Predictive value of antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone for follicle and oocyte developmental competence during the early prepubertal period in a sheep model

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Torres-Rovira ◽  
Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes ◽  
Sara Succu ◽  
Antonio Spezzigu ◽  
Maria E. Manca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Sheep Model ◽  
Ewe Lambs

Circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) are addressed as suitable markers of oocyte quantity and quality during adulthood. To investigate whether AFC and circulating AMH could predict follicle development and oocyte quality during the prepubertal period we used 40-day-old ewe lambs with high, intermediate and low AFC (≥30, 16–29 and ≤15 follicles respectively). The analysis of the response to the exogenous FSH ovarian reserve test showed a positive correlation between AFC, AMH plasma levels, total follicle number and the number of large follicles (≥3 mm) grown after exogenous FSH administration. The incorporation of abattoir-derived oocytes collected from ovaries with different AFC in an in vitro embryo production system showed that a high AFC can predict oocyte quality in prepubertal ovaries, reflecting an ovarian status suitable for follicular development. The histological quantification of the ovarian reserve evidenced that AFC was not predictive of differences in either the number of healthy follicles or the size of the primordial follicle pool in prepubertal ovaries. Further studies are needed to investigate the implication on the reproductive performance of the significant inter-individual differences found in the present study in AFC and circulating AMH in the early prepubertal period.

253 OXIDATIVE STRESS MAY IMPAIR OOCYTE QUALITY IN DAIRY COWS OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE WITH A REDUCED ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNT

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 274 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Tessaro ◽  
F. Franciosi ◽  
V. Lodde ◽  
D. Corbani ◽  
A. M. Luciano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Oxide System ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Mitochondrial Activity

In dairy cattle, oocytes isolated from ovaries with a reduced antral follicle count (AFC) have a low embryonic developmental competence. This may be related to oxidative stress, as indicated by our recent finding that ovaries with reduced AFC show a defective endothelial nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide system. To further test this hypothesis, we evaluated whether the poor developmental competence of these oocytes was possibly due 1) to an imbalance of the reduced glutathione (GSH) system, because GSH is the major antioxidant compound stored within the oocyte and protects the zygote and early embryos from oxidative damage, and 2) to reduced mitochondrial activity. Ovaries were obtained from the abattoir, and oocytes were collected from ovaries with reduced AFC, with fewer than 10 follicles of 2 to 6 mm in diameter, and aged-matched controls, with more than 10 follicles of 2 to 6 mm in diameter. Oocyte GSH content was evaluated using the 5,5′-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)-GSH reductase recycling micro-GSH assay before and after in vitro maturation (IVM) in the presence or absence of 100 µM cysteamine, a GSH precursor. At the same time the developmental competence after IVF was assessed. Moreover, the mitochondrial activity during IVM was evaluated in additional oocytes from the two ovarian categories by specific MitoTracker dyes (MitoTracker FM Green and MitoTracker Orange CMTMRos, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and subsequent image analysis (ImageJ software). All data were analysed by ANOVA followed by Fisher’s least significant differences test, and P-values <0.05 were considered significant. Experiments were repeated at least three times. Oocytes isolated from ovaries with a low AFC had a similar GSH content compared with oocytes isolated from control ovaries (n = 65 and 85, respectively; 4.31 ± 0.41 v. 4.51 ± 0.42 pmol oocyte–1). After IVM, oocytes from ovaries with reduced AFC showed a significantly lower GSH content compared with control oocytes (n = 55 and 65, respectively; 4.36 ± 0.31 v. 6.59 ± 0.39 pmol oocyte–1); however, cysteamine supplementation during IVM induced GSH accumulation similar to the control (n = 80 and 85, respectively; 9.88 ± 0.77 v. 10.45 ± 0.88 pmol oocyte–1). It is interesting that the increase in intracellular GSH content significantly improved the developmental competence of oocytes from ovaries with a reduced AFC (n = 196 and 201, respectively; 20.1 ± 2.9% v. 6.2 ± 1.6%), although the blastocyst rate remained lower than the control either with or without cysteamine (n = 218 and 212, respectively; 33.3 ± 3.8% and 34.2 ± 2.4%). Further, immature oocytes from ovaries with a low AFC showed a reduced mitochondrial membrane potential compared with control oocytes (n = 13 and 18, respectively; 1.74 ± 1.19 v. 2.22 ± 1.72, calculated as the ratio between the fluorescence of active and total mitochondria), whereas at the end of IVM, it declined in both categories at a comparable level (n = 17 and 24, respectively; 1.19 ± 0.10 and 1.30 ± 0.06). Our data confirmed the hypothesis that both the GSH imbalance and defective mitochondrial activity contribute to the limited developmental competence of oocytes from ovaries with a reduced AFC. This work was supported by Dote ricerca applicata-FSE, Regione Lombardia, Italy (VL, IT).

scholarly journals Effect of Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol on Diminishing Ovarian Reserve

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-234
Author(s):  
Divya U ◽  
Vijayakumar N
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Poor Responder ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Ayurvedic Treatment

Diminishing ovarian reserve (DOR) is a condition in which the ovary loses reproductive potential, compromising fertility. Nowadays 10-30% of female infertility is due to DOR and considered as “expected poor responder” for In vitro fertilisation (IVF).   Correlation of DOR can be done with Dathukshaya vandya (depletion or inadequate formation of dhatus) explained in Harithasamhita. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Ayurvedic treatment protocol on Diminishing ovarian reserve. The study protocol includes- ashtachurna for deepana (appetiser), pachana (digestives) and kolakulathadi churna for udwarthana (powder massage). Sukumaragrutha used for snehapana (oral administration of medicated ghee), utharabasthi (intrauterine administration) and rasayana (rejuvenation therapy ). Danwantarathaila abhyanga (oleation) and ooshmasweda (sudation) done for 3 days. Sukumaraeranda was used for virechana (therapeutic purgation) and also Yogabasthi (medicated enema). The study design was pre and post interventional study with a sample size of 15 selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducted at hospital for women and children, Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram. Assessment was based on Bologna criteria for DOR. The statistical techniques employed are Wilcoxon’s signed rank test and Paired t test. Results showed statistically significant effect on improving Antral follicle count (AFC) (p- 0.01), Estradiol (p- 0.005), conception (p- 0.014), on regulating amount of bleeding (p- 0.003), menstrual interval correction (p-0.001) and dyspareunia (p-0.005). But insignificant effect on improving Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) (p- 0.469) and regularising LH/FSH ratio (p-0.104) was found.

138 Relationships Between Antral Follicle Count, Ovarian Volume, Pre-Antral Follicle Number, and Oocyte Quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
G. L. Vasconcelos ◽  
R. Maculan ◽  
N. Alves ◽  
A. L. A. P. L. Ribeiro ◽  
A. W. B. Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Ovarian Volume ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Antral Follicles ◽  
Grade 3

The objective was to evaluate the possible relationships between AFC, ovarian volume, ovarian follicle reserve and oocyte quality in abattoir-derived ovaries (experiment 1) and in cows (experiment 2) submitted to OPU. Antral follicle counts of ≥25, 16 to 24, and ≤ 16 were used to define AFC classes as high (HAFC), intermediate (IAFC), and low (LAFC) in both experiments. In experiment 1, after antral follicles were aspirated, abattoir ovaries (n = 10 per AFC class) were processed by conventional histology and pre-antral follicles were counted within primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary classes and classified as either healthy or degenerate under regular microscopy (Cushman et al. 1999). In experiment 2, HAFC (n = 42), IAFC (n = 34), and LAFC (n = 29) cows were submitted to OPU and oocytes classified as grades 1, 2, and 3 or degenerate (IETS, 2010). Antral follicles (≥3 mm in diameter) were counted by ultrasonography. Data were analysed by GENMOD and GLM procedures of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) after transformations, when required. In experiment 1, mean normal primordial follicle number was higher (P < 0.001) in HAFC (137.0 ± 1.6)a compared with IAFC (52.6 ± 1.9)b and LAFC (20.2 ± 5.3)c ovaries. However, the mean number of degenerate primordial follicles was lower (P < 0.001) in low count ovaries (2.4 ± 0.6) compared with HAFC (19.0 ± 4.7) and IAFC (16.4 ± 1.5, P < 0.001). Normal primary follicle number was higher in the HAFC compared with IAFC and LAFC ovarian classes (86.2 ± 7.0a v. 34.6 ± 5.1b and 14.4 ± 3.3c, respectively; P < 0.01). Degenerate primary follicles were higher in the HAFC compared with LAFC ovarian class (16.8 ± 6.5 v. 5.2 ± 2.64; P < 0.05). Normal secondary follicle number was also higher in the HAFC compared to LAFC ovarian classes (25.2 ± 7.67 v. 2.4 ± 0.8; P < 0.05). The number of degenerate secondary follicles differed (P < 0.01) only between the IAFC and the LAFC ovarian classes (0.6 ± 0.4 and 7.2 ± 2.4, respectively), which were similar (P > 0.5) to the HAFC class (3.8 ± 1.0). In experiment 2, grade 1, 2, and 3 oocytes, viable oocytes, and ovarian volume (mm3) were higher (P < 0.001) in HAFC compared with IAFC and LAFC cows (grade 1: 7.9 ± 0.6a, 4.9 ± 0.7b and 3.3 ± 0.7c; grade 2: 4.0 ± 0.4a, 2.8 ± 0.4b and 1.2c; grade 3: 2.1 ± 0.4a, 2.5 ± 0.4a and 1.3 ± 0.5b, respectively; viable oocytes: 16.3 ± 1.1a, 13.1 ± 1.2b, and 8.1 ± 1.3c, respectively; (volumes: 12.6 ± 0.7a, 10.1 ± 0.8b, and 8.1 ± 0.9c, respectively). In conclusion, high AFC is linked to a higher follicular reserve, oocyte quality, and ovarian volume. It is safe to apply AFC in the selection of bovine females without compromising oocyte or pre-antral follicular population qualities.

The effect of endometrioma on ovarian reserve

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Agnieszka Szczepańska ◽  
Paweł P. Jagodziński ◽  
Ewa Wender‑Ożegowska
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Reserve ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Current State ◽  
Ovarian Endometrioma ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Ovarian Endometriomas

An ovarian endometrioma is a very common form of endometriosis in women of reproductive age. This review presents the current state of research on ovarian reserve in women with ovarian endometriomas. Endometrioma can negatively affect ovarian markers: the anti‑Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) results. Decisions on the surgical treatment of endometrial cysts should be carefully thought through, especially in women who have not given birth.

scholarly journals A Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Characterization of Bovine Oocytes Reveals That Cysteamine Partially Rescues the Embryo Development in a Model of Low Ovarian Reserve

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1936
Author(s):  
Valentina Lodde ◽  
Alberto Maria Luciano ◽  
Giulia Musmeci ◽  
Ileana Miclea ◽  
Irene Tessaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Culture Conditions ◽  
Free Radical Scavenger ◽  
Radical Scavenger ◽  
Ovarian Aging

Decreased oocyte quality is a major determinant of age-associated fertility decline. Similarly, individuals affected by early ovarian aging carry low-quality oocytes. Using an established bovine model of early ovarian aging, we investigated key features of ‘quality’ oocyte maturation, associated with the onset of egg aneuploidy and reproductive aging, such as histone modifications, mitochondria distribution and activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) content, and gap junction functionality. Bovine ovaries were classified according to the antral follicle count (AFC), and the retrieved oocytes were processed immediately or matured in vitro. We observed alterations in several cellular processes, suggesting a multifactorial etiology of the reduced oocyte quality. Furthermore, we performed a rescue experiment for one of the parameters considered. By adding cysteamine to the maturation medium, we experimentally increased the free radical scavenger ability of the ‘low competence’ oocytes and obtained a higher embryo development. Our findings show that adopting culture conditions that counteract the free radicals has a positive impact on the quality of ‘compromised’ oocytes. Specifically, cysteamine treatment seems to be a promising option for treating aging-related deficiencies in embryo development.

Does cigarette smoking really have a clinical effect on folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation?

Zygote ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 318-321
Author(s):  
Burcu Ozbakir ◽  
Pinar Tulay
Keyword(s):  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Clinical Effect ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Antral Follicle Count ◽  
Oocyte Donation ◽  
Fertility Status ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fertile Women

SummaryInfertility is the most common issue in the field of reproductive medicine. Many factors affect fertility status, including life-style choices such as cigarette smoking or alcohol use. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on oocyte quality as well the quantity in young fertile women. In total, 56 young fertile women who were undergoing oocyte donation programmes were included in this study. The effects of cigarette smoking on antral follicle count, number of follicles and oocytes retrieved and morphology were assessed by an expert embryologist. The results of this study showed that cigarette smoking did not have a significant effect on the follicle count or the number of oocytes retrieved from young and fertile women. However, a significant difference was observed in the morphological assessment. In conclusion, although cigarette smoking does not seem to affect oocyte development, it had an effect on cytoplasmic anomalies and therefore may lower pregnancy chance. Therefore, it is crucial to give proper counselling to patients who are trying to become pregnant both naturally and by in vitro fertilization.

scholarly journals Effect of aging on follicular function may be relieved by exogenous gonadotropin treatment in a sheep model

Reproduction ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiammetta Berlinguer ◽  
Antonio Gonzalez-Bulnes ◽  
Antonio Spezzigu ◽  
Ignacio Contreras-Solis ◽  
Sara Succu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Ovarian Response ◽  
Oocyte Quality ◽  
Developmental Competence ◽  
Reproductive Aging ◽  
Sheep Model ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Oestrus Cycle

The current study investigated hormonal and ovarian changes during physiological reproductive aging in Sarda ewes. In a first experiment, follicular and corpus luteum dynamics were compared during an induced oestrus cycle in aged (12–14 years) and young adult ewes (4–5 years). Oestrus cycle characteristics did not differ between the two experimental groups. However, follicular function during the follicular phase showed significant alterations in aged ewes, as determined by a lack of dominance effect and by lower mean values of circulating oestradiol (E2) and inhibin levels, compared with young adult ewes. In a second experiment, differences in follicle growth, hormonal milieu and oocyte quality in response to exogenous FSH administration were assessed in aged and adult ewes. No differences were recorded in ovarian response to FSH treatment between young adult and aged ewes, as evaluated by ultrasonographic data and circulating concentrations of LH, E2 and inhibin-A. Although the total number of recovered oocytes was similar in the two age groups, the number of good quality oocytes selected for IVM was significantly lower in aged ewes compared with adult ones. Thereafter, no differences were recorded in cleavage rates, total blastocyst output, embryo developmental kinetic and quality between aged and adult groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that reproductive aging in sheep is associated with impaired follicle functionality and an increase in the proportion of oocytes showing morphological abnormalities. However interestingly, oocyte developmental competence in vitro and embryo cryotolerance were not affected by the aging process, when only good quality oocytes were chosen.

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