Fertilization

PREMISE: The ability to self-fertilize is predicted to provide an advantage in colonization because a single individual can reproduce and establish a next generation in a new location regardless of the density of mates. While there is theoretical and correlative support for this idea, the strength of mate limitation as a selective agent has not yet been delineated from other factors that can also select for self-fertilization in colonization of new habitats. We used known mating-system variation in the American bellflower (Campanula americana) to explore how plants' ability to self-fertilize can mitigate density-dependent reproduction and impact colonization success...

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with a poor ovarian response who used methyltestosterone, versus those using a placebo, in an infertility clinic setting. METHODS: This clinical trial included 120 women who had undergone IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection due to poor ovarian reserve and infertility. The study took place at the Yas Infertility Center in Tehran, Iran, between January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2019...

Uterine dysplasia is a common cause of infertility. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of this disease. This paper introduces a case of infertility caused by uterine dysplasia treated by Professor MA Kun who adopted the therapy of tonifying kidney and activating blood, aiming to summarize the theoretical foundation and formula principles of Professor MA Kun in the clinical treatment of this disease. The kidney stores essence and governs reproduction. Kidney deficiency is the root cause of infertility...

Uterine fibroids are a prevalent factor that impacts fertility in women of reproductive age. This study discusses the theoretical foundation and formula principles of Professor MA Kun's clinical treatment for infertility caused by uterine fibroids. The kidney stores essence and is responsible for reproduction, while blood serves as a vital material basis for women's physiological functions. Kidney deficiency is the fundamental pathogenesis of infertility, and imbalances in kidney Qi and essence or deficiencies in kidney Yin and Yang can result in blood stasis...

Transcriptomics was used to investigate the mechanism of action of Bushen Culuan Formula in the treatment of infertility caused by hyperprolactinemia(HPRL), and animal experiments were carried out to verify the results. After establishing an animal model of HPRL-induced infertility, the mice were divided into normal group, model group, Bushen Culuan Formula groups with high-, medium-, and low-doses, and bromocriptine group, and they were observed in terms of the estrous cycle, gonadal index, serum sex hormones, morphology of ovary and mammary gland, follicle count, and fertility...

The effects of humic acid water-soluble fertilizer on the growth and physiological characteristics of Bupleurum chinense seedlings(Zhongchai No.1) were studied by using a single factor experiment design. When the seedling age was 60 days, the humic acid water-soluble fertilizer was diluted 1 200 times(T1), 1 500 times(T2), 1 800 times(T3), and 2 100 times(T4) for seedling treatment, respectively, and water was used as the control(CK). The effects of different treatments on growth indexes, biomass accumulation, root activity, antioxidant enzyme activity, membrane lipid peroxidation, and photosynthetic characteristics of B...

Soil nutrients and inorganic elements affect not only the growth and development of medicinal plants but also the formation and accumulation of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines. The content of tanshinones and 28 inorganic elements in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma samples from 18 producing areas in 6 provinces was determined, and 35 physical and chemical properties of the corresponding soil samples were determined. The enrichment characteristics of inorganic elements in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were analyzed...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The relationship between psychological factors and treatment outcomes with assisted reproductive technology has sparked considerable debate. This study aims to investigate the emotional risk factors in couples seeking infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technology in Sari, Iran, from 2020 to 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research is a cross-sectional study and emotional risk factors and other related factors were examined using the Persian version of the SCREENIVF demographic, social, and clinical status questionnaire, social, and clinical status questionnaire before using Assisted reproductive technology in 460 infertile couples selected from infertility treatment centers in Sari City, Iran...

BACKGROUND: Genetically modified pigs are considered ideal models for studying human diseases and potential sources for xenotransplantation research. However, the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) technique utilized to generate these cloned pig models has low efficiency, and fetal development is limited due to placental abnormalities. RESULTS: In this study, we unprecedentedly established putative porcine trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) using SCNT and in vitro-fertilized (IVF) blastocysts through the activation of Wing-less/Integrated (Wnt) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathways, inhibition of transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathways, and supplementation with ascorbic acid...

Pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri) is a free-living North American member of an allotetraploid complex that includes the Andean pseudocereal quinoa (C. quinoa). Like quinoa, pitseed goosefoot was domesticated, possibly independently, in eastern North America (subsp. jonesianum) and Mesoamerica (subsp. nuttaliae). To test the utility of C. berlandieri as a resource for quinoa breeding, we produced the whole-genome DNA sequence of PI 433,231, a huauzontle from Puebla, México. The 1.295 Gb genome was assembled into 18 pseudomolecules and annotated using RNAseq data from multiple tissues...

Farmed soils contribute substantially to global warming by emitting N2 O (ref. 1 ), and mitigation has proved difficult2 . Several microbial nitrogen transformations produce N2 O, but the only biological sink for N2 O is the enzyme NosZ, catalysing the reduction of N2 O to N2 (ref. 3 ). Although strengthening the NosZ activity in soils would reduce N2 O emissions, such bioengineering of the soil microbiota is considered challenging4,5 . However, we have developed a technology to achieve this, using organic waste as a substrate and vector for N2 O-respiring bacteria selected for their capacity to thrive in soil6-8 ...

Extreme within-lake conditions have the potential to exert detrimental effects on lakes. Here we use satellite observations to investigate how the occurrence of multiple types of extremes, notably algal blooms, lake heatwaves, and low lake levels, have varied in 2724 lakes since the 1980s. Our study, which focuses on bloom-affected lakes, suggests that 75% of studied lakes have experienced a concurrent increase in at least two of the extremes considered (27% defined as having a notable increase), with 25% experiencing an increase in frequency of all three extremes (5% had a notable increase)...

Cryopreservation of sperm can cause oxidative stress and damage, leading to decreased different functional parameters and fertilization potential. In this study, we evaluated two types of H2 S donors: NaHS, a fast-releasing donor, and GYY4137, a slow-releasing donor during cryopreservation of goat sperm. Initially, we determined that 1.5 and 3 μM NaHS, and 15 and 30 μM GYY4137 are optimal concentrations that improved different sperm functional parameters including motility, viability, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, and ROS production during incubation at 38...

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of hatching status on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer cycles. Frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles performed at a single fertility center between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively assessed. Analyses were restricted to 6,821 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfers in women aged 24-47 years. For optimal comparability, double embryo transfer (ET) cycles consisting of one hatching and one hatched blastocyst were excluded. The implantation and pregnancy rates were evaluated and compared between the hatching and hatched blastocyst transfer groups based on patients' age (<38 vs...

This study examines spermatogonial numbers in testicular samples from 43 prepubertal patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). High-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation during HSCT can impact spermatogenesis requiring fertility preservation. Results show that 49% of patients have decreased and 19% severely depleted spermatogonial pool prior to HSCT. Patients with Fanconi anaemia exhibit significantly reduced spermatogonial numbers. Patients with immunodeficiency or aplastic anaemia generally present within the normal range, while results in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or myeloproliferative neoplasm vary...

The objective of this narrative review is to advocate for improved comprehensive care of patients with obesity and infertility. Persons with elevated body mass index (BMI) have less successful reproductive outcomes, and recently, new medications to treat neuroendocrine hormone imbalances are producing meaningful weight loss akin to surgical interventions. For the first time, obesity is publicly being recognized as a disease, These medications contain the newest generation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and deserve our attention for several reasons: 1) regardless of BMI, many patients will be using them, 2) it is necessary to understand the mode of action, side effects, and implications for anesthetic procedures and pregnancy, and 3) to evaluate when they could be used to improve health outcomes and/or access to fertility care...

Straw incorporation holds significant promise for enhancing soil fertility and mitigating air pollution stemming from straw burning. However, this practice concurrently elevates the production and emission of methane (CH4 ) from paddy ecosystems. Despite its environmental impact, the precise mechanisms behind the heightened CH4 production resulting from long-term straw incorporation remains elusive. In a 32-year field experiment featuring three fertilization treatments (CFS-chemical fertilizer with wheat straw, CF-chemical fertilizer, and CK-unamended), we investigated the impact of abiotic (soil physicochemical properties) and biotic (methanogenic abundance, diversity, and community composition) factors on CH4 production in paddy fields...

This study aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on endometrial cells and fertility and to identify possible underlying mechanisms. Thirteen women (aged 15-52 years) were included in this study. Enrolled patients underwent laparoscopic surgery at Gangnam Severance Hospital between 1 January and 31 December, 2021. For in vivo experiments, 36 female and nine male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control(vehicle), low-dose(10 mg/kg/d), and high-dose exposure groups(20 mg/kg/d)...

The accumulation of soil carbon (C) is crucial for the productivity and ecological function of farmland ecosystems. The balance between microbial carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emission and fixation determines the sustained accumulation potential of C in soil. Microorganisms involved in this process are highly obscure, thus hindering identification and further application of microorganisms with fertile soil function. In this study, a series of typical upland farmland soils were collected from 29 regions and their microbial community structure and soil C fractions were analyzed...

Effective utilization of organic resources to activate residual phosphorus (P) in soil and enhance its availability is crucial for mitigating P resource scarcity and assessing the sustainable use of P in agricultural practices. However, the mechanisms through which organic resources affect soil P conversion via microorganisms and functional genes remain unknown, particularly in long-term organic-inorganic agricultural systems. In this study, we examined the impact of combined organic-inorganic fertilizer application on P availability, carbon (C) and P cycling genes, and microbial communities (bacterial and fungal) in reddish paddy soil based on a 42-year field experiment...