with dose increase (P < 0.01). The rates of sperm vitality were (6.86 +/- 5.46)%, (65.43 +/- 5.16)%, (60.86 +/- 4.26)% and (46.86 +/- 2.73)% in the exposed groups, significantly lower than in the control (P < 0.01); the rates of abnormal sperm were (39.00 +/- 10.95)%, (35.43 +/- 7.54)%, (45.71 +/- 13.28)% and (56.71 +/- 17.01)%, significantly increased in the 10 and 18 mg/(kg x d) groups (P < 0.05); ACP activities were (82.93 +/- 11.05), (73.52 +/- 8.77), (77.67 +/- 3.04) and (68.56 +/- 3.09) U/g prot, showing a decreasing tendency, while ALP activities were (0.96 +/- 0.15), (1.07 +/- 0.22), (1.12 +/- 0.22) and (0.74 +/- 0.10) U/g prot, displaying a tendency of first increasing and then decreasing. Both ACP and ALP activities were inhibited significantly in the 18 mg/(kg x d) group as compared with the control (P < 0.05). A marked reduction was noted in T levels in the serum, (13.44 +/- 4.76), (7.69 +/- 3.84), (5.23 +/- 1.42) and (1.36 +/- 0.86) ng/ml, as well as in the testis homogenate, (4.95 +/- 1.64), (3.01 +/- 0.76), (2.44 +/- 0.91) and (0.85 +/- 0.49) ng/mg prot, (P < 0.01), but no significant changes were observed in 17beta-E2 levels. After 24 hours exposure to acrylamide, the optical densities were 0.82 +/- 0.06, 0.56 +/- 0.07, 0.44 +/- 0.06, 0.26 +/- 0.03 and 0.45 +/- 0.21, showing an evident inhibition of the activity of Leydig cells at the dose of 0.1, 0.75, 4 and 8 mmol/L (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSubchronic exposure to acrylamide could affect the normal development of sperm, cause changes of the activity of some enzymes in the testis and significantly influence hindlimb motor coordination. Acrylamide directly damages Leydig cells and affects the endocrine function of the testis.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Acrylamide ; toxicity ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Epididymis ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism ; Toxicity Tests, Chronic

AIMTo characterize mouse capping protein alpha3 (CPalpha3) during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.

METHODSWe produced rat anti-CPalpha3 antiserum and examined the expression of CPalpha3 in various mouse tissues using Western blot analysis and the localization of CPalpha3 in testicular and epididymal sperm using immunohistochemical analyses. We also examined how the localization of CPalpha3 and beta-actin (ACTB) in sperm changed after the acrosomal reaction by performing immunohistochemical analyses using anti-CPalpha3 antiserum and anti-actin antibody.

RESULTSWestern blot analysis using specific antiserum revealed that CPalpha3 was expressed specifically in testes. Interestingly, the molecular weight of CPalpha3 changed during sperm maturation in the epididymis. Furthermore, the subcellular localization of CPalpha3 in sperm changed dynamically from the flagellum to the post-acrosomal region of the head during epididymal maturation. The distribution of ACTB was in the post-acrosomal region of the head and the flagellum. After inducing the acrosomal reaction, the CPalpha3 and ACTB localization was virtually identical to the localization before the acrosomal reaction.

CONCLUSIONCPalpha3 might play an important role in sperm morphogenesis and/or sperm function.

Acrosome Reaction ; physiology ; Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CapZ Actin Capping Protein ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Epididymis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Sperm Head ; metabolism ; Sperm Tail ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism

AIMto investigate the effects of crude garlic on adult male rat reproductive functions.

METHODSThirty male rats were divided into five groups: group 1 (untreated) and groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were fed for 30 days with 5%, 10%, 15% and 30% crude garlic, respectively. Testes and accessory organs were weighed and some markers were assessed. Light and electron microscopy observations were also performed.

RESULTSA significant decrease was observed in the body weight of groups 4 (14%; P < 0.01) and 5 (20%; P < 0.01); of the prostate weight in group 5 (29.1%; P < 0.05) and of seminal vesicle weight in groups 3 (14.4%; P < 0.01), 4 (18.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (27.3%; P < 0.01). In contrast, testis and epididymis weights were unchanged. In epididymis tissue, the alpha glucosidase activity and the spermatozoa density were unchanged. The treatment resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone serum levels in groups 3 (77.3%; P < 0.01), 4 (77.3%; P < 0.01) and 5 (90.9%; P < 0.01), associated with a significant increase in LH serum levels (P < 0.01). Testicular histology showed a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of empty seminiferous tubules. Moreover, testicular function was affected; a significant decrease in phosphatase acid activity (P < 0.01) and testosterone (P < 0.05) contents were observed.

CONCLUSIONCrude garlic consumption during 1 month reduced testosterone secretion and altered spermatogenesis at 10%, 15% and 30% doses.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Garlic ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Prostate ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Seminal Vesicles ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood