R.H.Mehta1 and T.C.Anand Kumar cysts remains unclear. Three hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon: Hope Infertility Clinic, Reproductive Health Clinic And Research Centre, 12 Aga Abbas Ali Road, Bangalore 560 042, India Hypothesis I 1To whom correspondence should be addressed Commencement of GnRH agonist, either as a single dose of This debate was previously published on Webtrack 96, the long-acting form or as daily s.c. doses, results in an initial December 1, 1999 transient ‘flare-up effect’ on the pituitary leading to a surge of circulating gonadotrophins. It is postulated that this surge Pituitary desensitization with gonadotrophin-releasing hortriggers the growth of the primordial follicles. The absence of mone (GnRH) agonists prior to ovarian stimulation is now a a subsequent luteinizing hormone (LH) surge prevents the routine part of most in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytorupture or luteinization of the follicles which then get converted plasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures. The two criteria into cystic structures. This hypothesis was first proposed to which are used to determine whether pituitary desensitization explain the presence of ovarian cysts after GnRH agonist has occurred are: (i) serum oestradiol concentrations of 50 administration (Feldberg et al., 1989) and then later by most pg/ml and (ii) the absence of any ovarian cysts with a diameter other investigators reporting on the presence of ovarian cysts 15–20 mm(Ron-El et al., 1989; Sampaio et al., 1991; Jenkins after administration of GnRH agonists ( Herman et al., 1990; et al., 1993; Tarlatzis et al., 1994; Keltz et al., 1995). It takes Ron-El et al., 1990; Stewart et al., 1992; Jenkins et al., 1993; ~10–15 days for this effect of GnRH agonist to manifest on Tarlatzis et al., 1994). the ovary, irrespective of the phase of the cycle (early follicular The incidence of ovarian cyst formation following GnRH phase or mid-luteal phase) in which the GnRH agonist is agonist treatment in IVF cycles is related to the serum started, the type of GnRH agonist used (long-acting triptorelin progesterone concentrations on the day of GnRH agonist or short-acting buserelin or leuprolide acetate) and the mode treatment initiation (Marqalioth et al., 1991) and is lower when of administration (nasal spray, i.m. administration of longprogesterone is administered prior to starting GnRH agonist acting preparations or s.c. administration) (Sampaio et al. treatment (Aston et al., 1995). This is attributed to the ability 1991; Parinaud et al., 1992; Jenkins et al., 1993). of progesterone to decrease gonadotrophin release in response There have been several reports on the presence of ovarian to GnRH agonist (Araki et al., 1985), therefore the initial cysts while the women are still undergoing treatment with transient ‘flare-up effect’ of GnRH agonist becomes subdued GnRH agonists (Feldberg et al., 1989; Ron-El et al., 1989; and subsequently the formation of cysts. This hypothesis Sampaio et al., 1991; Jenkins et al., 1992; Parinaud et al., explains the presence or formation of ovarian cysts after GnRH 1992; Stewart et al., 1992; Jenkins et al., 1993; Tarlatzis et al., agonist administration, but fails to explain how these ‘cysts’ 1994; Keltz et al., 1995; Weissman et al., 1998). The elevated continue growing and secreting oestradiol in the absence of concentrations of serum oestradiol and the high concentration any endogenous or exogenous gonadotrophin stimulation for of oestradiol in the fluids aspirated from these cysts indicate a prolonged period of time. that these cysts originate from the ovarian follicles and have Several authors (Ron-El et al., 1989; Herman et al., 1990) been termed as ‘functional follicular cysts’ (Jenkins et al., have clearly demonstrated that there is a sharp rise in the 1993). Some of these cysts may also be endometriomata serum FSH and LH concentrations within the first 48 h of (Yanushpolsky et al., 1998). GnRH agonist administration with a concomitant rise in The incidence of formation of such cysts is reported to be oestradiol concentrations. Daily administration of buserelin or 2–40% (Feldberg et al., 1989; Ron-El et al., 1989; Parinaud leuprolide acetate for 4 days after the administration of longet al., 1992; Jenkins et al., 1993; Tarlatzis et al., 1994). There acting GnRH agonist results in a decrease in both serum are some reports that the incidence is higher in older women gonadotrophin and oestradiol values. In cases where these (Keltz et al., 1995); in those in whom GnRH agonists have cysts have been observed, the gonadotrophin concentrations been started in the follicular phase, compared with those in decrease but the diameter of the cysts and circulating oestradiol whom it is started in the mid-luteal phase (Ben-Rafael et al., concentrations are maintained or increase (Herman et al., 1990). 1990); and in those having higher basal (day 2) values of According to this hypothesis, if it is the ‘flare-up’ effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the pre-treatment cycle (Keltz et al., 1995). The reasons for the formation of such the GnRH agonist which triggers the rise in gonadotrophin

The reproductive exocrine and endocrine profiles in male langurs are reported with an emphasis on seasonality. The animals showed positive response to electroejaculation throughout the year. The sperm concentration varied between 10–383 × 106/ejaculation with wide fluctuations all through the year. No appreciable changes in the motility and percent live sperm were observed throughout the year. The levels of seminal fructose and magnesium remained unchanged throughout the year, while acid phosphatase showed wide fluctuations. Citric acid showed elevation during February and March and LDH showed elevated levels during April and May. The annual range of serum testosterone was 6–34 nMol/l with a peak during July. Cortisol ranged between 575–1587 nMol/l and prolactin ranged between 107–900 mU/l. Wide fluctuations were observed in hormonal levels. No seasonality was exhibited in the seminiferous tubule diameter, nuclear diameter of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, and the cholesterol, glycogen, and sialic acid contents of testis. None of the parameters studied have shown any correlation with season. The results suggest that the male langurs lack seasonality in their reproductive exocrine and endocrine profiles and thus could be used as model for research in human reproduction.

Objective: To assess the role of varicocele in male infertility.(~)Design: Data analysis of a large population of couples who were systematically investigated for infertility.Settings: Couples were recruited in 34 World Health Organization collaborating centers in 24 countries.Patients: Nine thousand thirty-four men presenting as partner of infertile couples.Interventions: None.Main Outcome Measures: Physical findings, semen characteristics, coincidental pathology, and spontaneous pregnancies.Results: Varicocele was found in 25.4% of men with abnormal semen, compared with 11.7% of men with normal semen. It was accompanied by decreased testicular volume, impaired sperm quality, and decline of Leydig cell secretion. Spontaneous pregnancies were as frequent in couples in whom the men did or did not have varicocele.Conclusion: Varicocele is clearly associated with impairment of testicular function and infertility.

Spermatozoan nuclear chromatin is in a highly condensed state prior to fertilization. In vivo decondensation occurs in the ooplasm and is essential for successful fertilization and the formation of male pronucleus and the zygote to occur. The chromatin of spermatozoa and nucleus can undergo in vitro decondensation with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 6 mM ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The ability of sperm to decondense in vitro was compared with their ability to fertilize human oocytes in vitro. Spermatozoa from normal samples were studied for their decondensation ability as regards their fertilizing performance in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Fertilization occurred when the decondensation percentage of sperm nuclear chromatin was more than 70%. The effective sperm count was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower in the unfertilized group. This is a new diagnostic technique to assess sperm-fertilizing potential at the initial evaluation of the male.

The ultrastructural features of the principal cell in the epididymal epithelium of the marmosets are distinguished by an intercellular exchange of substances contained within cytoplasmic vesicles and the presence of paracrystalline bodies. The possibility of the exchange of substances constituting paracriny and the paracrystalline inclusion having a role in steroidogenic activity is discussed.

Two distinct types of cortical granules were discerned in the human oocyte. The first type, G1 granules, had a mean diameter of 350 nm, contained a uniformly compacted, electron-dense substance; these granules were probably synthesized even before the oocyte was aspirated from mature follicles and their contents were never found to be secreted in any of the preovulatory (immature), unfertilized and fertilized eggs examined. The G2 granules measured 450 nm (mean diameter), had a granular content and were found to be synthesized and secreted at all the stages of egg development studied. Endocytosis was also evident in the unfertilized and fertilized eggs. The secretion of the G1 cortical granules even before fertilization suggests that they may have an additional role, rather than merely contributing to the blockade of polyspermy.

Intranasal administration of norethisterone at a daily dose of 9 micrograms between Days 5 and 14 of the menstrual cycles blocked ovulation in 10 out of 17 adult female monkeys. Serum concentrations of hormones indicated that ovulation was blocked due to a suppression of the mid-cycle, oestradiol-induced LH surge. Ovarian follicular activity in the treated menstrual cycles was not affected by norethisterone but there was a marked delay in the onset of the mid-cycle oestradiol surge in most of the treated animals. The duration of the menstrual cycle length after the oestradiol peak was significantly reduced in all the treated monkeys, indicative of a shortened luteal phase.

Adult female rhesus monkeys exhibiting normal ovulatory menstrual cycles were treated with progesterone nasal sprays. Animals in group A (n = 9) were treated with the solvent only (controls). Animals in groups B (n = 6), C (n = 17) and D (n = 7), respectively, were treated with a daily dose of 0.4, 2 and 10 micrograms of progesterone and the spraying was done between days 5-14 of the cycle. Ovulation was monitored by laparoscopy on day 20. The serum endocrine profile throughout the treated menstrual cycle was studied with respect to oestradiol and progesterone. Bioactive luteinizing hormone (bLH) was studied in blood samples taken on the day of the mid-cycle oestradiol peak, 2 days before, and 2 days after. The menstrual cycle was divided into two phases with respect to the mid-cycle oestradiol peak: phase I was taken to include day 1 of the cycle to the day of the oestradiol peak, and the remaining part of the menstrual cycle was considered to be phase II. The serum-endocrine profile in the controls was similar to that observed in normal ovulatory menstrual cycles. However, in the progesterone-treated groups three types of menstrual cycles were discernable on the basis of the serum endocrine profile. In the type I menstrual cycle, observed only in group C (n = 10), the mid-cycle bLH peak was abolished and the progesterone levels remained low throughout the cycle. Laparoscopy revealed these to be anovulatory cycles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Freshly ejaculated spermatozoa from monkey and human were washed and incubated with tritium labelled androgens or estradiol to study the pattern of spermatozoa steroid metabolism. When equal concentrations of steroid substrates were used for incubation, monkey and human spermatozoa showed very similar pattern of steroid conversion. Spermatozoa from both species converted testosterone mainly to androstenedione, but reverse conversion of androstenedione to testosterone was negligible. Estradiol-17 beta was converted mainly to estrone. The close similarity between the spermatozoa of monkey and men in their steroid metabolic pattern indicates that the rhesus monkey could be an useful animal model to study the effect of drugs on the metabolic pattern of human spermatozoa.

Historical examination of the oviduct magnum of vitamin A [68-26-8]-deprived and corresponding vitamin A-repleted control chicks given injections of 17\beta-estradiol benzoate [50-50-0] for 6 consecutive days revealed that, as compared with the control birds, in the vitamin A-deficient chicks the lobes were much smaller and contained considerably less acini per unit area (80.5 \times 103 \mum2); the size of the acini and the height of the epithelium were markedly increased. Clumps of protodifferentiated cells were frequently seen in the epithelium as well as in the subepithelial regions of the deficient oviduct, whereas they were less frequent in the normal controls. Mitosis could not be detected in the vitamin A-deficient magnum, whereas it was frequently encountered in the control birds. The luminal side of the epithelium as well as the secretions of the oviduct into the lumen showed very strong PAS- and alcian blue-pos. reactions in the deficient tissue, whereas these reactions were very faint in the normal controls. It is suggested that in the absence of sufficient supply of retinol, the normal processes of division and differentiation of the primitive epithelial cells of chick oviduct under estrogen stimulation are grossly affected.

The pharmacokinetics of progesterone (dose: 10 microgram per animal) were studied in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of adult ovariectomized rhesus monkeys after the administration of the steroid as an intravenous injection, intravenous infusion (duration of infusion: 10 min), or nasal spray. The bioavailability of progesterone, in terms of area under the time--concentration curve and the maximal concentration in the two body fluids, was significantly higher when the steroid was infused or sprayed intranasally than when it was injected intravenously. The clearance of the steroid from the serum, as estimated by its elimination rate constant, elimination half-life, and total body clearance, did not differ for the three methods of administration. These findings suggest that the bioavailability of progesterone is enhanced by extending the duration over which the steroid is delivered into the hemic circulation.

The present studies were carried out to characterize and compare the acute effects of cage-restraint or administration of a mild anaesthetic on serum levels of testosterone (T) cortisol (C), prolactin (Prl) and bioactive luteinizing hormone (LH) in adult male rhesus monkeys. Serum T levels declined progressively while C levels increased in the 3 sequential blood samples obtained at 20 min intervals from restrained monkeys. Prl and LH levels in the serum remained unaltered. Following single or multiple injections of ketamine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg) serum T levels did not decline progressively as seen in the blood samples obtained from the cage-restrained, conscious monkeys. Serum C and Prl levels showed a progressive rise following anaesthetization. LH levels were not affected by the anaesthetic. The findings reported here are of pertinent relevance to the evaluation of acute effects of any experimental procedure aimed at altering circulating levels of the hormones studied.