The infrequent presence of spermatozoa in cryptozoospermic men ejaculate is a limiting factor in the treatment of them. Sometimes, this consideration impels us to apply meticulous microscopic search in ejaculate or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) method. The aim of this study was to assess putative effectiveness of sperm origin, ejaculated or testicular, in cryptozoospermia treatment. In this context, were evaluated intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in two parameters including fertilisation rate (2PN) and embryo quality, independently. We compared the outcome in two groups: patients who underwent ejaculate/ICSI and ones who underwent TESE/ICSI process. Nineteen ICSI cycles performed with testicular spermatozoa and the rest of cycles (n = 208) carried out with ejaculated spermatozoa. Result analysis showed similar fertilisation rate between testicular and ejaculated spermatozoa (respectively, 60% versus 68%, P ≥ 0.05). Also, on the other hand, embryo quality did not show significant differences between two groups, except grade A with low significance. With regard to almost equal performance of both methods in results and being invasive of TESE as surgical sperm retrieval method, the use of ejaculated sperm more than testicular sperm should be recommended in patients with cryptozoospermia whenever possible.

Presented data suggest an efficient differentiation protocol for in vitro production of MenSC-derived adipocytes. These cells are suggested to be an apt alternative to BMSCs for future stem cell therapy of soft tissue injuries.

Sperm mRNAs could be used as a predictor of fertilization capacity since the transcriptional profile of a gamete is critical for the production of viable human sperm. The aim of this study was to determine if PRM1, PRM2, and TNP2 transcripts in spermatozoa from normozoospermic and teratozoospermic men correlate with sperm morphology and/or assisted-reproduction outcomes. Human ejaculates were collected from 138 men referred to an infertility clinic, and were separated in two groups, teratozoospermic (n =72) and normozoospermic (n =66), based on World Health Organization criteria (2010). Chromomycin A3 and analine blue staining were used to evaluate protamination and chromatin integrity, respectively. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR was performed for PRM1, PRM2, and TNP2. This analysis revealed significantly higher PRM1 and PRM2 mRNA copy numbers in normozoospermic versus teratozoospermic samples (P < 0.001). In contrast, TNP2 transcript abundance was significantly higher in teratozoospermic versus normozoospermic samples (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with sperm-head defects (P < 0.05). Sperm-tail defects negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with both PRM1 and PRM2 transcripts in normozoospermic samples. No significant differences were observed between the two groups when comparing transcript levels to the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (P > 0.05), and a normal PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio (∼1) was observed in more than 70% of successful cycles. Thus, the quantity of PRM1, PRM2, and TNP2 transcripts and the PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio affect spermiogenesis, sperm morphology, and the function of mature human sperm. These mRNAs could therefore be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of male infertility.

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BackgroundChlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium infections are the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infections in the world that cause urogenital infections in both men and women. It appears that infertility is a complication of these infections.ObjectiveThis study was designed to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in symptomatic and asymptomatic men and to assess risk factors associated with infection.Patients and MethodsUrine specimens were collected from 200 men; 100 of them were symptomatic and 100 asymptomatic. Samples were examined by PCR to detect the infections.ResultsC. trachomatis was detected in 20% of symptomatic and in 4% of asymptomatic men (P < 0.001). The prevalence of M. genitalium was revealed to be 12% and 2% in symptomatic and asymptomatic men, respectively (P < 0.01). Four of 100 men in the symptomatic group were infected with both organisms. C. trachomatis infection was associated with dysuria, urethral discharge, testicular swelling, and genital ulcer (P < 0.05). M. genitalium infection was related with dysuria, testis inflammation, pelvic pain and low educational level (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the prevalence of infections at ages 30-39 years was more than other ages.ConclusionsConsidering the role of these bacteria in urogenital infections, a screening test is recommended. Since the PCR assay is a highly sensitive and specific assay for the detection of these bacteria in male urine specimens, it provides a noninvasive technique for routine screening.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban has been traditionally used for the treatment of various disease and as a food for thousands of years in various parts of the world including eastern Asia, China and India. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of Centella asiatica aqueous leaf extract on the induction of spermatogenic cell apoptosis in male rats. After lethal dose (LD(50)) assessment of plant extract, rats were divided in five groups. The experimental groups received orally 10, 50, 80 and 100 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract daily for 60 days and the control group received just water. After 60 days, body and testis weight were measured and blood samples were taken from the heart. To evaluate apoptosis and histological changes, tissue samples obtained from rat testes were stained by TUNEL assay and hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results showed that the sperm count, motility, and viability and the number of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules were significantly decreased compared with the control group. The number of apoptotic germ cells per seminiferous tubule cross-section was significantly increased in the experimental group (18.11 ± 3.5) compared with the control group (8.7 ± 0.81) (P < 0.05). Serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels also showed significant decreases in the experimental groups (P < 0.05). There was also a significant decrease in testis weight in experimental groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that Centella asiatica has toxicological effects on the reproductive system in male rats and, therefore, it is suggested that leaf extracts of Centella asiatica possess antifertility effects in the male rat.

Abstract. In this study we aimed to examine the effects of genetic variants of GSTM1 and GSTP1 (Ile105Val and Ala114Val) on GST activity, seminal oxidative stress and sperm chromatin status in infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). The study population (n = 121) consisted of 95 infertile men with OAT and 26 controls with normozoospermia. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods were utilized to detect the aforesaid genetic variants. We measured GST activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of seminal plasma by spectrophotometry. Sperm chromatin integrity and maturity were assessed using toluidine blue and chromomycin A3 (CMA3-positive sperm) staining, respectively. The analysis showed that subgroups of GSTM1 null and GSTP1 C/T+T/T genotypes in comparison with GSTM1 present and GSTP1 wild type (C/C) genotypes did not have statistically significant differences in both OAT or normozoospermic men considering sperm concentration and motility, percentage of CMA3-positive sperm, seminal plasma TAC, sperm chromatin integrity and GST activity. Thus, the findings of our study suggest that there are no significant associations between GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms and sperm parameters at conventional or at molecular levels including OS status, sperm chromatin integrity or maturity in Iranian infertile men with OAT and normozoospermia. However, these polymorphisms could be related to the fertility status of the studied population but not evaluated in this study.

Nowadays, exceptional advantages of silk fibroin over synthetic and natural polymers have impelled the scientists to application of this biomaterial for tissue engineering purposes. Recently, we showed that embedding natural degummed silk fibers in regenerated Bombyx mori silk-based scaffold significantly increases the mechanical stiffness, while the porosity of the scaffolds remains the same. In the present study, we evaluated degradation rate, biocompatibility and regenerative properties of the regenerated 2% and 4% wt silk-based composite scaffolds with or without embedded natural degummed silk fibers within 90 days in both athymic nude and wild-type C57BL/6 mice through subcutaneous implantation. In all scaffolds, a suitable interconnected porous structure for cell penetration was seen under scanning electron microscopy. Compressive tests revealed a functional relationship between fiber reinforcement and compressive modulus. In addition, the fiber/fibroin composite scaffolds support cell attachment and proliferation. On days 30 to 90 after subcutaneous implantation, the retrieved tissues were examined via gross morphology, histopathology, immunofluorescence staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction as shown in Figure 1. Results showed that embedding the silk fibers within the matrix enhances the biodegradability of the matrix resulting in replacement of the composite scaffolds with the fresh connective tissue. Fortification of the composites with degummed fibers not only regulates the degradation profile but also increases the mechanical performance of the scaffolds. This report also confirmed that pore size and structure play an important role in the degradation rate. In conclusion, the findings of the present study narrate key role of additional surface area in improving in vitro and in vivo biological properties of the scaffolds and suggest the potential ability of these fabricated composite scaffolds for connective tissue regeneration. spjba;30/6/793/FIG10885328215601925F1fig1-0885328215601925Figure 1.Illustrative summary of the main methods and findings.RS: regenerated silk; RSF: regenerated fibroin/ silk fiber composite scaffolds; H&E: Hematoxylin and eosin; COX-1: Cyclooxygenase.