Objective:To investigate the effects of different partial deletions in azoospermia factor (AZF) locus of Y-chromosome on the clinical outcome of severe oligoasthenozoospermia patients by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on the patients undergoing high-throughput sequencing for Y chromosome microdeletion screening and ICSI treatment in Reproductive Medicine Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from December 2017 to July 2020. According to whether carrying AZFc microdeletions or not, the patients were divided into the AZFc-deletion group and control group. And AZFc-deletion group was divided into 3 subgroups, b2/b3 deletion, b2/b4 deletion and gr/gr deletions subgroup, by the types of partial deletion.Results:The day 3 (D3) available embryo rate, the high-quality embryo rate, and the blastocyst formation rate in patients with AZFc deletion were statistically lower than those in control group [70.4% (556/790) vs. 78.5% (2867/3651), P<0.001; 24.7% (199/807) vs. 34.3% (1284/3747), P<0.001; 51.7% (277/536) vs. 58.0% (1540/2592), P=0.007], and there were no statistical differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate during transplantation cycle between the two groups (all P>0.05). The AZFc b2/b3 deletion subgroup had no significant differences in D3 available embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, compared with control group (all P>0.05). The rate of high-quality embryos in patients with the b2/b4 deletion subgroup [23.2% (32/138)] was lower than that of control group ( P=0.004), but there were no statistical differences in D3 available embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). The D3 available embryo rate [71.6% (280/391)], the high-quality embryo rate [20.8% (84/403)] and the blastocyst formation rate [48.7% (133/273)] in patients of gr/gr deletion subgroup were significantly lower than those in control group ( P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001), but there were no statistical differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:AZFc b2/b3 deletion and b2/b4 deletion in the AZFc locus of Y chromosome have no significant effect on embryonic development and pregnancy outcome in patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia undergoing ICSI. Gr/gr deletion has most adverse effect on embryonic development but no effect on pregnancy outcome.

Objective:To investigate the effects of different partial deletions in azoospermia factor (AZF) locus of Y-chromosome on the clinical outcome of severe oligoasthenozoospermia patients by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted on the patients undergoing high-throughput sequencing for Y chromosome microdeletion screening and ICSI treatment in Reproductive Medicine Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from December 2017 to July 2020. According to whether carrying AZFc microdeletions or not, the patients were divided into the AZFc-deletion group and control group. And AZFc-deletion group was divided into 3 subgroups, b2/b3 deletion, b2/b4 deletion and gr/gr deletions subgroup, by the types of partial deletion.Results:The day 3 (D3) available embryo rate, the high-quality embryo rate, and the blastocyst formation rate in patients with AZFc deletion were statistically lower than those in control group [70.4% (556/790) vs. 78.5% (2867/3651), P<0.001; 24.7% (199/807) vs. 34.3% (1284/3747), P<0.001; 51.7% (277/536) vs. 58.0% (1540/2592), P=0.007], and there were no statistical differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate during transplantation cycle between the two groups (all P>0.05). The AZFc b2/b3 deletion subgroup had no significant differences in D3 available embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate, compared with control group (all P>0.05). The rate of high-quality embryos in patients with the b2/b4 deletion subgroup [23.2% (32/138)] was lower than that of control group ( P=0.004), but there were no statistical differences in D3 available embryo rate, blastocyst formation rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). The D3 available embryo rate [71.6% (280/391)], the high-quality embryo rate [20.8% (84/403)] and the blastocyst formation rate [48.7% (133/273)] in patients of gr/gr deletion subgroup were significantly lower than those in control group ( P=0.002, P<0.001, P<0.001), but there were no statistical differences in implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:AZFc b2/b3 deletion and b2/b4 deletion in the AZFc locus of Y chromosome have no significant effect on embryonic development and pregnancy outcome in patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia undergoing ICSI. Gr/gr deletion has most adverse effect on embryonic development but no effect on pregnancy outcome.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing clinical outcome in single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles.Methods:The clinical data of 1748 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles were studied retrospectively in Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2011 to April 2018. The effects of the development speed of blastocysts, the different fertilization methods and morphological scoring of blastocyst on the pregnancy outcome were observed. Clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate and live birth rate were compared among different groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between these parameters and clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate.Results:The biochemical pregnancy rate, the clinical pregnancy rate and the live birth rate of day 5 (D5) frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer were significantly higher than those of day 6 (D6) ( P<0.05), while the ectopic pregnancy rate, the abortion rate and the early abortion rate had no significant difference ( P>0.05). Coincident results were obtained by comparing the clinical outcomes of D5/D6 blastocysts with the same score. The clinical outcome of the blastocyst of different fertilization methods had no significant differences ( P>0.05). According to the status of blastocoele expansion and hatching, blastocysts were divided into stages 3-6. Compared with the stage 3 and stage 6 groups, the stage 4 and stage 5 groups of D5 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer showed a higher biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate and a lower early abortion rate, but there were no statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). In the stage 4 group of D5 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles, there was a tendency of lower biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate with lower inner cell mass （ICM） or trophectoderm （TE） score but without statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). It was found that the age of patients and the development speed of blastocysts were negatively related to the clinical pregnancy rate and pregnancy live birth rate, while the degree of blastocoele expansion and hatching was positively related to the clinical pregnancy rate, and ICM and TE score were negatively related to the live birth rate. Conclusion:The age of patients, the development speed of blastocysts and blastocyst quality could be the factors influencing clinical outcome in single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing clinical outcome in single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles.Methods:The clinical data of 1748 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles were studied retrospectively in Reproductive Medical Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2011 to April 2018. The effects of the development speed of blastocysts, the different fertilization methods and morphological scoring of blastocyst on the pregnancy outcome were observed. Clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate and live birth rate were compared among different groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between these parameters and clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate.Results:The biochemical pregnancy rate, the clinical pregnancy rate and the live birth rate of day 5 (D5) frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer were significantly higher than those of day 6 (D6) ( P<0.05), while the ectopic pregnancy rate, the abortion rate and the early abortion rate had no significant difference ( P>0.05). Coincident results were obtained by comparing the clinical outcomes of D5/D6 blastocysts with the same score. The clinical outcome of the blastocyst of different fertilization methods had no significant differences ( P>0.05). According to the status of blastocoele expansion and hatching, blastocysts were divided into stages 3-6. Compared with the stage 3 and stage 6 groups, the stage 4 and stage 5 groups of D5 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer showed a higher biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate and a lower early abortion rate, but there were no statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). In the stage 4 group of D5 frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles, there was a tendency of lower biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate with lower inner cell mass （ICM） or trophectoderm （TE） score but without statistically significant differences ( P>0.05). It was found that the age of patients and the development speed of blastocysts were negatively related to the clinical pregnancy rate and pregnancy live birth rate, while the degree of blastocoele expansion and hatching was positively related to the clinical pregnancy rate, and ICM and TE score were negatively related to the live birth rate. Conclusion:The age of patients, the development speed of blastocysts and blastocyst quality could be the factors influencing clinical outcome in single frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles.

Objective To study the effect of estradiol supplementation during the luteal phase on mouse endometrial expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor and pinopodes in controlled ovarian stimulation cycles.Methods Female mice were randomly divided into four groups:group A[controlled ovarian stimulation(COS)group],group B(COS group with progesterone for luteal-phase-support),group C(COS group with progesterone and estradiol for luteal-phase-support),and group D of natural cycle group.Pinopodes were investigated by scanning electronic microscopy(SEM)in the uterine endometrium of pregnant mice on pregnancy days(pa)3-5.LEukaemia inhibitory factor(LIF)protein Was determined by immunohistochemistry in the uterine endometrium of pregnant mice on pd 3-5.Results (1)In groups B,C,and D,there were small developed pinopodes in the endometrial surface of pregnant mouse on day 3;there were large fully developed pinopodes in endometrial surface,which Was smooth with well defined borders resembling a mushroom on day 4.The regressing pinopodes were observed on day 5.In group A,there were small developed pinopodes in endometrial surface of pregnant mouse on day 3.The regressing pinopodes were seen on day 4.(2)In the pregnant mice of groups C and D,the level of LIF protein on days 3-5 ( 138.5±20. 3,143.1±19. 0) was significantly higher than group A ( 103. 2 ± 5.0, P < 0. 05 ), and strong immunostaining of LIF protein was found on day 4 of gestation. In group B, the level of LIF protein on days 3-5 ( 123.5±10. 8)was significantly higher than group A (P <0. 05), but significantly lower than groups C and D ( P <0. 05 ). Strong immunostaining of LIF protein was found on day 4 of gestation. In group A, weak immunostaining of LIF protein peaked on day 3 of gestation. In groups B, C, and D, the level of LIF protein on day 4 was significantly higher than group A on day 3 ( F = 55.76, P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions Estradiol supplementation during the luteal phase can improve the expression of LIF and pinopodes in mouse endometrium in controlled ovarian stimulation cycles and redress the harmful effect on implantation window by COS. Therefore, estradiol supplementation can improve the endometrial receptivity.