The objective of the research was to investigate the potential correlation between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and sperm parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. A hundred male patients voluntarily participated in the study at a private andrology clinic in Al Najaf Al Ashraf City, Iraq, between October 2023 and November 2023. The patients were divided into four groups: 26 patients with oligozoospermia, 21 patients with asthenozoospermia, 28 patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and those with normozoospermia. Semen quality was evaluated by conducting a semen analysis according to the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines. The ELISA method was employed to measure the levels of AMH in serum samples. Biotechnology Instrument, USA, manufactured the ELIZA components that were used. The average age of the participants was 30.85 ± 0.70 years, BMI was 27.60 ± 0.58 kg/m2, and serum AMH was 2.08 ± 0.11 ng/ml. We did not find any negative or positive correlation between AMH levels in the blood with sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology in all study groups. The results of this study showed that serum AMH is an unreliable marker for predicting spermatogenic abnormalities.
Cigarette smoke contains a substance which is a toxic mutagenic chemical, and carcinogenic compounds, which have a negative effect on male fertility. Smoking cigarettes is associated with noticeably higher levels of the oxidative stress-causing reactive oxygen species in the seminal fluid. Because of this, smoking may cause changes to the sperm plasma membrane and a significant amount of deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation. To study the influence of smoking on sperm chromatin immaturity and ICSI outcomes (fertilization rate, embryo grading and pregnancy rate). At the laboratories of the High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies and after 1-7 days of sexual abstinence, 92 males’ sperm samples were taken. After liquefaction, macro-and microscopic studies were carried out, criteria applied by the WHO 2021. Masturbation was used to obtain the sample, which was then placed in sterile containers. The relationship between the smoking and chromatin immaturity and ICSI outcomes have been evaluated. A significant positive correlation between smoking status and sperm chromatin immaturity. Furthermore, there was a negative non-significant correlation between smoking status and fertilization rate. Weak and non-significant correlations between smoking status and embryo grade 2 as well as embryo grade 3. There was a positive association between smoking status and embryo grade 1. The sperm chromatin integrity was significantly lower in the non-smoker group compared to the smoker group.
Amphiregulin, a growth factor inspired by LH surge, promotes oocyte maturation and follicular rupture. This study investigated whether amphiregulin growth factor levels in follicular fluid and blood serum can predict oocyte maturation and positive pregnancy rates in ICSI patients . Methods: The study included 50 women and they did ICSI from October 2024 to February 2025. Each woman got antagonist ovarian stimulation and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone. Blood samples were taken on cycle day two for infertility hormone assessment and on oocyte retrieval day for Elisa Amphiregulin growth factor estimate . Follicular fluids amphiregulin growth factor levels were significantly higher among pregnant females; however there was no significant difference of serum amphiregulin growth factor between pregnant and non- pregnant females. Out of 50 females, 11 females were had positive pregnancy test (Pregnancy rate = 22.0 %), there was a solitary positive correlation between follicular fluids amphiregulin growth factor with metaphase II oocytes count (r=0.800& p=0.003); however follicular fluids amphiregulin showed no significant correlations with other ICSI parameters. There were also no significant correlations between serum amphiregulin with all ICSI parameters. The current study found that elevated Amphiregulin (AREG) levels are linked to successful pregnancy outcomes in ICSI cycles
The integrity of sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and chromatin is very important for genetic material transmission into offspring. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between sperm deoxyribonucleic acid integrity and sperm parameters. The current study was conducted on 96 semen samples. This study was done at the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Al-Nahrain University, for the period between November 2020 and May 2021. The samples were collected, and seminal fluid analysis was performed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test was performed. The results showed that the deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation of sperms in infertile men in this study was higher than reported in fertile men in previous studies, indicating deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation (DNA) is actively contributing at least partially to male infertility. In terms of enrolled men, sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation (SDF) showed a significant positive correlation with round cell count.
EMMPRIN (Basigin) is a potent inducer of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Expression of EMMPRIN in the uterus has a very important role in implantation of embryo, this study was conducted to evaluate the relationship of pregnancy rates with EMMPRIN levels in follicular fluid and serum of intracytoplasmic sperm injection patients. The study was cross sectional study analyzed the serum and follicular fluid samples of 58 patients undergo ICSI procedure. The serum and follicular fluid samples were collected from infertile women aged 20 to 42 years. However, the levels of EMMPRIN were measured in the serum and follicular fluid samples and these samples were obtained during oocytes retrieval and another serum samples were collected at the day of embryo transfer. All women have ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at the second or third day of the cycle. Result: The pregnancy rate was 27.6 %. The present study showed that EMMPRIN in serum and follicular fluid at day of ova pickup and its level at embryo transfer day, are significantly low in pregnant women (p < 0.05) compared to non-pregnant women. The statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between serum and follicular fluid EMMPRIN with endometrial thickness (p > 0.05). EMMPRIN level can be used as a promising parameter for the prediction of pregnancy rate in ICSI cycles.
Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein (PAPP-A) is a zinc metalloproteinase in the insulin growth factor system (IGFs) produced by the syncytiotrophoplast region of the placenta. It plays a critical function in the cleavage of IGFBP4. In the ovary IGFs, it regulates follicular and oocyte maturation, and steroidogenesis. While in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) Hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenemia it causes follicular environment changes and early ovulation resulting in lower oocyte and embryo quality in patients and this will decrease the success of pregnancy in women enrolled in the ICSI cycle. The present study aimed to assess the relationship of PAPP-A levels in serum and follicular fluid in women with PCOS and non-PCOS with oocyte and embryo quality in women undergoing ICSI cycle. 45 infertile Iraqi women were enrolled. Women with PCOS had to meet at least two of the three criteria set by the Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRMS criteria, the age of the included women ranged between 20-45 years. In non-PCOS patients, PAPP-A has higher level in serum and follicular fluid but without a statistically significant difference matching with PCOS group. In addition, there was no significant correlation between PAPP-A levels in serum and follicular fluid with oocytes and embryo characteristics. However, PAPP-A levels are higher in serum and follicular fluid in women with positive pregnancy but without significant differences. PAPP-A had no correlation with oocyte and embryo quality.
Kisspepetin is considered as a key regulator of reproduction, through its direct role in controlling the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis necessary for controlling the ovulatory process and indirectly by impacting glucose heamostasis and metabolism. We aimed to examin the correlation between body mass index and level of Kisspeptin in serum and follicular fluid. This study is a cross sectional study done on (80) infertile Iraqi patients aged (18-40 years) scheduled for fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. This study is conducted in the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies of Al-Naharin University, from September 2020 to May 2021. For each participant, the GnRH antagonist protocol was used to hyperstimulate the ovaries, and samples from serum and follicular fluid were obtained at day of oocytes retrieval for measuring Kisspeptin level using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) technique. Serum and follicular fluid Kisspeptin were insignificantly increasing with the increase in the BMI (p value =0.406) (p value = 0.352) respectively. Serum and follicular kisspetin were positively and significantly correlated (r = 0.536, p value= 0.000). Serum and follicular fluid kisspeptin were numerically increasing with the body mass index of infertile women, although this increament is statically insignificant, serum kisspeptin can be used as a mirror image to follicular fluid kisspeptin as there was a statistical association between them in this study.