Effects of emotion on perceptual asymmetry: interactions with personality

Perceptual asymmetry on a series of four specially constructed dichotic word tests was found to change as a function of the emotional quality of the words in the tests (P = 0.05). This was most pronounced in the case of positively valued words which produced an increase in asymmetry consistent with facilitated left-hemisphere function (P less than 0.004). Changes in asymmetry with emotion differed as a function of personality characteristics of the subjects, with repressors and high anxious subjects showing an increase with emotion while true low anxious subjects showed a decrease (P less than 0.02). Personality groups also differed in asymmetry on an emotionally neutral test (P less than 0.04) and in changes in asymmetry over time independent of emotion (P less than 0.001). These data suggest that emotion mediated activation of the left hemisphere may facilitate information processing within that hemisphere. Moreover, they indicate that dichotic listening tests may provide a non-invasive and inexpensive method for assessing emotion mediated changes in brain state that are clinically relevant.     

Micro- and macro-consequences of ooplasmic injections of early haploid male gametes

This review refers to the evolution of ooplasmic injectionsof round spermatid nuclei ROSNI) or intact round spermatidsROSI). Conclusions from their preliminary application in thehamster, rabbit, mouse and human are discussed. Criteria foridentification of round spermatids and guidelines/quality controlfor application of ROSNI/ROSI techniques are emphasized. Althoughall the animal offspring and the human newborns delivered afterROSNI/ROSI are healthy additional research efforts are necessaryto confirm the safety of these procedures and improve theiroutcome     

Endocrinology: Two cases of ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovarian stimulation attempts

Concerns have been raised recently about the possible associationbetween superovulation and ovarian cancer. In order to contributeto the limited literature on this important issue, two casesof ovarian tumours in women who had undergone multiple ovulationinductions are presented. In the first case, the patient hadsecondary anovulatory infertility. She was treated with humanmenopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) alone and in combination withclomiphene citrate or buserelin for six cycles. She then underwentovarian stimulation with buserelin/HMG in the long protocolfor in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer. In preparationfor a new IVF/embryo transfer attempt, 8 months later, the screeningultrasound revealed a cystic formation of the left ovary andan enlargement of the right. During laparotomy, both ovarieswere found to bear large tumours (approximately 6x5x4 cm) whichwere removed. Histological examination showed that they wereepithelial tumours (serous-papillary cystadenomas) of borderlinemalignancy. The patient conceived spontaneously 1.5 years afterthe operation. In the second case, the patient presented withsecondary anovulatory infertility. She underwent ovulation inductionwith clomiphene/HMG and with buserelin/HMG in the long protocol,and intra-uterine insemination with husband's spermatozoa andconceived (singleton pregnancy). She was delivered by Caesareansection, during which a cystic tumour of the left ovary wasremoved. Histological examination revealed a benign mucous cystadenomaof the ovary. In conclusion, the clinical information from thesetwo cases does not support a causal association between ovarianstimulation and ovarian tumours but does potntially supporta facilitating one.     

Germ cell transplantation: a review and progress report on ICSI from spermatozoa generated in xenogeneic testes

Results from the transplantation of donor male germ cells into xenogeneic recipient seminiferous tubules indicate that donor spermatogonia are capable of differentiating to form spermatozoa morphologically characteristic of the donor species. Germ cell transplantation procedures combined with developments in freezing, culturing or enriching germ cell populations have applications of paramount importance in medicine, basic sciences and animal reproduction. Additionally, these techniques can serve as an alternative approach for gonadal protection and fertility preservation in patients with cancer. This article is a chronological critical review of the technological advances that followed the initial successful transplantation of mouse germ cells into recipient mice. Furthermore, the factors responsible for the immunological privilege properties of the testis and the parameters influencing the potential of mammalian germ cells to undergo mitosis and meiosis within a xenogeneic testis are described. Finally, the role of human germ cell transplantation procedures in the therapeutic management of non-obstructive azoospermia is discussed.     

The day of initiation of human menopausal gonadotropin stimulation affects follicular growth in in vitro fertilization cycles

The attainment of synchronous follicular development in human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated cycles for in vitro fertilization (IVF) continues to be a perplexing problem. Two regimens of follicle stimulation for IVF cycles were, therefore, compared. Twenty-nine patients commenced human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) therapy on day I of the menstrual cycle (Group I), while 30 women received hMG from the third day of the cycle (Group II). The hMG therapy was tailored to the individual patients's response, based on ultrasonographic measurements of follicular size and serum estradiol (E₂) levels. Both groups of patients received a mean of 19.6±1.4 ampules of hMG over a mean of 6.1±0.2 days. The pattern of serum E₂ and progesterone levels in the periovulatory and luteal phase was not affected by the day of initiation of hMG therapy, although Group I patients demonstrated lower (P<0.05) E₂ levels on the 2 days prior to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration. In terms of follicle growth, Group II follicles consistently demonstrated a significantly (P<0.01,x ² test) larger proportion of medium- and large-sized follicles compared to Group I follicles on almost all of the days when ultrasonographic measurements were taken. In addition. Group II follicles demonstrated an earlier shift (day—1) to the larger follicles than Group I follicles (day 0). Significantly (P<0.001) more oocytes were recovered per uspirated follicle in Group II patients, but the fertilization rate per oocyte was greater (P<0.003) for Group I oocytes. Nevertheless, pregnancy rates did not differ between the two groups. It is suggested that a difference between the two groups of patients in the quantity or quality of gonadotropin receptor sites in the early part of the follicular phase may account for both the diminished E₂ production in the follicular phase and the persistent depressed follicular growth in Group I patients.     

The association between preovulatory serum 17 beta-estradiol pattern and conception in human menopausal gonadotropin-human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation

One hundred forty-four women suffering from obstructive tubal disease underwent laparoscopy for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Ovulation was induced by a human menopausal gonadotropin/human chorionic gonadotropin (hMG/hCG) protocol. The patients were divided according to their estradiol (E2) response to hMG/hCG administration: group A, an increase of E2 levels on the day after hCG administration (day +1); group B, a decrease of E2 levels on the day after hCG administration. Each of these groups was further subdivided into high responders (E2 greater than 500 pg/ml on day 0), designated A-1 and B-1, respectively, and low responders (E2 less than 500 pg/ml on day 0), designated A-2 and B-2, respectively. Patients responding in an A-1 pattern had significantly higher E2 levels from day 0 to day +8. Fertilization and cleavage rates did not differ among the groups, nor did luteal-phase progesterone. Twenty-one pregnancies were achieved from 126 transfers (17%), of which 16 (75%) occurred in women responding in an A pattern. We recommend that laparoscopy be deferred in women responding with a B pattern, because this preselection may increase pregnancy rates per IVF-ET cycle.     

Delaying human chorionic gonadotropin administration in human menopausal gonadotropin-induced cycles decreases successful in vitro fertilization of human oocytes

Correct timing of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration in induced cycles for in vitro fertilization is of crucial importance to oocyte maturation and normal luteal function. The purpose of this work was to compare the effect of hCG timing on follicular development, oocyte maturation, and fertilization in vitro, as well as on the pattern of luteal phase hormone secretion. Ovulation was induced in 32 normally cycling women by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)/hCG administration. In the first group (17 women) 10,000 IU hCG was administered 24 hours after the last injection of hMG and in the second group (15 women) 48 to 72 hours after the last hMG injection. Serum estradiol levels prior to oocyte aspiration were similar in both groups, as were the numbers of large follicles on the day of hCG administration (4.5 +/- 2.3 versus 4.1 +/- 1.9 follicles/woman, respectively). The distribution of oocyte-corona-cumulus complexes was similar in both groups and was comprised of 11% immature, 43% intermediate, and 45% mature complexes. The fertilization rate, however, was significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced in the group treated by delayed hCG injection (57% versus 84%), and the percentage of degenerated oocytes was increased (9% versus 1%). Luteal phase length as well as progesterone and estradiol levels were comparable in both groups. It is concluded that an interval longer than 24 hours between the last injection of hMG and the administration of an ovulatory dose of hCG does not affect follicular and luteal phase serum steroid patterns but may result in a decreased oocyte fertilization rate, possibly due to atretic changes in the follicles.     

Association of oestrogen receptor alpha polymorphisms and androgen receptor CAG trinucleotide repeats with male infertility: a study in 109 Greek infertile men

This study was performed to examine the contribution of genetic polymorphism of oestrogen and androgen receptor (AR) genes in male infertility. We have studied in total 173 Greek men, 109 infertile patients and 64 controls (group A). Patients were divided in to three subgroups: group B (n=29) with idiopathic moderate oligospermia, group C (n=42) with azoospermia or idiopathic severe oligospermia and group D (n=38) with azoospermia or oligospermia of various known aetiologies. All patients and controls were genotyped for two polymorphisms of the oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene and also for the (CAG)n repeat length polymorphism of the X-linked androgen receptor (AR)gene. The control group had statistically significant difference from group C regarding the XbaI polymorphism of ERalpha gene. Despite the fact that we did not observe any statistically significant differences in the mean and range of the CAG repeat number, the frequency of the higher repeats of the nucleotide repeat sequence (CAG)n of the AR gene was 2-4 times higher in groups B and C compared with the control group A. Our results indicate that both ERalpha and AR gene play significant role in male fertility. It is possible that a synergy may exist between unfavourable genotypes of these two genes in male infertility.