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Melatonin protects oogenesis from hypobaric hypoxia-induced fertility damage in mice Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-03-11 Ruina Zhang, Cong Liu, Daolun Yu, Deyong She, Yan Yu, Yongping Cai, Naifu Chen
Summary Environmental hypoxia adversely affects reproductive health in humans and animals at high altitudes. Therefore, how to alleviate the follicle development disorder caused by hypoxia exposure and to improve the competence of fertility in plateau non-habituated female animals are important problems to be solved urgently. In this study, a hypobaric hypoxic chamber was used for 4 weeks to simulate
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Detrimental effects of electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phone on embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Mohammad Seify, Mohammad Ali Khalili, Fatemeh Anbari, Yeganeh Koohestanidehaghi
Summary Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has deleterious effects on sperm motility and viability, as well as oocyte membrane and organelle structure. The aim was to assess the effects of cell phone radiation on preimplantation embryo morphokinetics and blastocyst viability in mice. For superovulation, 20 female mice were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 10 IU pregnant mare’s serum gonadotropin
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In vitro effects of the combination of serotonin, selenium, zinc, and vitamins D and E supplementation on human sperm motility and reactive oxygen species production Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Yasemin Yilmazer, Elnaz Moshfeghi, Fadime Cetin, Necati Findikli
Summary Infertility affects 15% of all couples worldwide and 50% of cases of infertility are solely due to male factors. A decrease in motility in the semen is considered one of the main factors that is directly related to infertility. The use of supplementation to improve the overall sperm quality has become increasingly popular worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether sperm motility
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Has the concept of polyspermy prevention been invented in the laboratory? Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 Brian Dale
Summary There is no evidence, nor need, for a fast block to polyspermy in animal oocytes. The idea that oocytes have evolved a mechanism to allow the entry of one spermatozoon and repel all others has, however, gained consensus over the last century. The main culprit is the sea urchin, which has been used for over a century in in vitro studies of the fertilization process. Images of sea urchin oocytes
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Protective efficacy of Nerium oleander extract on spermatogenesis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 Afrooz Karimi, Farhad Kohpeyma, Ebrahim Asadi, Maryam ziyaee, Samaneh Karimi
Summary Men with diabetes frequently experience spermatogenic dysfunction, which is the most significant sign that diabetes has harmed their ability to reproduce. The effect of various doses of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Nerium oleander leaves on the pituitary–gonadal axis, sperm motility and number, antioxidant system, changes in testicular tissue structure, and spermatogenesis in healthy and
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The identification and classification of candidate genes during the zygotic genome activation in the mammals Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Kaiyue Hu, Wenbo Li, Shuxia Ma, Dong Fang, Jiawei Xu
Summary Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is a critical event in early embryonic development, and thousands of genes are involved in this delicate and sophisticated biological process. To date, however, only a handful of these genes have revealed their core functions in this special process, and therefore the roles of other genes still remain unclear. In the present study, we used previously published
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Rreb1 is a key transcription factor in Sertoli cell maturation and function and spermatogenesis in mouse Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Zhu Wu, Xu Chen, Tong Yan, Li Yu, Longsheng Zhang, Meimei Zheng, Hui Zhu
Summary Spermatogenesis is a developmental process driven by interactions between germ cells and Sertoli cells. This process depends on appropriate gene expression, which might be regulated by transcription factors. This study focused on Rreb1, a zinc finger transcription factor, and explored its function and molecular mechanisms in spermatogenesis in a mouse model. Our results showed that RREB1 was
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Comparative study of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using the traditional holding and the oocyte-holding pipette without aspiration Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2024-01-04 Francisco Vergara, Javier Fernández, Concepción Pedrosa, María Muñoz, Elvira Jerez, Mireia Varón, Carmen Moyano, Alberto Yoldi, Jordi Ponce
Despite the high level of standardization of the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique, there are some aspects that deserve special attention and should still be improved. The major drawback of the technique is its invasiveness, as during cytoplasmic aspiration different structures of the oocyte may be lost or damaged. This is partly because the microtools used in ICSI were not specially
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Ultrastructural study: in vitro and in vivo differentiation of mice spermatogonial stem cells Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-27 Zahra Bashiri, Mansoureh Movahedin, Vahid Pirhajati, Hamidreza Asgari, Morteza Koruji
Mouse testicular tissue is composed of seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue. Mammalian spermatogenesis is divided into three stages: spermatocytogenesis (mitotic divisions) in which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) turn into spermatocytes, followed by two consecutive meiotic divisions in which spermatocytes form spermatids. Spermatids differentiate into spermatozoa during spermiogenesis. Various
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Structural and metabolic cumulus cell alteration affects oocyte quality in underweight women Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-22 Hong Ji, Qing Zhang, Lu Ding, Rongjuan Chen, Fu Liu, Ping Li
This study aimed to investigate the structural and metabolic changes in cumulus cells of underweight women and their effects on oocyte maturation and fertilization. The cytoplasmic ultrastructure was analyzed by electron microscopy, mitochondrial membrane potential by immunofluorescence, and mitochondrial DNA copy number by relative quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The expression of various
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CsA promotes trophoblast invasion accompanied by changes in leukaemic inhibitory factor and fibroblast growth factor in peri-implantation blastocysts Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Dan Li, Qiuling Jie, Qi Li, Ping Long, Zhen Wang, Jiaxing Wang, Shengnan Tian, Menglan Wu, Yanlin Ma, Yuanhua Huang
During the early stages of human pregnancy, successful implantation of embryonic trophoblast cells into the endometrium depends on good communication between trophoblast cells and the endometrium. Abnormal trophoblast cell function can cause embryo implantation failure. In this study, we added cyclosporine A (CsA) to the culture medium to observe the effect of CsA on embryonic trophoblast cells and
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Effects of kisspeptin on the maturation of human ovarian primordial follicles in vitro Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi, Leila Kooshesh, Ali Tayyebiazar, Neda Taghizabet, Anahita Tavakoli, Ashraf Hassanpour, Fereshteh Aliakbari, Ebrahim Kharazinejad, Ali-Mohammad Sharifi
At this time, with advances in medical science, many cancers and chronic diseases are treatable, but one of their side effects is infertility. Some women also want to delay pregnancy for personal reasons. There has been some evidence that kisspeptin activates broad signals by binding to its receptor, suggesting that the role of kisspeptin in direct control of ovarian function includes follicle growth
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Robust evidence reveals the reliable rate of normal/balanced embryos for identifying reciprocal translocation and Robertsonian translocation carriers Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-12 Zhihua Tian, Wenchang Lian, Li Xu, Yanxi Long, Li Tang, Huawei Wang
We aimed to evaluate the reliable rate of normal/balanced embryos for reciprocal translocation and Robertsonian translocation carriers and to provide convincing evidence for clinical staff to conduct genetic counselling regarding common structural rearrangements to alleviate patient anxiety. The characteristics of 39,459 embryos that were sourced from unpublished data and literature were analyzed.
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Kisspeptin stimulates sheep ovarian follicular development in vitro through homologous receptors Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 B. Divya Sri, S. Harsha Lekha, K. Narendra Gopal Reddy, Deepa Pathipati, B. Rambabu Naik, P. Jagapathy Ramayya, K. Veera Bramhaiah, L.S.S. Varaprasad Reddy, A.V.N. Siva Kumar
The present study was conducted to elucidate (1) the influence of kisspeptin (KP) on the in vitro development of preantral follicles (PFs) and (2) evolution of KP receptor gene (KISS1R) expression during ovarian follicular development in sheep. Kisspeptin was supplemented (0–100 µg/ml) in the culture medium of PFs for 6 days. The cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) from cultured PFs were subsequently matured
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Application of Raman spectroscopy to the evaluation of F-actin changes in sea urchin eggs at fertilization Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Maria Mangini, Nunzia Limatola, Maria Antonietta Ferrara, Giuseppe Coppola, Jong Tai Chun, Anna Chiara De Luca, Luigia Santella
The actin filaments on the surface of echinoderm oocytes and eggs readily undergo massive reorganization during meiotic maturation and fertilization. In sea urchin eggs, the actin cytoskeletal response to the fertilizing sperm is fast enough to accompany Ca2+ signals and to guide sperm’s entry into the egg. Although recent work using live cell imaging technology confirmed changes in the actin polymerization
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CRMP5 participates in oocyte meiosis by regulating spastin to correct microtubule–kinetochore misconnection Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-04 Zhen Jin, Zhi-Cai Zhang, Chen-Yu Xiao, Mei-Qi Li, Qian-Ru Li, Lei-Lei Gao
Our previous studies have suggested that spastin, which aggregates on spindle microtubules in oocytes, may promote the assembly of mouse oocyte spindles by cutting microtubules. This action may be related to CRMP5, as knocking down CRMP5 results in reduced spindle microtubule density and maturation defects in oocytes. In this study, we found that, after knocking down CRMP5 in oocytes, spastin distribution
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Cytoplasmic granules in bovine oocytes do not affect embryonic or fetal development Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-04 Paola Maria da Silva Rosa, Pedro Henrique Evagelista Guedes, Joaquim Mansano Garcia, Clara Slade Oliveira
Oocyte cytoplasmic evaluation is based on homogeneity and granular appearance. Our study investigated if a granular cytoplasm, highly heterogeneous, would affect oocyte competence in bovine. In two experiments, bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) with homogeneous cytoplasm (control, CC) and granulated cytoplasm (granular, GC) were selected from a regular pool of COCs. Experiment 1 was performed
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The effect of Coenzyme Q10 on mitochondrial biogenesis in mouse ovarian follicles during in vitro culture Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-12-04 Roya Harsini, Saeed Zavareh, Meysam Nasiri, Sara Seyfi
The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the expression of the Transcription Factor A Mitochondrial (Tfam) gene and mtDNA copy number in preantral follicles (PFs) of mice during in vitro culture. To conduct this experimental study, PFs were isolated from 14-day-old National Medical Research Institute mice and cultured in the presence of 50 µm CoQ10 for 12 days
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Embryological characteristics and clinical outcomes of oocytes with different degrees of abnormal zona pellucida during assisted reproductive treatment Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Junshun Fang, Hua Sun, Linjun Chen, Jie Wang, Fei Lin, Zhipeng Xu, Lihua Zhu, Shanshan Wang
Abnormalities in the zona pellucida (ZP) adversely affect oocyte maturation, embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. However, the assessment of severity is challenging. To evaluate the effects of different degrees of ZP abnormalities on embryo development and clinical outcomes, in total, 590 retrieval cycles were scored and divided into four categories (control, mild, moderate and severe) based
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Paternal high-fat diet altered H3K36me3 pattern of pre-implantation embryos Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Bin Meng, Jiahui He, Wenbin Cao, Yanru Zhang, Jia Qi, Shiwei Luo, Chong Shen, Juan Zhao, Ying Xue, Pengxiang Qu, Enqi Liu
The global transition towards diets high in calories has contributed to 2.1 billion people becoming overweight, or obese, which damages male reproduction and harms offspring. Recently, more and more studies have shown that paternal exposure to stress closely affects the health of offspring in an intergenerational and transgenerational way. SET Domain Containing 2 (SETD2), a key epigenetic gene, is
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Effects of multi-gradient equilibration during vitrification on oocyte survival and embryo development in mice Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Yan Zhu, Zhen Zhang, Guang-Li Zhang, Man-Xi Jiang
Vitrification has been widely used for oocyte cryopreservation, but there is still a need for optimization to improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we compared the routine droplet merge protocol with modified multi-gradient equilibration vitrification for cryopreservation of mouse oocytes at metaphase II. Subsequently, the oocytes were thawed and subjected to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
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Investigation of BAK, BAX and MAD2L1 gene expression in human aneuploid blastocysts Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-23 M. Ahmed, H. Aytacoglu, O. Coban, P. Tulay
Maintaining genomic stability is crucial for normal development. At earlier stages of preimplantation development, as the embryonic genome activation is not fully completed, the embryos may be more prone to abnormalities. Aneuploidies are one of the most common genetic causes of implantation failure or first-trimester miscarriages. Apoptosis is a crucial mechanism to eliminate damaged or abnormal cells
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The optimal frozen embryo transfer strategy for the recurrent implantation failure patient without blastocyst freezing: thawing day 3 embryos and culturing to day 5 blastocysts Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-16 Xiang Li, Youman Zeng, Juan He, Bowen Luo, Xiongcai Lu, Lingling Zhu, Zengyu Yang, Fuman Cai, Sheng-ao Chen, Yudi Luo
This study aimed to investigate the optimal frozen embryo transfer (FET) strategy for recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients with three consecutive failed cleaved embryo implantations and no blastocyst preservation. This retrospective analysis was divided into three groups based on the FET strategy: thawed day 3 embryo transfer (D3 FET group); and extended culture of frozen–thawed day 3 embryos
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In vitro maturation in synthetic oviductal fluid increases gene expression associated with quality and lipid metabolism in bovine oocytes Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-13 Adriano Felipe Mendes, Raquel Zaneti Puelker, Lilian Francisco Arantes de Souza, Andréa Renesto Coimbra Jacintho, Priscila Helena dos Santos, Ines Cristina Giometti, Sheila Merlo Firetti, Anthony César de Souza Castilho, Marilice Zundt, Claudia Maria Bertan Membrive, Caliê Castilho
Traditionally, in vitro oocyte and embryo culture progresses through a series of varying culture medium. To investigate simplifying the in vitro production of bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), this study used synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Special interest was placed on gene expression linked to lipid metabolism and oocyte maturation. COCs were
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Reproductive outcomes with delayed blastocyst development: the clinical value of day 7 euploid blastocysts in frozen embryo transfer cycles Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-11-13 Andrea Abdala, Ibrahim Elkhatib, Aşina Bayram, Ahmed El-Damen, Laura Melado, Daniela Nogueira, Barbara Lawrenz, Human M. Fatemi
Embryos of optimal development reach blastocyst stage 116 ± 2 h after insemination. Usable D7 blastocysts represent nearly 5% of embryos in IVF with acceptable pregnancy and live birth rates, however data are still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) of D7 blastocysts in single euploid frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. An observational study was performed
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Effects of klotho protein or klotho knockdown in porcine oocytes at different stages Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-10-31 Eun Pyo Kim, Do Yon Kim, Changhoon Park, Seung-Min Yoo, Myung-Shin Lee, Geon A Kim
Klotho is a protein that plays different functions in female fertility. We have previously reported that klotho protein supplementation during in vitro maturation improves porcine embryo development, while klotho knockout for somatic cell cloning completely blocks full-term pregnancy in vivo. However, the effects of the microinjection of klotho protein or klotho knockdown dual vector in porcine embryos
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Serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations are related to embryo development: lessons from time-lapse imaging Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-09-25 Amanda Souza Setti, Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga, Patricia Guilherme, Assumpto Iaconelli, Edson Borges
Our objective was to study whether serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations were associated with embryo morphokinetic events. This retrospective cohort study was performed in a private university-affiliated in vitro fertilization centre between March 2019 and December 2020 and included 902 oocytes cultured in a time-lapse imaging incubator, obtained from 114 intracytoplasmic sperm injection
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Evaluative effectiveness of follicular output rate, ovarian sensitivity index, and ovarian response prediction index for the ovarian reserve and response of low-prognosis patients according to the POSEIDON criteria: a retrospective study Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-09-22 Zhilan Chen, Wei Li, Shufang Ma, Yanmin Li, Liqun Lv, Kecheng Huang, Aidong Gong
The aim was to explore the implications of follicular output rate (FORT), ovarian sensitivity index (OSI), ovarian response prediction index (ORPI), and follicle-to-oocyte index (FOI) in low-prognosis patients defined by POSEIDON criteria. In total, 4030 fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles from January 2013 to October 2021 were included in this retrospective cohort analysis and were categorized
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Zona pellucida removal modifies the expression and release of specific microRNAs in domestic cat blastocysts Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-09-19 Daniel Veraguas-Dávila, Diego Caamaño, Darling Saéz-Ruiz, Yazmín Vásquez, Fernando Saravia, Fidel Ovidio Castro, Lleretny Rodríguez-Alvarez
The in vitro culture of domestic cat embryos without the zona pellucida affects their implantation capacity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have an important role in embryo–maternal communication and implantation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression of specific miRNAs in domestic cat blastocysts cultured without the zona pellucida. Two experimental groups were done: (1) domestic cat embryos
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Kisspeptin decreases the adverse effects of human ovarian vitrification by regulating ROS-related apoptotic occurrences Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-09-01 Anahita Tavakoli, Fereshteh Aliakbari, Malek Soleimani Mehranjani
Kisspeptin is characterized as a neuropeptide with a pivotal function in female and male infertility, and its antioxidant properties have been demonstrated. In this study, the effects of kisspeptin on the improvement of the vitrification and thawing results of human ovarian tissues were investigated. In this work, 12 ovaries from patients who underwent hysterectomy were collected laparoscopically,
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Obeticholic acid treatment of mice to promote fertilization and reproduction Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-09-01 Ming Liang, Huailiang Yang, Lanyong Xu, Longqiao Cao
Obeticholic acid (OCA), a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, has been demonstrated to ameliorate the histopathological characteristics of liver damage. Nonetheless, the systemic safety profile of OCA with regard to reproduction and development remains poorly understood. In the present study, we conducted a dose–response experiment by administering OCA at doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg through
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Therapeutic potential of nanotechnology in reproduction disorders and possible limitations Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-08-04 Pedro Alves Aguiar Barroso, Danisvânia Ripardo Nascimento, Miguel F. De Lima Neto, Ernando Igo T. De Assis, Ciro Siqueira Figueira, José Roberto Viana Silva
One of the prominent peculiarities of nanoparticles (NPs) is their ability to cross biological barriers. Therefore, the development of NPs with different properties has great therapeutic potential in the area of reproduction because the association of drugs, hormones and other compounds with NPs represents an alternative for delivering substances directly at a specific site and for treatment of reproductive
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Actin-mediated endocytosis in the E-YSL helps drive epiboly in zebrafish Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-08-03 Jackie C. Cheng, Andrew L. Miller, Sarah E. Webb
In zebrafish, a punctate band of F-actin is reported to develop in the external yolk syncytial layer (E-YSL) during the latter part of epiboly in zebrafish embryos. Here, electron microscopy (EM) and fluorescence confocal microscopy were conducted to investigate dynamic changes in the E-YSL membrane during epiboly. Using scanning EM, we report that the surface of the E-YSL is highly convoluted, consisting
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Evaluation of sperm and hormonal assessments in Wagyu, Nellore, and Angus bulls Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-26 A. R. Moura, A. R. Santos, J. D. A. Losano, A. F. P. Siqueira, T. R. S. Hamilton, R. Zanella, K. C. Caires, R. Simões
Wagyu bulls are known to have a highly exacerbated libido, as shown by the intense sexual interest of young calves. Therefore we believe that Wagyu male animals have specialized Sertoli and Leydig cells that are directly involved with the sexual precocity in this breed as mature bulls have a small scrotal circumference. This study aimed to evaluate whether there were differences in the hormone and
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Tspan5 promotes the EMT process to regulate the syncytialization of trophoblast cells by activating Notch signalling Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-24 Hai-Yu Tang, Mei Lin, Yong-Qian Liang, Jin-Hua Wang, Hong-Gan Yi, Man Yang
Placental trophoblastic cells play important roles in placental development and fetal health. However, the mechanism of trophoblastic cell fusion is still not entirely clear. The level of Tspan5 in the embryo culture medium was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fusion of BeWo cells was observed by immunofluorescence. Cell fusion-related factors and EMT-related factors were identified
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Comparison of the duration of estradiol administration and the effect on pregnancy outcome of day 3 vitrified–warmed embryo transfer cycle: a randomized controlled trial Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-14 Afsoon Zarei, Ameneh Keshavarzi, Maryam Zare
Based on the fact that the follicular phase in the menstrual cycle has length variation, it has been assumed that the duration of oestrogen (E2) administration could also be variable; therefore, for the first time, this randomized clinical trial study was conducted to investigate and compare the duration of estradiol administration and the effect on pregnancy outcomes in the cleavage-stage frozen embryo
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Selection of Rattus norvegicus cumulus–oocyte complex for vitrification by brilliant cresyl blue Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-14 Iaskara Oliveira, Joana Fisch, Juliana Gomes, Rui Fernando Felix Lopes, Alexandre Tavares Duarte de Oliveira
The influence of the method of evaluating developmentally competent oocytes on their viability after cryopreservation still needs to be better understood. The objective of this study was to determine the cleavage and embryo developmental rates after parthenogenetic activation of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) selected by different concentrations of brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) and cryopreservation
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Ameliorative effect of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni on sperm parameters, in vitro fertilization, and early embryo development in a streptozotocin-induced mouse model of diabetes Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-07 Mahdad Abdi, Fathemeh Alizadeh, Erfan Daneshi, Morteza Abouzaripour, Fardin Fathi, Kaveh Rahimi
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels. It is well known that men with diabetes frequently experience reproductive disorders and sexual dysfunction. In fact, sperm quality has a significant effect on fertilization success and embryo development. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of Stevia rebaudiana hydroalcoholic extract on serum
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Exploring the effect of cryopreservation in assisted reproductive technology and potential epigenetic risk Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-07-06 Romualdo Sciorio, Gerard Campos, Luca Tramontano, Francesco M. Bulletti, Giorgio M. Baldini, Marina Vinciguerra
Since the birth of the first baby by in vitro fertilization in 1978, more than 9 million children have been born worldwide using medically assisted reproductive treatments. Fertilization naturally takes place in the maternal oviduct where unique physiological conditions enable the early healthy development of the embryo. During this dynamic period of early development major waves of epigenetic reprogramming
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Effects of antifreeze protein from Lolium perenne L. (LpAFP) in the vitrification of in vitro-produced bovine embryos Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-06-27 R.A. Silva Júnior, R. Desenzi, M.M.S. Ramires, A.F. Souza, M.A.M. Donato, C.A. Peixoto, T. Nascimento, C.C. Bartolomeu, A.M. Batista
In the present study, the cryoprotective effects of Lolium perenne antifreeze protein (LpAFP) on the vitrification of bovine embryos were evaluated. In vitro-produced blastocysts were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) without the addition of LpAFP and the treatment group (TG) with the addition of 500 ng/ml of LpAFP in the equilibrium and vitrification solution. Vitrification was carried
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The artificial uterus: on the way to ectogenesis Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-06-26 Francesco Maria Bulletti, Romualdo Sciorio, Antonio Palagiano, Carlo Bulletti
The inability to support the growth and development of a mature fetus up to delivery results in significant human suffering. Current available solutions include adoption, surrogacy, and uterus transplantation. However, these options are subject to several ethical, religious, economic, social, and medical concerns. Ectogenesis is the process in which an embryo develops in an artificial uterus from implantation
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Protective effect of onion peel extract on ageing mouse oocytes Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-06-20 Yong-Nan Xu, Guo-Bo Han, Ying-Hua Li, Chun-Hao Piao, Guan-Hao Li, Nam-Hyung Kim
Mammalian oocytes not fertilized immediately after ovulation can undergo ageing and a rapid decline in quality. The addition of antioxidants can be an efficient approach to delaying the oocyte ageing process. Onion peel extract (OPE) contains quercetin and other flavonoids with natural antioxidant activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of OPE on mouse oocyte ageing and its mechanism
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Alterations in the expression pattern of some epigenetic-related genes and microRNAs subsequent to oocyte cryopreservation Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-06-20 Ali Shadmanesh, Hassan Nazari
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-encoding RNAs that actively regulate biological and physiological processes, and play an important role in regulating gene expression in all cells, especially in most animal cells, including oocytes and embryos. The expression of miRNAs at the right time and place is crucial for the oocyte’s maturation and the embryo’s subsequent development. Although assisted reproductive
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Liquid storage of porcine in vitro-produced blastocysts; a practical approach for short storage Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-06-08 Linda Marijke Haug, Reina Jochems, Ann Helen Gaustad, Elisabeth Kommisrud, Frøydis Deinboll Myromslien, Eli Grindflek, Anne Hege Alm-Kristiansen
Commercial application of embryo transfer in pig breeding is dependent on the storage of embryos. The aim of this study was to assess the embryo quality of in vitro-produced blastocysts after 3 h liquid storage at 37°C in CO2-free medium by evaluating morphology, in vitro developmental capacity and apoptosis. Blastocysts at days 5 and 6 post-fertilization were randomly allocated to the storage group
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Sibling oocytes cultured in a time-lapse versus benchtop incubator: how time-lapse incubators improve blastocyst development and euploid rate Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 N. G. Nobrega, A. Abdala, A. El-Damen, A. Arnanz, A. Bayram, I. Elkhatib, B. Lawrenz, H. Fatemi, N. De Munck
The aim was to study whether a limited exposure of embryos outside the incubator has an effect on embryo development, blastocyst quality and euploid outcomes. This retrospective study was performed at ART Fertility Clinics, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) between March 2018 and April 2020 and included 796 mature sibling oocytes that were split randomly between two incubators after intracytoplasmic
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The mechanisms that control the preantral to early antral follicle transition and the strategies to have efficient culture systems to promote their growth in vitro Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-24 D. R. Nascimento, E. C. Barbalho, L. Gondim Barrozo, E. I. T. de Assis, F. C. Costa, J. R. V. Silva
Preantral to early antral follicles transition is a complex process regulated by endocrine and paracrine factors, as well as by a precise interaction among oocyte, granulosa cells and theca cells. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate this step of folliculogenesis is important to improve in vitro culture systems, and opens new perspectives to use oocytes from preantral follicles for assisted reproductive
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Autophagic activation in porcine oocytes is independent of meiotic progression Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-22 SeungHoon Lee, Haeyun Jeong, Hayeon Wi, Jin-Gu No, Whi-Cheul Lee, Seokho Kim, Hyeon Yang, Sung June Byun, Sejin Park, Jong Gug Kim
In this study, we built on our previous research that discovered that autophagy activated the metaphase I stage during porcine oocytes in vitro maturation. We investigated the relationship between autophagy and oocyte maturation. First, we confirmed whether autophagy was activated differently by different media (TCM199 and NCSU-23) during maturation. Then, we investigated whether oocyte maturation
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Effects of calcium-free ageing on ethanol-induced activation and developmental potential of mouse oocytes Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-22 Chun-Hui Jin, Ren-Ren Chen, Xiu-Yun Feng, Jun-Gui Zhao, Ming-Tao Xu, Min Zhang, Jun-Zuo Wang, Jing-He Tan
Although ethanol treatment is widely used to activate oocytes, the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. Roles of intracellular calcium stores and extracellular calcium in ethanol-induced activation (EIA) of oocytes remain to be verified, and whether calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is involved in EIA is unknown. This study showed that calcium-free ageing (CFA) in vitro significantly decreased
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Exonic genetic variants associated with unexpected fertilization failure and zygotic arrest after ICSI: a systematic review Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-22 Marc Torra-Massana, Amelia Rodríguez, Rita Vassena
Fertilization failure (FF) and zygotic arrest after ICSI have a huge effect on both patients and clinicians, but both problems are usually unexpected and cannot be properly diagnosed. Fortunately, in recent years, gene sequencing has allowed the identification of multiple genetic variants underlying failed ICSI outcomes, but the use of this approach is still far from routine in the fertility clinic
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Sex steroid receptors in the ovarian follicles of the lizard Sceloporus torquatus Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-22 Norma Berenice Cruz-Cano, Uriel Ángel Sánchez-Rivera, Carmen Álvarez-Rodríguez, Mario Cárdenas-León, Martín Martínez-Torres
Estradiol and progesterone have been recognized as important mediators of reproductive events in the female mainly via binding to their receptors. This study aimed to characterize the immunolocalization of the estrogen receptor alfa (ERα), estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the ovarian follicles of the lizard Sceloporus torquatus. The localization of steroid receptors has
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Comparison of serum progesterone levels on the day of frozen embryo transfers according to type of endometrial preparation: a single centre, retrospective study Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-18 Olivier Pouget, Zakarya Zemmache, Sarah Kabani, Malak Alsawaf, Irma Zuna, Marine Bonneau, Marie Laure Tailland, Julie Nobre Meirinhos, Nathalie Rougier-Maillard, Julien Sigala, Sophie Poirey, Stéphanie Huberlant
The live birth rate following embryo transfer is comparable between spontaneous, stimulated and artificial cycles. However, the pregnancy loss rate appears elevated with hormonal therapy, possibly due to luteal insufficiency. This study aimed to determine whether the serum progesterone level on transfer day differed according to the endometrial preparation method for frozen embryo transfer (FET). Twenty
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Association between anti-Müllerian hormone levels and reproductive parameters in Wagyu cattle raised in Brazil Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-17 Flávia de Marchi, Renan Lazzaretti, Janine de Camargo, Fernanda Luiza Facioli, Eraldo Lourenso Zanella, Pedro Nacib Jorge-Neto, Mariana Groke Marques, Kyle Cody Caires, Ricardo Zanella
The production of in vitro embryos has sped up the dissemination of superior genetic material. However, the variation among the cattle response to oocyte and embryo production is a challenging factor. This variation is even higher in the Wagyu cattle as the breed has a small effective population size. The identification of an effective marker related to reproductive efficiency would allow the selection
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Pum3 is dispensable for mouse oocyte maturation and embryo development in vitro Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-17 TingTing Zhao, Wei Huang, Kaibo Lin
Pumilio3 (Pum3), an evolutionarily distant homologue of the classical RNA-binding protein PUF (PUMILIO and FBF) family member, is also involved in the process of RNA metabolism through post-transcriptional regulation. However, the functions of Pum3 in mouse oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryonic development have not been elucidated. By comparing RNA levels in different tissues, we found that
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Screening the predictors for live birth failure in women after the first frozen embryo transfer based on the Lasso algorithm: a retrospective study Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-15 Wumin Jin, Jia Lin, Peiyu Wang, Haiyan Yang, Congcong Jin
This study aimed to screen factors related to live birth outcomes of women with first frozen embryo transfer (FET). The enrolled women were divided into training and validation cohorts. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression algorithm of machine learning and the multiple regression model were then used to screen factors relevant to live birth failure (LBF) for the training
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Luteinizing hormone secretion, ovulatory capacity, and oocyte quality in peripubertal Gir heifers Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-05-12 Clara Slade Oliveira, Paola Maria da Silva Rosa, Bruna Rios Coelho Alves, Clara Ana Santos Monteiro, Gabriela Ramos Leal, Pedro Henrique Evangelista Guedes, Agostinho Jorge dos Reis Camargo, Naiara Zoccal Saraiva
Induction of puberty in cattle breeds that attain puberty in later stages, such as Gir, allows the earlier beginning of reproductive life and it might increase oocyte quality. Here, the ovulatory capacity of prepuberal Gir heifers was studied and its relationship to follicular growth, luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion and oocyte quality was evaluated. Peripubertal Gir heifers were treated with a progesterone-based
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Assessment of cell-free DNA and apoptosis in an oocyte microenvironment: promising biomarkers to predict intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-04-17 Hasnae Debbarh, Malak Jamil, Hasnae Jelloul, Achraf Zakaria, Noureddine Louanjli, Rachida Cadi
Cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) is defined as DNA fragments that are released into the body fluids from apoptosis or necrosis cells, including follicular fluid (FF), which can affect the microenvironment of the oocyte associated with infertility. We aimed to investigate a relationship between apoptosis of cumulus cells (CCs) and cf-DNA levels in FF and clinical outcomes of women undergoing intracytoplasmic
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Performance evaluation of Marwari lambs for growth traits and impact of inbreeding Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-04-13 Jayesh Vyas, Urmila Pannu, Ram Kumar Saran, H.K. Narula, Ashish Chopra, G.R. Gowane
This study aimed at the performance evaluation of a closed flock of Marwari sheep and also to study the effect of accumulated inbreeding on the growth traits using a linear mixed model methodology. The data generated for 39 years (1981 to 2020) on Marwari sheep maintained at ICAR-Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Arid Region Campus (CSWRI, ARC), Bikaner, Rajasthan, India were used for analysis
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Effects of cigarette smoke condensate on reproduction in mice in vivo Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-04-11 Omid Banafshi, Mohammad Abdi, Vahideh Assadollahi, Ebrahim Mohammadi, Ebrahim Ghaderi, Mohammad Bagher Khadem Erfan, Mohammad Jafar Rezaei, Vida Aghamiri, Fardin Fathi
Smoking has dangerous and sometimes irreversible effects on various body tissues, including the reproductive system. We conducted this research to determine the in vivo effects of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on reproduction in mice. In this experimental in vivo study, 32 male and female NMRI mice were divided into four groups. The mice were injected with CSC (CSC-1R3F) for 28 days. The mice were
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Real-time image and time-lapse technology to select the single blastocyst to transfer in assisted reproductive cycles Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-04-11 Romualdo Sciorio, Gerard Campos, Simone Palini, Domenico Baldini, Ronny Janssens
The success of an assisted reproduction cycle should be the achievement of a healthy singleton live birth following the replacement of one embryo. Therefore, one of the most critical points for embryologists has been the selection criteria and how to choose the best embryo to transfer with high implantation potential. In this vein, morphological evaluation has been historically the method applied.
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Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry analysis of PLZF and VASA in mice testis during spermatogenesis Zygote (IF 1.7) Pub Date : 2023-04-03 Mohammad Babatabar Darzi, Farkhondeh Nemati, Hossein Azizi, Abbasali Dehpour Jouybari
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the basis of male spermatogenesis and fertility. SSCs are distinguished by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into spermatozoa throughout the male reproductive life and pass genetic information to the next generation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC) and Fluidigm reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to