Assessment of Uterine Receptivity by Endometrial and Subendometrial Blood Flows Measured by Vaginal Color Doppler Ultrasound in Women Undergoing IVF Treatment

Objective To evaluate endometrial and subendometrial blood flows measured by vaginal color Doppler ultrasound as a predicator of endometrial receptivity in women undergoing IVF treatment. Methods A total of 119 infertile patients undergoing the first IVF/ICSI-ET cycle were recruited. Three groups were divided according to a color Doppler ultrasound examination performed on the day of hCG injection. Group A, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were 2 branches and below; group B, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were between 3 and 4 branches; group C, endometrial and subendometrial blood flows were 5 branches and above. Patients were transferred 1-3 embryos each. Demographic data, ovarian responses, endometrial thickness, PI, RI, development of embryo and IVF result among groups were compared. Results Demographic data, ovarian responses, endometrial thickness, PI, RI and development of embryo among groups have no significant difference. The pregnancy rate of group A was significantly lower than that of group B （P〈0.05） and group C （P〈0.01）. The implantation rate of group A was significantly lower than than of group C （P〈0.01）. There was no significant difference of the rate of pregnancy and implantation between group B and group C （P〉0.05）. Conclusion Endometrial and subendometrial blood flows measured by vaginal color Doppler ultrasound is a good predicator of pregnancy during IVF treatment. A good endometrial and subendometrial blood flows is benefit for the result of IVF.

Transcriptomic analysis of granulosa cells in patients with endometriosis-related infertility:identification of potential molecular mechanisms

Objective:To investigate the impact of endometriosis(EMS)on granulosa cell function and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved.Methods:RNA sequencing,differential expression analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis,gene set enrichment analysis,protein–protein interaction analysis,and RT-qPCR were employed to assess the effects of EMS on granulosa cell function.Results:The results revealed significant differences in gene expression between the EMS and control groups,including genes related to immune regulatory functions and ferroptosis.Hub gene modules and hub genes were identified,including those related to cell cycle and immune and inflammatory pathways.RT-qPCR revealed significant upregulation of the hub genesCCL3 andIL1B in granulosa cells of patients with EMS.Conclusion:The results of RNA sequencing demonstrated that EMS induces significant transcriptional alterations in granulosa cells of affected patients.These findings provide important insights into the diagnosis and treatment of EMS and highlight the importance of further investigation ofCCL3 andIL1B as potential biomarkers for EMS.

ICSI treatment of severe male infertility can achieve prospective embryo quality compared with IVF of fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes

Azoospermia, cryptozoospermia and necrospermia can markedly decrease the ability of males to achieve pregnancy in fertile females. However, patients with these severe conditions still have the option to be treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI） to become biological fathers. This study analyzed the fertilization ability and the developmental viabilities of the derived embryos after ICSI treatment of the sperm from these patients compared with in vitro fertilization （IVF） treatment of the proven-fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes as a control. On the day of oocyte retrieval, the number of sperm suitable for ICSI collected from two ejaculates or testicular sperm extraction was lower than the oocytes, and therefore, excess sibling oocytes were treated by IVF with donor sperm. From 72 couples （73 cycles）, 1117 metaphase Ⅱ oocytes were divided into 512 for ICSI and 605 for IVF. Compared with the control, husbands＇ sperm produced a lower fertilization rate in nonobstructive azoospermia （65.4% vs 83.2%; P〈 0.001）, crytozoospermia （68.8% vs 75.5%; P〈 0.05） and necrospermia （65.0% vs 85.2%; P〈 0.05）. The zygotes derived in nonobstructive azoospermia had a lower cleavage rate （96.4% vs 99.4%; P 〈 0.05）, but the rate of resultant good-quality embryos was not different. Analysis of the rates of cleaved and good-quality embryos in crytozoospermia and necrospermia did not exhibit a significant difference from the control. In conclusion, although the sperm from severe male infertility reduced the fertilization ability, the derived embryos had potential developmental viabilities that might be predictive for the expected clinical outcomes.

Endometrial Collagen Fibril Hyperplasia is Associated with Implantation Failure in Women Undergoing IVF-ET

Objective To analyse the effects of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation （ COH） on the endometrial expression of collagen fibril （CF） during the peri-implantation period in patients undergoing IVF, and its relation to endometrial receptivity （ER） in repeated implantation failure（RIF）. Methods Peripheral blood and endometrial biopsies were obtained from 45 infertile women on days 5, 7 or 9 after oocytes retrieval or ovulation in a stimulated cycle （SC） and natural cycle （NC） respectively. CF was assayed by transmission electron microscope and quantified by modified Masson dyeing. The outcome of subsequent embryo transfer（ET） was observed. Results Levels of both E2 and progesterone were higher in the peripheral blood in SC than in NC. Also the expression of CF in the stroma in each secretory phase was increased significantly in SC （P 〈O.05）. After embryo transferring, expression levels of CF in the pregnancy group dropped between the mid- and late-secretory phase, but no change in the non-pregnancy group. In the same term, all patients undergone endometrial curettage had higher pregnancy rate than those without. Conclusion Imbalance of production and degradation of endometrial CF in the secretory phase resulting from COH may be the cause of defective ER and implantation failure in some RIF patients. Endometrial curettage may improve implantation rate by inducing appropriate CF hyperplasia and degradation.