Patients with recurrent IVF embryo transfer failures after normal hysterosalpingography findings should also be reevaluated using hysteroscopy prior to further commencing IVF-embryo transfer cycles in order to enhance the clinical pregnancy rates.

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This study assesses meiotic spindle and zona pellucida characteristics using the PolScope, and analyses their relationship to embryonic development potential. A total of 205 matured oocytes retrieved from 25 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation were imaged for meiotic spindle and zona pellucida characteristics using the PolScope. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the oocytes were cultured and assessed for progression to blastocysts. Meiotic spindles were visualized in 78.0% of oocytes. Significantly more oocytes with visible spindles fertilized and progressed to blastocysts compared with oocytes without visible spindles. Oocytes with spindle retardance of >3 nm showed a greater progression to blastocysts compared with those with a retardance of 2-3 nm or <2 nm. More blastocysts were obtained from oocytes with spindle lengths of >12 nm than from oocytes with spindle lengths 10-12 nm or <10 nm. A difference in progression to blastocyst was observed in oocytes with a zona inner layer retardance of >3 nm compared with oocytes with retardance of 2-3 nm or <2 nm. Oocytes with an inner layer zona of 10-12 nm thickness showed better progression compared with those with a thickness of 8-10 nm or <8 nm. Quantitative measurement of length and retardance of the meiotic spindle and zona pellucida has a positive predictive value in relation to embryonic development.

The aim of the study was to compare the semen characteristics and nuclear DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa of diabetic and nondiabetic men undergoing assisted reproduction and correlate them with pregnancy outcome. Semen characteristics and nuclear DNA fragmentation were analysed using computer-aided semen analysis system and sperm chromatin dispersion assay (SCD), respectively. Spermatozoa from diabetic patients showed significantly lower progressive (Type A) motility (14.64 ± 9.60 versus 17.99 ± 11.51, P < 0.02) and increased nuclear DNA fragmentation (37.05 ± 12.68 versus 21.03 ± 10.13, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed in diabetic patients in terms of blastocyst formation rate (38.13% versus 55.46%, P < 0.001), pregnancy rate (28.57% versus 46.34%, P < 0.001) and miscarriage rate (50.0% versus 24.56%, P < 0.001). The higher percentage of sperm DNA damage because of oxidative stress seen in diabetic patients may be responsible for the poor embryonic development and pregnancy outcome in these individuals.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of the cyclodextrin complexes quercetin and rutin on left ventricle dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body mass, i.v.) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Echocardiography and biochemical and histological studies were carried out under normal control, diabetic untreated, normal and diabetic vehicle (beta-cyclodextrin, p.o.), quercetin- (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.), and rutin- (100 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) treated normal and diabetic animals at varying time intervals (1 and 12 weeks). The increase in the serum triglycerides and cholesterol levels was attenuated in the cyclo dextrin complexes of rutin-treated animals significantly more than in the quercetin-treated and diabetic vehicle-treated animals. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was observed in diabetic vehicle-treated animals after 12 weeks of the study as determined by a significant decrease in E-wave (45.91%), an increase in the A-wave (75.55%), and a decrease in the E/A ratio (70.14%). However, the percent decrease (after 12 weeks) in the E-wave, increase in the A-wave, and decrease in the E/A ratio were less in the cyclodextrin complexes of rutin-treated animals (100 and 300 mg/kg), which had the following values: E-wave, 12.22% and 13.80%; A-wave, 25.90% and 10.40%; and E/A ratio, 31.01% and 20.52%. In the quercetin-treated animals (100 and 300 mg/kg), which had the following values: E-wave, 40.44% and 36.44%; A-wave, 52.98% and 29.28%; and E/A ratio, 61.70% and 51.11%. Histopathological studies revealed that the degree of myocardial necrosis was less in rutin-treated animals compared with quercetin and diabetic vehicle-treated animals: rutin < quercetin < beta-cyclodextrin. Myocardial fructose levels were significantly increased in the diabetic vehicle-treated animals after 12 weeks of the study, suggesting an increment in the myocardial polyol pathway activity. However, myocardial fructose levels were significantly decreased in the rutin- and quercetin-treated animals compared with the vehicle-treated animals, possibly owing to their aldose reductase inhibitory activity. Quercetin and rutin treatment did not influence the echocardiographical and histo logical parameters in normal animals. Results from the present investigation demonstrated that rutin has a cardioprotective activity, and we conclude that the observed cardioprotection with rutin may be due to its aldose reductase inhibitory activity, as the enhanced aldose reductase pathway is implicated in the development of left ventricle dysfunction by several studies.

Purpose The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of morphokinetic abnormalities of human spermatozoa on chromatin packing and DNA integrity and possible beneficial effects of sperm selection in ICSI. Methods Semen samples from 1002 patients were analysed for morphology and motility using CASA. Protamine status and DNA fragmentation were analysed by chromomycin A3 staining and sperm chromatin dispersion assay respectively. Results Sperms with elongated, thin, round, pyri, amorphous, micro and macro forms were significantly higher in teratozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic groups. Significant difference in chromatin packing and DNA fragmentation index was observed in these abnormal groups compared with normal. Similarly significant correlation was also seen between abnormal motility parameters and DNA fragmentation index in asthenozoospermic group compared with normal. Conclusions Specific abnormal morphological forms have higher incidence of chromatin packing abnormalities and DNA fragmentation. Using these sperms in ICSI might have an impact on fertilization, embryo development and abortion rates. These can be selectively avoided during ICSI procedure to improve ART outcome.

In the present study, sperm with DNA fragmentation showed a negative correlation with semen parameters. Further, sperm with damaged DNA have potential adverse effects on embryo progression, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancies.

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