FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 


FERTI.NET HIGHLIGHTS
Issue 16 - Week 31 - Volume 2 - 2000
Ferti.Net Highlights Archive

This fortnightly news service brings you the latest news on Assisted Reproduction Techniques as they have been reported in the media. Sources include on-line media, medical data bases, original press releases, trade journals, national daily newspapers and broadcasts reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications. It also keeps you up-to-date with the latest issue of the Ferti.Net Magazine.

Index

Oocyte donation in women cured of cancer with bone marrow transplantation including total body irradiation in adolescence

Larsen EC, Loft A, Holm K, Muller J, Brocks V, Andersen AN
Fertility Clinic, Section of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Department of Growth and Reproduction and Division of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

Female survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence who have been treated with bone marrow transplantation including total body irradiation (TBI) are at high risk of developing ovarian follicular depletion and infertility. The lack of oocytes may be compensated for by oocyte donation but these patients also seem to have a uterine factor. Even though oestrogen replacement therapy is given, the growth of the uterus during adolescence is impaired. To our knowledge there have been no earlier reports of live births after oocyte donation in such patients. We report three cases of oocyte donation in women who, at a young age, were cured of haematological malignancies with bone marrow transplantation including TBI. In adolescence they developed ovarian failure and uterine volumes were assessed by ultrasonography. One woman with a uterus of almost normal size delivered a healthy child in the 37th week of gestation. Another woman with severely diminished uterine volume miscarried in the 17th week of gestation. The third woman has not yet conceived. Pregnancy achieved by oocyte donation is possible despite TBI in adolescence. However, the uterine factor is a concern and complications during pregnancy and preterm birth may be expected in these patients.

Hum Reprod 2000 Jul;15(7):1505-8

Source: humrep.oupjournals.org

Selection of the most common chromosome abnormalities in oocytes prior to ICSI

Munne S, Sepulveda S, Balmaceda J, Fernandez E, Fabres C, Mackenna A, Lopez T, Crosby JA, Zegers-Hochschild F
The Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ 07052, USA

So far, all preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) protocols in use produce results after the eggs have been fertilized. However, these approaches are not acceptable for patients with moral objections to the generation and discard of supernumerary zygotes or embryos. In these circumstances, only those oocytes to be replaced may be inseminated. The purpose of this study was to develop a PGD protocol to diagnose first polar bodies (PBs) prior to Intracytoplasmatic Sperm Injection (ICSI) in order to inseminate only those oocytes found to be chromosomally normal. PB biopsy was performed 1 hour after ovum pick up, and after fixation, the PBs were analysed by FISH and the eggs inseminated by ICSI no later than 7 hours after retrieval. One third (33.3%) of the PBs were aneuploid. Fifty-four normal and 12 non-resolved oocytes were injected by ICSI, of which 65% became 2-PN zygotes. Embryo transfer on day 2 was possible in all 10 patients (average maternal age 35.2+/-3.2, range 29-39 years), of which 6 became pregnant with 8 fetuses (28.6% or 8/28 transferred embryos). The results indicate that PB analysis of some common chromosome abnormalities is feasible within time limits imposed by ICSI insemination (6 hours or less).
Prenat Diagn 2000 Jul;20(7):582-586

Source: www3.interscience.wiley.com

Transfer of nonassisted hatched and hatching human blastocysts after in vitro fertilization

Khorram O, Shapiro SS, Jones JM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53792, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of performing blastocyst transfer 6 days after oocyte insemination. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: University-based IVF center. PATIENT(S): All cases of IVF over a 1-year span of time (June 1998-1999) in which seven 2PN embryos were available for transfer. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation, pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): Transfer of blastocysts on days 5 and 6 resulted in implantation rates of 69% and 33% (P=0.0006), clinical pregnancy rates of 89% and 59% (P=0.05), and multiple pregnancy rates of 39% and 10% (P=0.03), respectively. In cases in which blastocysts were spontaneously hatching or hatched on day 6 (9% of embryos), implantation and pregnancy rates were 52% and 80%, respectively. Embryos were successfully frozen in the hatched or hatching state with resultant clinical pregnancies. CONCLUSION(S): Transfer of embryos can be delayed to day 6 after oocyte insemination at which time a small percentage of embryos will hatch. Hatching of embryos by day 6 is a favorable prognostic factor for IVF outcome. Embryos that fail to hatch by day 6 may have a lower implantation potential. Difficulty with hatching embryos sticking to the transfer catheter was not encountered. Furthermore, hatching and hatched embryos can be frozen and with subsequent transfer result in pregnancies.
Fertil Steril 2000 Jul;74(1):163-5

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low number of Y-chromosome deletions in infertile azoospermic men at a Swedish andrology centre

Osterlund C, Segersteen E, Arver S, Pousette A
The Andrology Unit and Research laboratory for Reproductive Health, Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Recent studies have strongly indicated that at least three regions [azoospermia factor (AZF) a-c] on the long arm of the Y-chromosome code for factors involved in spermatogenesis. In order to reveal the prevalence of microdeletions in these regions in a Swedish population, 192 men consecutively referred to our andrology unit due to infertility and showing oligozoospermia (n=53) or azoospermia (n=139) but no obstruction or hormonal disturbances, were investigated. For this study we used a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method including 13 pairs of primers divided into five different primer mixes. It was found that four men, all with azoospermia, had deletions including part of the AZFb region and probably the entire AZFc region. Testis biopsies showed different morphology ranging from absence of germ cells to hypospermatogenisis. Of special interest was one patient that was first investigated 10 years ago due to primary infertility and oligozoospermia. Today he has developed azoospermia. It is concluded that the number of patients with microdeletions on the Y chromosome is rather low (less than 3% in highly selected azoospermic men) in our study compared to a number of other studies in which a 1-55% incidence have been reported. It is possible that ethnic differences, selection criteria and methodological aspects can contribute to the difference between the present and previous studies.
Int J Androl 2000;23:225-229

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clustering of male infertility in the families of couples treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Meschede D, Lemcke B, Behre HM, De Geyter C, Nieschlag E, Horst J
Institute of Human Genetics of the University, Vesaliusweg 12-14, Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University and University Women's Hospital, D-48149 Munster, Germany

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an effective treatment modality for male factor infertility, but it could promote the transgenerational transmission of genetic defects causing gametogenic failure. Cytogenetic and molecular techniques permit the diagnosis of some infertility-causing genetic aberrations, but many more probably evade detection with currently available technology. The analysis of the recurrence pattern of infertility in infertile couples' families could define the importance of heritable factors in the pathogenesis of human infertility. We have subjected 621 consecutive infertile couples treated with ICSI in a single institution to a comprehensive genetic workup including documentation of the family history, karyotyping and various DNA tests. In all, 1302 fertile couples served as controls. Of the infertile couples 6.4% were shown to have a fertility problem with a definite genetic basis. Male, but not female fertility problems displayed a distinct pattern of familial aggregation. In addition, the infertile couples had fewer siblings than the fertile controls, a finding compatible with suboptimal fertility already among the infertile couples' parents. In summary, our data indicate that male factor infertility should be considered a potentially heritable condition. The recurrence risk for infertility in the offspring of couples treated with ICSI might be substantial.
Hum Reprod 2000 Jul;15(7):1604-8

Source: humrep.oupjournals.org

Dysregulated expression of ebaf, a novel molecular defect in the endometria of patients with infertility

Tabibzadeh S, Mason JM, Shea W, Cai Y, Murray MJ, Lessey B
Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital, Biomedical Research Center, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA

We recently described the expression of ebaf, a novel member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily in human endometrium. ebaf messenger ribonucleic acid was expressed in late secretory and menstrual endometria. Here, we show that ebaf is secreted as 42-, 34-, 28-, and 14-kDa proteins into the conditioned medium of transfected cells, endometrial fluid, and serum. The amount of secreted proteins was markedly reduced during the implantation window in the endometria and sera of normal fertile subjects. The expression of ebaf was dysregulated in the endometria of a subset of women with infertility during the receptive phase of the menstrual cycle. Abundant secreted protein was present in the endometria of these women during the implantation window. During the critical period of endometrial receptivity, ebaf protein was more abundant in patients with endometriosis who did not conceive than in patients who became pregnant. These findings show that ebaf is a secreted product and is released into body fluids. Some types of infertility are associated with dysregulated expression of ebaf in human endometrium, suggesting that a molecular defect in uterine receptivity may be identified using such a marker protein.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2000 Jul;85(7):2526-36

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in female partners of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Schreurs A, Legius E, Meuleman C, Fryns JP, D'Hooghe TM
Gasthuisberg University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in female partners of couples undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Leuven University Fertility Center. PATIENT(S): Female candidates for IVF or ICSI. INTERVENTION(S): An initial cytogenetic study was performed on peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures using G- and R-banding. In all patients, > or =25 metaphases were examined. If a chromosomal aberration was detected, additional cytogenetic studies were performed for precise identification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Abnormal female karyotypes in comparison with the general female population. RESULT(S): Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 263 female partners of couples before entering an IVF or ICSI program. The prevalence of autosomal reciprocal balanced translocations was seven times higher in the study group (1.14%) than in the general population (0.16%). All abnormal karyotypes were found in the IVF group with male factor infertility. CONCLUSION(S): Chromosomal abnormalities are more frequent in the female partners of couples seeking fertility treatment. We recommend chromosomal analysis in women before starting IVF or ICSI treatment, even in the presence of male factor infertility. Fertil Steril 2000 Jul;74(1):94-6

Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Non-reproductive heritable disorders in infertile couples and their first degree relatives

Meschede D, Lemcke B, Behre HM, Geyter CD, Nieschlag E, Horst J
Institute of Human Genetics of the University, Vesaliusweg 12-14, Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University and University Women's Hospital, D-48149 Munster, Germany

The genetic safety of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) remains a matter of continuing debate. One source of concern is the limited knowledge about the general genetic constitution and background of patients who need sophisticated reproductive technology to procreate. It has been postulated that such individuals could be carriers of genetic lesions that might result in an increased prevalence of heritable disorders among their offspring. To investigate this issue, we determined the frequency of potentially heritable non-reproductive diseases in 621 infertile couples and their first degree relatives. A total of 1302 fertile couples who underwent genetic counselling prior to prenatal diagnosis served as controls. The infertile patients had a slightly higher prevalence of potentially heritable non-reproductive disorders ('significant genetic risk factors') than the controls (1. 9 versus 0.9%; P = 0.015). In contrast, such diseases were less prevalent in their families than in the fertile couples' families. Our data do not support the hypothesis that their familial genetic background predisposes children born after ICSI to malformations or other non-reproductive genetic diseases. Hum Reprod 2000 Jul;15(7):1609-12

Source: humrep.oupjournals.org

D I S C L A I M E R

Feel free to send your questions or comments to:
thian@benecke.nl.

Subscribe / Unsubscribe

Visit our website for easy subscription/unsubscription,
or do the following:

To subscribe, send an email to
fnhigh-request@infopress.nl
Leave the subject empty, and type in the body:
SUBSCRIBE fnhigh followed by your_email_address
(e.g. SUBSCRIBE fnhigh thian@benecke.nl)
Do not add any other text.

To unsubscribe, send an email to
fnhigh-request@infopress.nl
Leave the subject empty, and type in the body:
UNSUBSCRIBE fnhigh followed by your_email_address
(e.g. UNSUBSCRIBE fnhigh thian@benecke.nl)
Do not add any other text.

 

For More Information Contact:

CompanyLongName
CompanyAddress
Tel: CompanyPhone
FAX: CompanyFAX
Internet: CompanyEmail

HOME    RETURN TO IN THE NEWS