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Biomedical subjects

R L Urry

Publications and source records attributed to R L Urry.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

An evaluation of various treatments to increase sperm penetration capacity for potential use in an in vitro fertilization program.

OBJECTIVE: To select in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients with a low sperm penetration assay (SPA) value and to determine if the penetration rate, fertilization rate, and the pregnancy rate (PR) can be improved in these patients by treating sperm with refrigeration, calcium ionophore A23187, prostaglandin E1, prostaglandin E2, or heparin. DESIGN: The study consists of three parts: identification of patients with poor SPA values, analysis of treatments to improve the SPA value, and evaluation of the treatments to improve fertilization and PRs. RESULTS: The data indicate that treatment of sperm with refrigeration can improve fertilization and PRs during IVF in selected patients previously shown to have an improved SPA value with the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Three points are emphasized: (1) the treatments analyzed in this study can improve SPA values in some of the patients with low sperm penetration capacity; (2) of the treatments studied, sperm refrigeration resulted in the largest improvement in sperm penetration capacity; and (3) sperm refrigeration can increase fertilization and PRs during IVF in this select group of patients.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1992

Immunosuppressive activity and alpha interferon concentrations in human embryo culture media as an index of potential for successful implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate potential correlations between establishment of pregnancy and immunosuppressive activity secreted by the preimplantation embryo. DESIGN: To evaluate immunosuppressive activity, supernatants from preimplantation embryos were assessed for their ability to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. Additionally, alpha interferon concentrations were also measured in these supernatants. We compared these parameters from embryo culture supernatants of women who did and did not achieve pregnancy after in vitro fertilization (IVF). Immunosuppression was assessed using a lymphocyte proliferation assay with concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) as mitogens. SETTING: In vitro fertilization program at the University of Utah Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: Couples less than 40 years of age, with normal semen quality and bilateral tubal obstruction. RESULTS: Immunosuppression calculated using the stimulation index (mean +/- SEM) in pregnant and nonpregnant women, respectively, were: Con A: 43.9 +/- 3.9 versus 19.1 +/- 10.1, P less than 0.04. PHA: 23.6 +/- 5.6 versus 12.5 +/- 12.8, P less than 0.02. Alpha interferon levels (mean +/- SD) in pregnant and nonpregnant women were not significantly different: 23.98 +/- 9.6 U/mL versus 24.79 +/- 2.5 U/mL. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that pre-embryos with the capacity for successful implantation secrete greater amounts of immunosuppressive factors than those destined not to implant, as measured by Con A and PHA lymphocyte proliferation assays. Refinement of assay techniques and identification of the substances involved could have significant impact on IVF programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A fifteen-year study of alterations in semen quality occurring after vasectomy reversal.

Semen quality was evaluated in 256 men at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months after vasectomy reversal. Total sperm counts were normal and averaged 91 X 10(6) sperm per ejaculate. The percentage of live sperm was decreased below normal to 36% and hypo-osmolarity values indicated only 41% of the sperm with normal membranes. Progressive motility and the total progressively motile sperm count were reduced and averaged 25% and 27 million, respectively. Approximately 50% of the patients had positive titers of sperm agglutinating and/or sperm immobilizing antibodies. Sperm morphology indicated tail and head shape defects with increases in both tapered and immature sperm. A fertility score combining several sperm parameters averaged only 37% of normal. All of these values remained constant with time after reversal except for progressive motility (increased), oval head shapes (increased), and tapered sperm (decreased). This study has demonstrated that characteristic defects occur in sperm (decreased). This study has demonstrated that characteristic defects occur in sperm motility, sperm membrane function and morphology, in addition to specimen fertility scores, after a vasectomy reversal and need to be taken into consideration when advising and treating these patients for subsequent fertility difficulties.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1990

Ultrasonographic characteristics of the seminal vesicles after ejaculation.

A total of 12 men from a sperm donor bank underwent transrectal ultrasonography before and after ejaculation to investigate possible changes that could influence interpretation of seminal vesicle ultrasonography. The mean length of the seminal vesicles was 2.98 cm. before and 2.95 cm. after ejaculation. The anteroposterior diameter decreased only from 0.59 to 0.52 cm. Minimal differences were noted between the right and left seminal vesicles, and the greatest variation in size in an individual was only 3 mm. These results indicate that interpretation of seminal vesicle anatomy as seen by ultrasonography does not depend upon the temporal relationship to ejaculation.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Developing an artificial fallopian tube: successful in vitro trials in mice.

This report describes the design and testing of an artificial fallopian tube for the treatment of tubal infertility. Within the device, mouse eggs incubated with sperm were fertilized and a microinfusion pump was used to transport the fertilized ova through the tube. Normal offspring resulted from transfer of the developing embryos into pseudopregnant recipients. These results provide encouraging evidence that an artificial fallopian tube warrants further investigation as a potential alternative to in vitro fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Ultrasound and spermatogenesis in the rat.

Using exposure conditions comparable to those which have been associated by others with positive results, we tested for effects of ultrasound on sperm production over a period of 12 weeks following treatment. Continuous wave exposure with spatial average intensities of 1, 2 and 4 W/cm2 and exposure times up to 10 minutes were used. In some experiments, the exposures were repeated after an elapsed time of 48 h. No significant changes in spermatogenesis were related to any of the exposure conditions in spite of the fact that some of the treatments caused thermal tissue damage near bone. No effects of exposure were found in weights of the testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, or whole body.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Artificial insemination: a comparison of pregnancy rates with intrauterine versus cervical insemination and washed sperm versus serum swim-up sperm preparations.

A four-cycle artificial insemination protocol was undertaken, with luteinizing hormone (LH) timing, to compare washed sperm and serum swim-up sperm preparations and cervical and intrauterine insemination. Of the 75 patients entered into the protocol series, 63 finished all 4 cycles. During the treatment period, 24 patients became pregnant, 20 of whom were donor (AID) pregnancies (out of 52 patients) and 4 were husband (AIH) pregnancies (out of 11 patients). Seventy-five percent of the pregnancies were intrauterine, whereas only 25% were from cervical inseminations. Sixty-two percent of the pregnancies were due to serum swim-up sperm preparations, and 38% were due to washed sperm preparations. The data indicate substantially higher pregnancy rates can be obtained with intrauterine insemination and suggest that additional studies are necessary to determine if the method of sperm preparation significantly influences pregnancy rates.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1988

The gamete and embryo compatibility of various synthetic polymers.

Several popular and well-characterized polymeric materials were evaluated for their biocompatibility toward the cells unique to reproduction. To accomplish these studies, several in vitro tests were developed that evaluated biocompatibility between the polymers and spermatozoa, ova, and embryos. The data indicated significant differences between the materials with respect to their biocompatibility toward sperm motility, the sperm's ability to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs, and the ability of two-cell mouse embryos to divide. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE-Teflon; PTFE, Chemplast Inc., Wayne, NJ), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) appear to be the most inert of the materials studied. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC; Tygon-Norton, Akron, OH) was found to be the most detrimental material toward gametes and embryos, with gross physiologic and morphologic changes observed in the PVC-exposed cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A 15-year followup of a nonmicrosurgical technique for vasovasostomy.

A 15-year followup was summarized for patients who had nonmicrosurgical vasectomy reversal. Over-all pregnancy rates were 45 per cent (43 per cent for the first 8 years and 49 per cent for the next 7 years) and 73 per cent of the pregnancies occurred within 1 year after vasectomy reversal. Patients who achieved pregnancy compared to those who did not had significantly better sperm motility and a lower incidence of antisperm antibodies. The data indicate that nonmicrosurgical techniques can be used successfully to reverse vasectomy more economically and more rapidly than the microsurgical approach, while contributing to a reasonable pregnancy rate.

Female↗
PubMed1986

A simple and effective technique for increasing pregnancy rates in couples with retrograde ejaculation.

Seven of 12 patients with retrograde ejaculation, who had at least occasional samples with reasonable sperm numbers and motility, underwent a protocol including luteinizing hormone-timed, intrauterine insemination with washed sperm recovered from the urine. Seven pregnancies have occurred to date in six patients; the one other patient is still early in the protocol period. The described technique for collecting sperm, ovulation timing, sperm recovery, and washing and intrauterine insemination are relatively simple and cost-effective and appear to be effective in contributing to pregnancies in many couples with retrograde ejaculation.

Ejaculation↗
PubMed1986

The Young-Dees operation for the correction of retrograde ejaculation.

Retrograde ejaculation can be a significant problem when it interferes with fertility. Sympathomimetic drugs and sperm retrieval from the urine with insemination of the wife are the common methods of treatment. When these methods have not been successful we have used the Young-Dees type of bladder neck reconstruction to convert retrograde ejaculation into normal or antegrade ejaculation. The operation has been successful in 4 of 5 patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Modern concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

The use of modern techniques to manipulate sperm has assisted many couples in their effort to achieve pregnancy. Use of the techniques is dependent upon adequate and complete diagnostic data to determine if the techniques would be beneficial for a particular couple. The participation of a urologist in these techniques can take many forms but should be active to assure the best treatment for the male patient with fertility difficulties and to prepare the sperm with the available techniques prior to use for insemination or in-vitro fertilization. The future looks exciting and is sure to bring many more new developments that will benefit couples with fertility problems.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Testicular histology after prolonged treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue.

Bilateral orchiectomy was performed as secondary endocrine treatment in 12 patients with prostatic cancer who were treated initially with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue. Compared to a control group of prostatic cancer patients undergoing orchiectomy as primary therapy, the testes in the hormonally treated group showed marked spermatogenic suppression, peritubular membrane thickening and decreased numbers of Leydig cells. The degree of fibrosis and the damage seen in these testes imply that the spermatogenic suppression seen after prolonged gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue administration may not be as reversible as previously suggested.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Laboratory diagnosis of male infertility.

Male infertility is best tested by determining the ability of sperm to reach the site of fertilization by semen analysis and by mucus-sperm interaction tests, and by determining the ability of the sperm to enter the egg by the hamster egg-human sperm penetration assay. If conducted in a careful fashion, the tests provide useful information for preparing a treatment plan.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1979

Alteration of semen quality in dogs after creation of varicocele.

A left vein varicocele was created in male dogs by partially obstructing the left renal vein medial to the entrance of the left internal spermatic vein. Eight dogs had semen parameters determined preoperatively (2 times/week for five weeks) and postoperatively (2 times/week for twelve weeks). Semen quality was altered by the experimental varicocele. A significant decrease in sperm count, motility, per cent viable, and per cent oval sperm were noted. Semen volume was not affected. The possible chemical influence of serotonin is mentioned. Testosterone levels were unchanged by the varicocele. Histologic findings in the left and right testicles are mentioned before and after creation of the varicocele.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The varicocele and semen characteristics.

Our results indicate that the physical presence of a varicicele is not always associated with an alteration in sperm cell concentration and that a reduction of semen characteristics is more likely in men with reduced sperm counts. Our study also indicates that a higher pregnancy rate after varicocele ligation occurred in wives of patients in the lower sperm count groups. Other forms of therapy also were found to be associated with pregnancy in wives of men with varicoceles. The post-surgical pregnancy rate was 25 per cent compared to 12 per cent in the non-surgical group.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1978

Simultaneous determination of human sperm morphology and viability: simple office technique.

Determinations of sperm morphology and viability are useful techniques for assessment of semen quality. In this report eosin-nigrosin is compared with hematoxylin-eosin for effectiveness in characterizing spermatozoa. The results indicate that eosin-nigrosin and hematoxylineosin give comparable results in differentiating spermatozoa. In addition, eosin-nigrosin allows the determination of the per cent of viable cells in each morphologic category. The eosin-nigrosin staining technique is a simple, rapid method which may give additional information in the assessment of male infertility.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗