OBJECTIVE To evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation and semen parameters to diagnose male factor infertility and predict pregnancy after IVF. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Academic research laboratory. PATIENT(S) Seventy-five couples undergoing IVF and 28 fertile donors. INTERVENTION(S) Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by the alkaline Comet assay in semen and sperm after density gradi...

Biochemical aspects, synthesis and characterization of some boron complexes of 2-hydroxy-N-phenylbenzamide (HOPhBenz) and its semicarbazone (HOPhBenz.SCZH) and thiosemicarbazone (HOPhBenz.TSCZH) are described. These derivatives were prepared by the reactions of 2-isopropoxy-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane, and 2-isopropoxy-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane with 2-hydroxy-N-phenylbenzamide, 1-[(2-hydrox...

background: sperm selection is generally used to describe methods for separation of spermatozoa for in-vitro-assisted reproduction. few studies reported relation in vivo fertility and semen parameters after selection of fertile spermatozoa; hence, our research attempt to assess different semen parameters after post-thaw (pt) or after selecting sperm sample (ssp), using density gradient separati...

The purpose of this study was to characterize highly enriched human spermatozoa membrane proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis and computer image analysis. Sperm membrane proteins were extracted by detergent solubilization from three different preparations: 1) washed semen cells following centrifugation and three wash steps in Ham's F-10 medium (the standard sperm preparation, which is co...

This prospective observational pilot study investigated the effect of individualized homeopathy on male infertility based on sperm count, hormone values and general health. Forty-five subfertile men were treated with single homeopathic remedies for an average of 10.3 months. The drugs were prescribed on the basis of the overall symptomatic situation. The variables 'sperm density', 'percentage o...

Current theories predict that Allee effects should be widespread in nature, but there is little consistency in empirical findings. We hypothesized that this gap can arise from ignoring spatial contexts (i.e. spatial scale and heterogeneity) that potentially mask an existing fitness-density relationship: a 'cryptic' Allee effect. To test this hypothesis, we analysed how spatial contexts interact...

The effects of density and food on remating were investigated using Drosophila melanogaster. The frequency of remating was unaffected by density for some combinations of fly strains but was reduced at low relative densities for other combinations. Until females had used most of their stored sperm, remating was less likely when food was absent or contact with food was prevented. Food availabilit...

Background Sperm preparation before assisted reproductive techniques is very important for obtaining successful fertilization and pregnancy. During ICSI technique, sperms are selected based on viability and morphology. But this selection did not guarantee integrity of sperm DNA. Therefore, novel sperm selection procedures are introduced for selection of sperm with low DNA damage. One of these p...

AIM To evaluate the relationship between testicular function and testicular volume measured by using Prader orchidometry and ultrasonography (US) to determine the critical testicular volume indicating normal testicular function by each method. METHODS Total testicular volume (right plus left testicular volume) was measured in 794 testes in 397 men with infertility (mean age, 35.6 years) using...

The selection of vital, non-apoptotic spermatozoa is a prerequisite for achieving optimal conception rates in assisted reproductive techniques. Magnetic cell sorting using annexin-V microbeads can effectively separate apoptotic and non-apoptotic spermatozoa. The objective of the present study was to optimize the integration of magnetic cell sorting in standard sperm preparations and to correlat...