Efficacy of sperm motility after processing and incubation to predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination in normospermic individuals

Background: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is widely used to treat infertility, and its adequate indication is important to obtain good pregnancy rates. To assess which couples could benefit from IUI, this study aimed to evaluate whether sperm motility using a discontinuous gradient of different densities and incubation in CO2 in normospermic individuals is able to predict pregnancy.Methods: A total of 175 couples underwent 175 IUI cycles. The inclusion criteria for women were as follows: 35 years old or younger (age range: from 27 to 35 years) with normal fallopian tubes; endometriosis grades I-II; unexplained infertility; nonhyperandrogenic ovulatory dysfunction. Men with normal seminal parameters were also included. All patients underwent ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate and human hMG or r-FSH. When one or (at most) three follicles measuring 18 to 20 mm were observed, hCG (5000 UI) or r-hCG (250 mcg) was administered and IUI performed 36-40 h after hCG. Sperm processing was performed using a discontinuous concentration gradient. A 20 microliters aliquot was incubated for 24 h at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 following a total progressive motility analysis. The Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests, as well as a ROC curve were used to determine the cutoff value for motility.Results: Of the 175 couples, 52 (in 52 IUI cycles) achieved clinical pregnancies (CP rate per cycle: 29.7%). The analysis of age, duration and causes of infertility did not indicate any statistical significance between pregnancy and no pregnancy groups, similar to the results for total sperm count and morphology analyses, excluding progressive motility (p < 0.0001). The comparison of progressive motility after processing and 24 h after incubation between these two groups indicated that progressive motility 24 h after incubation was higher in the pregnancy group. The analysis of the progressive motility of the pregnancy group after processing and 24 h after incubation has not shown any motility difference at 24 h after incubation; additionally, in couples who did not obtain pregnancy, there was a statistically significant decrease in progressive motility 24 h after incubation (p < 0.0001). The ROC curve analysis generated a cutoff value of 56.5% for progressive motility at 24 h after incubation and this cutoff value produced 96.1% sensitivity, 92.7% specificity, 84.7% positive predictive value and 98.3% negative predictive value.Conclusions: We concluded that the sperm motility of normospermic individuals 24 h after incubation at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2, with a cutoff value of 56.5%, is predictive of IUI success.

Effect of progesterone concentrations, follicle diameter, timing of artificial insemination, and ovulatory stimulus on pregnancy rate to synchronized artificial insemination in postpubertal Nellore heifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Increasing length of an estradiol and progesterone timed artificial insemination protocol decreases pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows

Our hypothesis was that increasing the length of an estradiol and progesterone (P4) timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocol would improve pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI). Lactating Holstein cows (n = 759) yielding 31 +/- 0.30 kg of milk/d with a detectable corpus luteum (CL) at d - 11 were randomly assigned to receive TAI (d 0) following 1 of 2 treatments: (8d) d - 10 controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and 2.0 mg of estradiol benzoate, d - 3 = PGF(2 alpha) (25 mg of dinoprost tromethamine), d - 2 = CIDR removal and 1.0 mg of estradiol cypionate, d 0 = TAI; or (9d) d - 11 = CIDR and estradiol benzoate, d -4 = PGF(2 alpha), d -2 CIDR removal and estradiol cypionate, d 0 TAI. Cows were considered to have their estrous cycle synchronized in response to the protocol by the absence of a CL at artificial insemination (d 0) and presence of a CL on d 7. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on d 32 and 60. The ovulatory follicle diameter at TAI (d 0) did not differ between treatments (14.7 +/- 0.39 vs. 15.0 +/- 0.40 mm for 8 and 9 d, respectively). The 9d cows tended to have greater P4 concentrations on d 7 in synchronized cows (3.14 +/- 0.18 ng/mL) than the 8d cows (3.05 +/- 0.18 ng/mL). Although the P/AI at d 32 [45 (175/385) vs. 43.9% (166/374) for 8d and 9d, respectively] and 60 [38.1 (150/385) vs. 40.4% (154/374) for 8d and 9d, respectively] was not different, the 9d cows had lower pregnancy losses [7.6% (12/166)] than 8d cows [14.7% (25/175)]. The cows in the 9d program were more likely to be detected in estrus [72.0% (269/374)] compared with 8d cows [62% (240/385)]. Expression of estrus improved synchronization [97.4 (489/501) vs. 81% (202/248)], P4 concentrations at d 7 (3.22 +/- 0.16 vs. 2.77 +/- 0.17 ng/mL), P/AI at d 32 [51.2 (252/489) vs. 39.4% (81/202)], P/AI at d 60 [46.3 (230/489) vs. 31.1% (66/202)], and decreased pregnancy loss [9.3 (22/252) vs. 19.8% (15/81)] compared with cows that did not show estrus, respectively. Cows not detected in estrus with small (<11 mm) or large follicles (>17 mm) had greater pregnancy loss; however, in cows detected in estrus, no effect of follicle diameter on pregnancy loss was observed. In conclusion, increasing the length of the protocol for TAI increased the percentage of cows detected in estrus and decreased pregnancy loss.

The effect of follicle age on pregnancy rate in beef cows

The effect of the age of the ovulatory follicle on fertility in beef cows was investigated. Multiparous (n = 171) and primiparous (n = 129) postpartum beef cows in 2 groups (G1 and G2) received estradiol benzoate (EB; 1 mg/500 kg BW, intramuscular [i.m.]) 5.5 d (G1; n = 162) and 6.5 d (G2; n = 138) after the final GnRH of a synchronization program (5d CO-Synch + CIDR) to induce emergence of a new follicular wave (NFW), followed by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha; 25 mg, i.m.) administration either 5.5 d (young follicle, YF; n = 155) or 9.5 d (mature follicle, MF; n = 145) after EB. Estrous detection coupled with AI 12 h later (estrus-AI) was performed for 60 h (MF) and 84 h (YF) after PGF(2 alpha); cows not detected in estrus within this period received timed AI (TAI) coupled with GnRH at 72 and 96 h, respectively. Within the first 72 h after PGF(2 alpha), more (P < 0.01) cows in the MF (76.3%) than YF treatment (47.7%) exhibited estrus, but through 96 h, the proportion detected in estrus (P < 0.05) and interval from PGF(2 alpha) to estrus (P < 0.01) were greater in the YF than MF treatment (88.6% vs. 76.3%, 78.9 +/- 0.8 vs. 57.5 +/- 1.6 h, respectively). Age of the ovulatory follicle at AI was greater (P < 0.01) in the MF (9.32 +/- 0.04 d) than YF (6.26 +/- 0.02 d) treatment, but follicle diameter at AI and pregnancy rates did not differ between MF (13.1 +/- 0.2 mm; 72.0%) and YF (12.9 +/- 0.1 mm; 67.1%) treatments. Regardless of treatment, the diameter of the ovulatory follicle at AI and pregnancy rate were greater (P < 0.01) with estrus-AI (13.1 +/- 0.1 mm; 75.0%) than TAI (12.6 +/- 0.2 mm; 55.4%). Cows in the MF treatment that initiated a second NFW after EB but before PGF(2 alpha) (MF2; n = 47) were induced to ovulate with GnRH and TAI at 72h, when ovulatory follicles were 4 d old and 10.2 +/- 0.2 mm in diameter. Pregnancy rate for TAI (51.1%) in MF2 did not differ from TAI pregnancy rate (55.4%) across the MF and YF treatments. In summary, the age of the ovulatory follicle affected interval to estrus and AI but did not influence pregnancy rate in suckled beef cows.

Supplementary corpora lutea monitoring allows progestin treatment interruption on day 70 of pregnancy in non-cyclic recipient mares

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The influence of insemination dose on pregnancy per fixed-time artificial insemination in beef cows is affected by semen extender

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

B-mode Ultrasound and Doppler Mode for Early-stage Pregnancy Diagnosis in Shi-Tzu Bitches

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Prostaglandin treatment at the onset of norgestomet and estradiol-based synchronization protocols did not alter the ovarian follicular dynamics or pregnancy per timed artificial insemination in cyclic Bos indicus heifers

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Pregnancy Monitoring of In Vitro Produced Embryos in Buffaloes

In the present study, pregnancies obtained from 115 in vitro produced embryos were monitored by ultrasonography on days 30 and 60 after embryo transfer (ET), and at calving. Additionally, the health of newborns and recipients were also evaluated. On day 30 after ET, positive pregnancy was diagnosed in 50 animals (43.5%). A total of 8 fetal mortalities (16.0%) were verified from 30 days until calving, in which 2 occurred from 30 to 60 days after ET (4.0%), and 6 occurred from 60 days until calving (12.0%). In this last period of pregnancy, 3 pregnancy losses were due to abortion, and the other 3 were stillbirth. One additional animal was eliminated from the study, remaining 41 pregnancies. From these 41 pregnancies, a total of 20 female calves (48.8%) and 21 male calves (51.2%) were born. Pregnancies from female and male calves had a mean length of 309.8 and 310.9 days, respectively (range 300 to 328 days, and 297 to 320 days, respectively). Weight at calving was a mean of 31.4 and 33.8 kg for female and male calves, respectively. All calving occurred without intervention and dystocia was not observed in any case. No large offspring syndrome, hydramnios, hydroallantois, or umbilical cord anomalies were observed in calves. Delivery was normal in all recipients, and no puerperal infections, or retained placenta occurred. Suckling assistance was not necessary in any newborn. All genetic pedigree was confirmed later by DNA tests.

Effect of exercise on the maternal outcome in pregnancy of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alterações da matriz extracelular causadas pelo diabetes: o impacto sobre a continência urinária

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perfil comunicativo de crianças que ingressaram na educação infantil após os cinco anos de idade

Objective: To characterize the communicative behaviors of children who entered in Primary School after the age of five. Methods: It was a descriptive study, held in a city at the countryside of Parana state (Brazil), in the years 2007 and 2008, in both school and home environments. Twelve children of both genders joined in the study, with age ranging from five years and two months to six years, besides their mothers and respective teachers. Interviews were conducted with mothers and a questionnaire for teachers. Afterwards, observations of the communication of children in school and home environments were conducted. Data analysis focused on those relevant to children’s development and school performance, trying to determine their communicative profile in school and home environments, from protocols regarding the indicators of communication means and functions. Results: The results indicated the presence of a child with poor general health, with complications from the pregnancy period, with motor and language delays and low school performance. It was also observed that all children used verbal means to communicate and the highest frequency of communicative functions appeared in home environment, indicating an important aspect to be considered in the stimulation of communication of these children. Conclusion: Data from this study showed that the children benefited more of contexts planned with family interlocutors.

Endoscopic endonasal approach for pituitary adenoma: surgical complications in 301 patients

The authors investigate the complications of transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic surgery in the treatment of 301 patients with pituitary adenomas. A retrospective analysis of complications in 301 patients submitted to transsphenoidal transnasal endoscopic surgery at the General Hospital of Fortaleza, Brazil between January 1998 and December 2009. The complications were divided in two groups: anatomical (oronasofacial, sphenoid sinus, intrasellar, suprasellar and parasellar) and endocrinological complications (anterior and posterior pituitary dysfunctions). We observed a total of 81 complications (26.9%) in our series. Anatomical complications occurred in 8.97% (27 cases): 8 CSF postoperative leaks (2.6%), 6 cases (1.9%) of delayed nasal bleeding, 5 cases (1.6%) of sphenoidal sinusitis, 3 cases (0.9%) of carotid artery lesion, 2 cases of meningitis (0.6%) and one case (0.3%) of each of the uncommon following complications: intrasella-suprasella hematoma, pontine hematoma and chiasmaplexy. Endocrinological complications occurred in 17.9% (54 cases): additional postoperative anterior lobe insufficiency in 35 cases (11.6%), and postoperative diabetes insipidus in 19 cases (6.3%). In our series, 3 cases of deaths (not directly related to the procedure) were also observed. Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery represents an effective option for the treatment of patients with pituitary tumor. Complications still occur and must be reduced as much as possible. Successful endoscopic pituitary surgery requires extensive training in the use of an endoscope and careful planning of the surgery. Additional improvement can be expected with greater experience and new technical developments.