Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 3 , Pages 715-722, March 2009

Protamine 2 precursors (Pre-P2), protamine 1 to protamine 2 ratio (P1/P2), and assisted reproduction outcome

  • Sara de Mateo, B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Human Genetics Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain
    • ,
  • Cristina Gázquez, B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Human Genetics Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain
    • ,
  • Marta Guimerà, B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
    • ,
  • Juan Balasch, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
    • ,
  • Marvin L. Meistrich, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
    • ,
  • José Luis Ballescà, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Institut Clínic of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
    • ,
  • Rafael Oliva, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Human Genetics Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Rafael Oliva, Ph.D., Human Genetics Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain (FAX: 34-934035278).

published online 04 March 2008.

Objective

To determine whether the presence of protamine 2 precursors (pre-P2/P2 ratio) and the protamine 1 to protamine 2 ratio (P1/P2) are related to the assisted reproduction outcome.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Assisted Reproduction Unit and University laboratory.

Patient(s)

One hundred two infertile patients undergoing treatment at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.

Intervention(s)

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and/or IVF treatment of the infertile patients, sperm protamine analysis through electrophoresis and densitometry, and pre-P2 analysis through Western blot.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The presence of protamine 2 precursors (pre-P2/P2 ratio), sperm P1/P2 ratio, fertilization rates by IVF and/or ICSI, and pregnancy outcome.

Result(s)

Pre-P2/P2 and P1/P2 ratios are positively associated with the pregnancy rate. In addition, the P1/P2 ratio is positively associated with the proportion of embryos obtained by IVF, but not by ICSI. The pre-P2/P2 ratio was not related to the fertilization rate.

Conclusion(s)

Decreased pre-P2/P2 and P1/P2 ratios are related to a poor pregnancy outcome, but not with the proportion of embryos obtained after ISCI.

Key Words: Spermatozoa, assisted reproduction outcome, protamine, protamine 2 precursors, pre-P2, IVF, ICSI, sperm, nucleus

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 Supported by grants from Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia BMC2003-03937 and BFU2006-03479/BMC, fondos FEDER, and a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH, U.S.), HD-16843, to M.L.M. S.d.M. is supported by a Ph.D. fellowship from Generalitat de Catalunya (DURSI) and the European Social Fund.

PII: S0015-0282(07)04327-0

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.12.047

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 3 , Pages 715-722, March 2009

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