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PubMed2004

The rate of fertilization in male mating tactics of the polygynous grey seal.

Studies using molecular markers have shown that some grey seal males may be gaining success through exhibiting alternative mating tactics. We estimated the probability of fertilization success of grey seal males exhibiting the primary tactic of female defence and one alternative tactic of mating with departing females on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, during the breeding seasons of 1997-2002. Although the fertilization rate of the primary tactic (27-43%) was greater than that of the alternative tactic (10-12%), these low rates indicate the potential fitness value of alternative mating tactics in this size-dimorphic pinniped species.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Follicular aspiration during the selection phase prevents severe ovarian hyperstimulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome who are undergoing in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the effectiveness of follicular aspiration in the selection phase of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). STUDY DESIGN: In group A, 13 infertile patients with PCOS failed at previous IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS; a total of 13 cycles). In group B, new IVF cycles with ultrasound-guided transvaginal follicular aspirations during the selection phase (a total of 13 cycles) were conducted using the same patients. No more than ten follicles remained in bilateral ovaries. Parameters monitored included ovarian size, number of dominant follicles, estradiol (E2) level on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection, maturation of oocytes, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo implantation rate, pregnancy rate, and level of serum hormone. RESULTS: In group B, the average number of follicles>or=12 mm and average serum E2 level were 15.5+/-4.0 and 9899+/-1430 pmol/l, respectively, which were significantly lower than 29.1+/-8.4 (P<0.001) and 15,544+/-1766 pmol/l (P<0.001) in group A. No cycles with moderate or severe OHSS occurred in group B, while nine out of 13 (69.2%) cycles did have this problem in group A. Oocyte maturation rate, fertilization rate and cleavage rate in group B were 80.7%, 76.9%, and 80.3%, respectively; and all of them are significantly higher than 56.4% (P<0.01), 58.7% (P<0.01), and 70.2% (P<0.02) respectively in group A. CONCLUSION: Follicular aspiration during the selection phase can prevent severe OHSS and reduce OHSS prevalence in patients with PCOS undergoing COH.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Combination of FSH priming and hCG priming for in-vitro maturation of human oocytes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is any additional benefit from FSH priming in addition to hCG priming on in-vitro maturation (IVM) programmes. METHODS: Sixty women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who underwent 68 IVM cycles were randomized by computer-generated numbers to receive FSH stimulation or not. Thirty-five cycles were pretreated with 75 IU rFSH for 6 days, and 33 cycles were not. Every cycle was given hCG 10,000 IU 36 h before oocyte retrieval. Immature oocytes were matured in vitro and fertilized by ICSI, and the resulting embryos were replaced on day 2 or 3. RESULTS: A total of 1528 immature oocytes were recovered. The overall maturation and fertilization rates were 74.2 and 72.8% respectively. After embryo transfer, 23 pregnancies resulted (33.8%). The oocyte numbers and endometrial thickness were similar between FSH-primed and non-FSH-primed groups. Serum estradiol level on the day of hCG injection was significantly higher in the FSH-primed group than in the non-FSH-primed group (377.2 pmol/l versus 143.8 pmol/l, P=0.001). The maturation rate, fertilization rate and pregnancy rate were 76.5, 75.8 and 31.4% respectively for FSH-primed group, and 71.9, 69.5 and 36.4% respectively for non-FSH-primed group (all not significant). CONCLUSIONS: IVM is a feasible treatment for women with PCOS. FSH priming has no additional beneficial effect on IVM.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Reproductive wastage in the androstenedione-immune ewe.

An experiment was carried out using 320 adult Merino ewes to examine the effects of immunization against an androstenedione human serum albumin conjugate (Fecundin) on ovulation rate, fertilization rate and embryo viability at days 2, 9 and 13-14 after fertilization. The ovulation rate of immunized ewes (2.19 +/- 0.06) was greater (P < 0.001) than that of control ewes (1.43 +/- 0.04). The recovery rate of embryos or of unfertilized oocytes on day 2 was reduced in immunized ewes, but fertilization rate of recovered oocytes was unaffected by immunization. The mean number of normal embryos per ewe pregnant (prolificacy) was higher and the proportion of ewes pregnant (fertility) was lower in immunized than in the control ewes. The distribution of the number of cells per embryo showed no differences in developmental age over the period of sampling, the majority of embryos at this time being at the two- to four-cell stage of development. At day 9 of pregnancy, blastocyst recovery rates were lower in immunized than in control ewes. About 90% of blastocysts recovered were developing normally in control ewes compared with 64% in immunized ewes. The majority of blastocysts recovered on day 9 had hatched from the zona pellucida prior to recovery (mean values were 94.2% and 87.8% for control and immunized groups, respectively). In control ewes single blastocysts were larger than twin blastocysts, but for the immunized ewes this difference was not significant. Both single blastocysts (P < 0.01) and twin blastocysts (P < 0.05) from immunized ewes were smaller than those from control ewes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androstenedione↗

PubMed1984

The influence of seminal characteristics on the success rate of human in vitro fertilization.

The relationship of conventional semen parameters and the limits of these parameters for fertilization in vitro were analyzed from data over a 3-year period (1980 to 1982). Sperm motility was the single most important parameter determining the fertilization rate. Fertilization failed when the initial and final motilities were less than 20% and 30%, respectively. The percentage of abnormal sperm forms was also significantly related to the fertilization rate; but even when there were greater than 60% abnormal spermatozoa, fertilization could be obtained. Sperm concentration in semen had no significant effect on the fertilization rate when the data were controlled for motility or abnormal sperm forms. The fertilization rate increased with reduced sperm numbers used for insemination in vitro but had no effect on the incidence of multiple pronuclei in oocytes.

Fertilization in Vitro↗

PubMed1999

Ovulation, fertilization and lambing rates, and peripheral progesterone concentrations, in ewes inseminated at a natural oestrus during November or February.

The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of seasonal changes in ovulation rate, fertilization rate and embryo survival as the cause of reduced lambing rates in ewes mated in February compared with those mated in November. The study was conducted at 57 degrees N using mature Mule ewes and Suffolk rams. Sixty ewes were allocated equally to five groups: unbred (UB) or mated at a natural oestrus during November (N) or February (F) by natural (N) or cervical artificial (A) insemination. Groups were maintained separately at pasture supplemented with hay. A raddled vasectomized or non-vasectomized ram was present with UB, NN and NA groups from 26 October 1995 to 1 January 1996 and with UB, FN and FA groups from 25 January 1996 to 31 March 1996. Ewes marked by the ram were recorded twice a day, and those in groups NN, NA, FN and FA were inseminated at their second behavioural oestrus. For all ewes, blood samples were obtained once a day from introduction of the vasectomized rams until 30 days after mating (groups NN, NA, FN and FA) or 20 days after the first oestrus (group UB), and ovulation rate was measured by laparoscopy 7 days after the first oestrus. For ewes in groups NN, NA, FN and FA, ovulation rate was measured again after the second oestrus and ova were recovered from six ewes per group for assessment of fertilization before autotransfer. Pregnancy and lambing rates were recorded at term. Mean (+/- SE) dates of the first recorded oestrus for ewes in groups NN, NA and UB, and FN, FA and UB were 4 +/- 1.1 November and 4 +/- 0.9 February, respectively, and intervals between the first and second oestrus were 16 +/- 0.2 and 17 +/- 0.3 days (P < 0.01), respectively. Ovulation rates were 2.6 +/- 0.08 and 2.0 +/- 0.05 (P < 0.001), and peripheral progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase were 8.5 +/- 0.25 and 7.6 +/- 0.31 ng ml-1 (P < 0.05), for November and February, respectively. The difference in peripheral progesterone concentration was not solely attributable to the difference in ovulation rate. There was no significant effect of month or method of insemination, or of embryo recovery and autotransfer procedures on pregnancy rates and the proportion of ewes that became pregnant were NN 0.92, NA 0.83, FN 0.67 and FA 0.75. For ewes undergoing embryo recovery and autotransfer, ova recovered per corpus luteum were 1.00, 0.93, 1.00 and 0.92, fertilized ova per ovum recovered were 0.69, 0.92, 1.00 and 0.83, and lambs born per corpus luteum were 0.62, 0.79, 0.78 and 0.58 for NN, NA, FN and FA groups, respectively. There were no significant seasonal effects on fertilization rate or embryo survival. It is concluded that a seasonal decline in ovulation rate is the primary cause of reduced lambing rates in ewes mated in February compared with those mated in November. Pregnancy rates were high after mating in both periods and were not enhanced by the use of cervical insemination.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2007

Effects of prolonged exposure to perchlorate on thyroid and reproductive function in zebrafish.

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of prolonged exposure to perchlorate on (1) thyroid status and reproductive performance of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) and (2) F1 embryo survival and early larval development. Using a static-renewal procedure, mixed sex populations of adult zebrafish were exposed to 0, 10, and 100 mg/l nominal concentrations of waterborne perchlorate for 10 weeks. Thyroid histology was qualitatively assessed, and females and males were separated and further exposed to their respective treatments for six additional weeks. Eight females in each tank replicate (n = 3) were paired weekly with four males from the same respective treatment, and packed-egg (spawn) volume (PEV) was measured each of the last five weeks. At least once during weeks 14-16 of exposure, other end points measured included fertilization rate, fertilized egg diameter, hatching rate, standard length, and craniofacial development of 4-day-postfertilization larvae and thyroid hormone content of 3.5-h embryos and of exposed mothers. At 10 weeks of exposure, perchlorate at both concentrations caused thyroidal hypertrophy and colloid depletion. A marked reduction in PEV was observed toward the end of the 6-week spawning period, but fertilization and embryo hatching rates were unaffected. Fertilized egg diameter and larval length were increased by parental exposure to perchlorate. Larval head depth was unaffected but the forward protrusion of the lower jaw-associated cartilage complexes, Meckel's and ceratohyal, was decreased. Exposure to both concentrations of perchlorate inhibited whole-body thyroxine content in mothers and embryos, but triiodothyronine content was unchanged. In conclusion, prolonged exposure of adult zebrafish to perchlorate not only disrupts their thyroid endocrine system but also impairs reproduction and influences early F1 development.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Antibodies against granulosa luteinized cells and their targets in women attending IVF program.

PROBLEM: The study was conducted to investigate the presence and the possible role of anti-granulosa luteinized cells (GLCs) antibodies in infertile patients, attending in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, as well as to attempt the identification of putative target antigens. METHOD OF STUDY: A total of 101 sera from infertile women (patient group) and 33 sera from fertile women (control group) were investigated. The patients were divided in subgroups according to: ovarian response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COHS)--poor responders and good responders; fertilization rate--low fertilization rate and high fertilization rate. The relation between embryo transfer (ET) outcome and prevalence of anti-GLC antibodies was investigated too. NONIDET P-40 (NP-40) and whole-GLC lysates, as antigenic materials, were used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting, respectively. RESULTS: Based on the cut-off value of 2 S.D. above the control mean value, the prevalence of patients positive for anti-GLC antibodies was found to be 28.7% (29/101) compared with 9.1% (3/33) in control fertile women (P < 0.05). Anti-GLC antibodies were detected in 54.8% (17/31) of women with low fertilization rate compared with 15.7% (11/70) of women with high fertilization rate (P = 0.003) and it was established that women positive for anti-GLC antibodies had lower fertilization rate, than those negative for anti-GLC antibodies. Immunoblotting has demonstrated a number of GLC proteins with molecular masses (MM) of 110, 70-80, 47 and 37 kDa, frequently reacting with anti-GLC antibodies in patient's sera, as possible targets. CONCLUSION: The presented results on the prevalence and role of anti-GLC antibodies, as well as the data on the target antigens confirmed our hypothesis about the potential involvement of GLC antigens in some cases of immunological infertility in IVF patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Sperm protamine 1/protamine 2 ratios are related to in vitro fertilization pregnancy rates and predictive of fertilization ability.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether aberrant sperm P1/P2 ratios are predictive of abnormal fertilizing ability and are related to in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. SETTING: University-based infertility and IVF clinic. PATIENT(S): Forty-three male infertility patients with an abnormally reduced P1/P2 ratio, 251 patients with a normal P1/P2 ratio, and 121 patients with an abnormally elevated P1/P2 ratio. INTERVENTION(S): Human IVF, the sperm penetration assay (SPA), and sperm protamine quantification via nuclear protein extraction, gel electrophoresis, and densitometry analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm P1/P2 ratios; P1 and P2 quantities; SPA scores; and IVF-fertilization, embryo-quality, pregnancy, delivery, and spontaneous-abortion rates. RESULT(S): Standard IVF fertilization rates and SPA scores were significantly reduced in patients with abnormally low and high P1/P2 ratios. In vitro fertilization embryo quality was comparable between these groups, but pregnancy rates were significantly reduced in patients with abnormally reduced P1/P2 ratios. CONCLUSION(S): The P1/P2 ratio has a significant relationship to sperm fertilization ability. The relationship between protamines and fertilization ability is not understood but may be either a reflection of generalized abnormalities during spermiogenesis or an indication of protamine deficiency acting as a regulator or checkpoint of spermatogenesis.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1985

[Demographic background, present, and future of Kenya].

"The development of the population in Kenya marks some demographic records whose exploration and explanation may contribute considerably to...demographic theory and practice: a record-breaking birth rate, fertility rate and natural population growth, a high percentage of 'dependent' population, homogenicity of fertility of the different social groups, a relatively high [level of] desired number of children, a relatively low index of general and infant mortality and other demographic peculiarities. Such demographic characterization offers material for a theoretical analysis and generalization of a historically long social experiment." (summary in ENG, RUS)

Africa↗

PubMed1996

A prospective randomized study comparing needles of different diameters for transvaginal ultrasound-directed follicle aspiration.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the use of smaller diameter needles at oocyte collection reduces pain without jeopardizing the treatment outcome. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. SETTING: The Assisted Conception Unit, Kings College Hospital, United Kingdom. PATIENTS: One hundred twelve patients undergoing an IVF-ET treatment cycle. INTERVENTIONS: Study patients were aged < or = 38 years and had at least six follicles > 14 mm on the day of oocyte collection. Patients were randomized to follicle aspiration with a 15- (n = 34), 17- (n = 41), or 18- (n = 37) gauge (g) single channel needle. Intravenous pethidine and diazepam were used for analgesia and sedation. Pain was quantified by means of questionnaires completed by the patient and by her partner postoperatively. RESULTS: A greater proportion of patients reported severe to unbearable pain with the 15-gauge compared with the 17-gauge (44% versus 22%) or 18-gauge (44% versus 16%) needles. Partners' perception of severe pain experienced by patients showed the same trend when the 15-gauge was compared with the 17- (62% versus 29%) and 18-gauge (62% versus 22%) needles. There was no significant difference between the needles regarding the oocyte collection rate, fertilization rate, proportion of oocytes with fractured zonae, cleavage rate, implantation rate, and pregnancy rate per cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the size of the needle used for oocyte collection from 15 to 17 or 18 gauge reduces pain without affecting the number of oocytes collected, their quality, or the clinical pregnancy rate.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Trends in characteristics of births by State: United States, 1990, 1995, and 2000-2002.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents U.S. and State-level data on births, birth rates, fertility rates, sex ratio, marital status, and educational attainment by race and Hispanic origin for 1990, 1995, and 2000-2002. METHODS: Data are presented in detailed tables, summary tables, maps, and graphs. RESULTS: In 2002 there were 4,021,726 live births in the United States, 136,486 fewer than in 1990. Despite a slight decline in the number of births nationwide, a few States witnessed significant increases in the number of live births with most of these States located in the western United States. Some of the westward shift in number of births is attributable to a growing population and some to the age and race composition of the individual States. However, real differences in fertility by State persist even when the effects of age structure and race and ethnic composition of the States' population are taken into account. This report also presents data on sex ratios, percentage unmarried, and educational attainment of mothers. Several observations from these data are noteworthy. The proportion of births to unmarried mothers increased nationally and in every State between 1990 and 2002. Nationally the percentage of mothers with fewer than 12 years of education fell, and the percentage with 16 or more years increased for all racial and ethnic groups. However, at the State level, the percentage of women with fewer than 12 years of education increased for nearly a quarter of the States, despite near universal increases in the percentage of women with 16 or more years of education.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Effects of bisphenol A given neonatally on reproductive functions of male rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Crj:CD (IGS) were treated neonatally with bisphenol A (BPA) to evaluate effects on reproductive parameters. Animals were given BPA subcutaneously in corn oil to dosages of 0.002-97 mg/kg body weight, or 0.9 mg/kg 17beta-estradiol (E2) once a day from postnatal day (PND) 0 to PND 9. Preputial separation, copulatory rate, fertility rate, sperm analysis, serum testosterone levels, and gene expression in the testis were assessed. Males in the E2 group showed a decrease in testis weight and alterations of estrogen-mediated gene expression in the testis on PND 10, and by PND 150 incomplete preputial separation, decreases in the copulatory rate, testicular and accessory organ weights and number of sperm. In contrast, males in all BPA groups showed normal reproductive parameters. These results indicate that in male rats, BPA given during the neonatal period neither affected reproductive function nor evoked estrogen-mediated gene responses in the testis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

A clinical, evidence-based approach to infectious causes of infertility in beef cattle.

Infertility is the diminished or absent capacity to produce viable offspring. Infections that reduce ovulation rates, fertilization rates, embryonic survival rates, fetal survival rates or perinatal survival rates result in observed infertility in beef cows. Reproductive pathogens include Leptospira, Campylobacter, Hemophilus, Brucella, bovine herpesvirus-1, bovine viral diarrhea virus, Tritrichomonas foetus, and Neospora caninum. Infectious infertility can be prevented or controlled with appropriate surveillance, biosecurity, and/or vaccination. The objective of this review is to briefly summarize current scientific information to assist with adoption of surveillance methods, implementation of biosecurity and selection of appropriate commercially available vaccines.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Transabdominal-transperitoneal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval in a patient with müllerian agenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the approach of transabdominal-transperitoneal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval undertaken in a patient with müllerian agenesis and ovarian malposition who underwent a successful gestational carrier treatment cycle. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A tertiary-referral reproductive medicine unit. PATIENT(S): A 26-year-old patient with müllerian agenesis. Her 44-year-old mother served as the gestational carrier. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, transabdominal-transperitoneal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval, embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Oocyte recovery rate, fertilization rate, pregnancy test. RESULT(S): Six oocytes were retrieved using a percutaneous transperitoneal needle puncture under ultrasound guidance. Two cleavage-stage embryos were transferred to the gestational carrier, resulting in a twin pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): For various reasons, patients with müllerian agenesis may not be candidates for standard transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. Although laparoscopic oocyte retrieval has been frequently used in this setting, the approach of transabdominal-transperitoneal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval may offer further advantages in select cases.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1997

Oestrus, ovulation and peri-ovulatory hormone profiles in tethered and loose-housed sows.

Multiparous sows that had been tethered during lactation were put in two different housing conditions after weaning (Day 0); the sows were either tethered by neck chain, or individually housed in a pen of approximately 6 m2. After two months, ten tethered and eleven loose housed sows were used to assess stress and reproductive parameters. Stereotypic behaviour after the afternoon feeding was assessed from Day 18 onwards; at Day 53 stereotypic behaviour tended to occur during a higher percentage of time in the tethered sows (P = 0.11) and at Day 66, the differences were significant (tethered, 78 +/- 5 vs. loose-housed, 40 +/- 10% of time (mean +/- sem); P = 0.03). At Day 35 and 55, cortisol profiles after afternoon feeding were similar for the two groups of sows (P > 0.10). Around oestrus (approximately Day 64), the profiles of oestradiol-17 beta, luteinizing hormone and progesterone were measured and proved to be similar for both treatment groups (P > 0.10). The duration of oestrus was shorter in the tethered sows (42 +/- 4 vs. 63 +/- 2 h; P < 0.001) and, consequently, the timing of ovulation during oestrus (h after onset of oestrus) was advanced in the tethered sows (28 +/- 2 vs. 41 +/- 2; P < 0.001). The duration of ovulation did not differ (tethered, 2.9 +/- 0.5 vs. loose-housed, 2.1 +/- 0.2 h; P = 0.16). The sows were sacrificed at Day 5 after ovulation; ovulation rate, fertilization rate, embryo development and embryo diversity were similar for the two groups, as were adrenal weight and size of adrenal cortex. Duration of oestrus and the levels of stereotypies at Day 60 tended to be negatively related in the tethered sows (P = 0.07), but not in the loose-housed sows (P = 0.65). In conclusion, sows that had been tethered during pregnancy and lactation, and were housed loose or were tethered again at weaning within two months differed both in stereotypic behaviour and in duration of oestrus, without apparent effects on reproductive hormones.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed2000

Normal fertilization occurs with eggs lacking the integrin alpha6beta1 and is CD9-dependent.

Previous results, based on inhibition of fertilization by an anti-alpha6 integrin mAb (GoH3), suggest that the alpha6beta1 integrin on mouse eggs functions as the receptor for sperm (Almeida, E.A., A.P. Huovila, A.E. Sutherland, L.E. Stephens, P.G. Calarco, L. M. Shaw, A.M. Mercurio, A. Sonnenberg, P. Primakoff, D.G. Myles, and J.M. White. 1995. Cell. 81:1095-1104). Because the egg surface tetraspanin CD9 is essential for gamete fusion (Kaji, K., S. Oda, T. Shikano, T. Ohnuki, Y. Uematsu, J. Sakagami, N. Tada, S. Miyazaki, and A. Kudo. 2000. Nat. Genet. 24:279-282; Le Naour, F., E. Rubinstein, C. Jasmin, M. Prenant, and C. Boucheix. 2000. Science. 287:319-321; Miyado, K., G. Yamada, S. Yamada, H. Hasuwa, Y. Nakamura, F. Ryu, K. Suzuki, K. Kosai, K. Inoue, A. Ogura, M. Okabe, and E. Mekada. 2000. Science. 287:321-324) and CD9 is known to associate with integrins, recent models of gamete fusion have posited that egg CD9 acts in association with alpha6beta1 in fusion (Chen, M.S., K.S. Tung, S.A. Coonrod, Y. Takahashi, D. Bigler, A. Chang, Y. Yamashita, P.W. Kincade, J.C. Herr, and J.M. White. 1999. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:11830-11835; Kaji, K., S. Oda, T. Shikano, T. Ohnuki, Y. Uematsu, J. Sakagami, N. Tada, S. Miyazaki, and A. Kudo. 2000. Nat. Genet. 24:279-282; Le Naour, F., E. Rubinstein, C. Jasmin, M. Prenant, and C. Boucheix. 2000. Science. 287:319-321; Miyado, K., G. Yamada, S. Yamada, H. Hasuwa, Y. Nakamura, F. Ryu, K. Su- zuki, K. Kosai, K. Inoue, A. Ogura, M. Okabe, and E. Mekada. 2000. Science. 287:321-324). Using eggs from cultured ovaries of mice lacking the alpha6 integrin subunit, we found that the fertilization rate, fertilization index, and sperm binding were not impaired compared with wild-type or heterozygous controls. Furthermore, a reexamination of antibody inhibition, using an assay that better simulates in vivo fertilization conditions, revealed no inhibition of fusion by the GoH3 mAb. We also found that an anti-CD9 mAb completely blocks sperm fusion with either wild-type eggs or eggs lacking alpha6beta1. Based on these results, we conclude that the alpha6beta1 integrin is not essential for sperm-egg fusion, and we suggest a new model in which CD9 acts by itself, or interacts with egg protein(s) other than alpha6beta1, to function in sperm-egg fusion.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

An analysis of the effect of the PMSG--HCG interval on the two-cell block.

The effect of increasing the interval between the administrations of pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin and HCG to female mice from 48 to 60 h on the mating frequency, ovulation rate, fertilization rate and development through the two-cell stage has been investigated. It is concluded that use of the longer interval is of no advantage, and may be disadvantageous.

Animals↗