background: phospholipids are distributed asymmetrically between inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane of live cells. early during apoptosis, this asymmetry is disrupted and phosphatidylserine becomes exposed on the outside surface of the plasma membrane. there is little information about the effects of vitrification on apoptosis. objective: the aim of the present study was to evaluat...

BACKGROUND Thiols are scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We aim to investigate associations between thiols in various fluids in (sub)fertile couples and fertility outcome parameters. METHODS In 156 couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART), we measured the concentrations of glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteinylglycine (CGS) and fertility...

Human sperm contain similar amounts of protamine-1 (P1) and protamine-2 (P2). Although an aberrant protamine ratio have been observed in subfertile men, functional evidence is provided by protamine knockout mice exhibiting male infertility. As sperm DNA integrity is known to be linked with DNA fragmentation and apoptosis, we investigated whether the DNA fragmentation factor 40 (DFF40) ratio or ...

Testicular biopsy specimens from 16 fertile and 10 subfertile men with normal male karyotype were studied quantitatively to provide histological and cytogenetic data for a basis of reference in assessing abnormalities of spermatogenesis. Histological studies included estimation of the proportion and activity of germinal epithelium and an assessment of tubular morphology. In cytogenetic preparat...

We evaluated the efficacy of transurethral deroofing of a midline prostatic cyst in subfertile men with one or more of the following semen abnormalities: decreased ejaculatory volume, decreased sperm motility and oligo- or azoospermia. Results from treatment of a series of 11 subfertile men with a midline prostatic cyst by transurethral deroofing of the cyst are presented. Five patients showed ...

Background: Phospholipids are distributed asymmetrically between inner and outer leaflets of the plasma membrane of live cells. Early during apoptosis, this asymmetry is disrupted and phosphatidylserine becomes exposed on the outside surface of the plasma membrane. There is little information about the effects of vitrification on apoptosis. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluat...

Inhibin B is produced by Sertoli cells, provides negative feedback on FSH secretion, and may prove to be an important marker for the functioning of seminiferous tubules. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the spermatogenic function of the testis of subfertile men and the plasma concentrations of inhibin B and FSH. These parameters were estimated in a group ...

Poor sperm motility is an important factor in male infertility. Preliminary results in our laboratory on a group of 19 men (10 suspected infertile men and 9 fertile donors) showed stimulation of sperm fertilizing ability after sperm washing with theophylline as demonstrated by zona free hamster egg penetration test. The egg penetration rate for the control spermatozoa samples from subfertile me...