In male reproducible health, fertility and IVF (in-vitro fertilization), semen analysis has been most important. Semen analysis can be divided into concentration, motional and morphological analysis of sperm. The existing method which was developed earlier to analyze semen concentrated on the sperm motility analysis. To provide more useful and precise solutions for clinical problems such as infertility, semen analysis must include sperm morphological analysis. But the traditional tools for semen analysis are subjective, imprecise, inaccurate, difficult to standardize, and difficult to reproduce. Therefore, with the help of development of microcomputers and image processing techniques, we developed a new sperm morphology analyzer to overcome these problems. In this study the agreement on percent normal morphology was studied between different observers and a computerized sperm morphology analyzer on a slide-by-slide basis using strict criteria. Slides from 30 different patients from the SNUH andrology laboratory were selected randomly. Microscopic fields and sperm cells were chosen randomly and percent normal morphology was recorded. The ability of sperm morphology analyzer to repeat the same reading for normal and abnormal cells was studied. The results showed that there was no significant bias between two experienced observers. The limits of agreement were 4.1%${\sim}$-3.8%. The Pearson correlation coefficient between readers was 0.79. Between the manual and sperm morphology analyzer, the same findings were reported. In this experiments the slides were stained by two different methods, PAP and Diff-Quik staining methods. The limits of agreement were 7.2%${\sim}$-5.7% and 6.0%${\sim}$-6.3%, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients ware 0.76 and 0.91, respectively. The limits of agreement was tighter below 20% normal forms. In the experiments of repeatability, 52 cells stained by PAP and Diff-Quik staining methods were analyzed three times in succession. Estimating pairwise agreement, the kappa statistic for the pairs were 0.76, 0.81, 0.86, and 0.75, 0.88, 0.88 respectively. In this study it was shown that there was good agreement between manual and computerized assessment of normal and abnormal cells. The repeatability and agreement per slide of computerized sperm morphology analyzer was excellent. The computer's ability to classify normal morphology per slide is promising. Based on results obtained, this system can be of clinical value both in andrology laboratories and IVF units.

Oocyte donation program developed to reach the pregnancy in those patients suffering from premature ovarian failure or surgery induced menopause, particularly in their reproductive age. With technical advances and popularity of ART (assisted reproductive technology), the indication of oocyte donation program extended to low responders, and even to naturally menopaused patients that has led them quite successfully to getting in pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which one is involved in the decline of fertility between the oocyte and uterine factor. One hundred five cycles of oocyte donation program were performed in 84 patients from Jan., 1993 to Dec., 1996. Oocytes were donated from healthy, young, fertile anonymous donors or relatives or infertile patients with supernumerary oocytes. The study population was divided into 3 groups according to the age of recipients. Group 1 was less than 35 years old, Group 2 was between 35 to 39 years old, and Group 3 was more than 39 years old. The results were as follows: The mean age of oocyte donor was $31.5{\pm}3.3$ (range; 25-36). The mean concentration of basal serum FSH and peak serum estradiol were not different among groups. The mean number of oocytes retrieved from donors, embryos transferred to recipients, and fertilization rate were not different among groups. The clinical pregnancy rate was 37.3% in Group 1, 31.6% in Group 2, and 31.6% in Group 3, respectively. The spontaneous abortion rate was 16.0% in Group 1, 16.7% in Group 2, and 16.7 in Group 3, respectively. The multiple pregnancy rate was 20.0% in Group 1, 16.7% in Group 2, 16,7% in Group 3, respectively, The implantation rate was 11.3% in Group 1, 10.3% in Group 2 and 10.0% in Group 3, respectively. All of the pregnancy outcomes were not different statistically among groups. In conclusion, endometrial receptivity does not seem to be impaired as age increases with transfer of good quality embryos and adequate endometrial preparation.

$23{\sim}40$세 (평균 연령 31.6세)의 자궁내막증 환자35명 (1기 7명, 2기 7명, 3기 14명, 4기 7명)을 대상으로 gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (Goserelin) 3.6 mg을 한달 간격으로 6개월 복부의 피하에 이식한 후 자궁내막증에 대한 치료 효과와 부작용을 알아보기 위하여 매달 호르몬 검사와 증상에 대한 설문조사를 시행하였다. 투여 1개월 후 혈청 estradiol농도는 30 pg/mL이었고 이후 치료중 $10{\sim}20$ pg/mL를 유지하였으며 투여를 중간한 1개월 후 50 pg/mL로 증가하였다. 혈청 LH농도는 치료 중 유의하게 감소하였으며 투여를 중단한 후 증가하였다. FSH는 투여 1개월 후 감소하였으나 2개월후부터 계속 치료전과 같은 농도를 유지하였다. 혈청 CA-125치는 19명중 10명에서 치료전에 35 mIU/mL이상으로 증가되었으며 치료 2개월 후부터 모두 정상으로 감소되었다. 월경곤란증은 치료 3개월째 완전히 소실되었고 성교통은 치료가 끝날 때까지 20%의 환자에서 지속되었다. 백혈구수, 혈색소, 전해질, 단백질, 빌리루빈 및 간효소는 치료 중 모두 정상이었다. 혈압과 체중도 치료전, 치료중에 변화가 없었다. 투여후 86%의 환자가 안면홍조를 63%에서 질건조증을 20%가 두통, 우울을 호소하였다. 이와 같은 부작용은 투여를 중단한 1개월 후 모두 소실되었으며 부작용 때문에 투여를 중단한 예는 없었다. 이상의 결과로 GnRH-a는 난소의 estradiol생산을 완벽하게 중단시키고 골반증상을 완하시켜 자궁 내막증 치료에 효과적이라고 사료되며 안면홍조와 같은 부작용의 빈도가 높기 때문에 향후 호르몬 보충요법을 병행하는 것이 바람직 하다고 사료된다.

The survival rate and motility recovered after cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa in testicular sperm extraction (TESE)-ICSI program is low. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and efficiency of mouse empty zona pellucida in cryopreserving human TESE spermatozoa. Mouse empty zonae pellucidae were obtained by extraction of cytoplasm with or without cytochalasin B treatment. Motile sperm from proven-fertile donor and two azoospermic patients after TESE were individually inserted into empty zona pellucida and cryopreserved. Two to five days after cyropreservation, the frozen sperm were thawed and the rates of recovery and motility were observed. The ooplasmic extraction rates of control (N=80) and cytochalasin B treated oocytes (N=80) were 94.0% and 96.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The post-thaw recovery rates of spermatozoa and rates of motility recovery of ejaculate (N=70) and testicular (N=70) sperm were 97.1%, 97.1% and 95.7%, 94.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that the mouse zone pellucida is useful for cryostorage of single testicular spermatozoa.

To evaluate the efficacy of transabdominal myomectomy in the management of infertile patients, and to analyze on the results of abdominal myomectomy in 38 infertile patients with no other detectable cause except myomas were undertaken at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Yonsei University Hospital from 1990 to 1996. The results are as follows; 1. Average age of patients was 31.1 years. The infertility duration ranged 12 months to 144 months, and average infertility period of patients was 29.4 months. 2. Fourteen of the 38 patients (8 of 23 patients with primary infertility, 6 of 15 patients with secondary infertility) conceived following myomectomy, with a pregnancy rate of 36.8%. 3. Patients with less than 4 years of infertility showed a higher pregnancy rate after myomectomy than those with more than 4 years of infertility (42.4% vs 0%, p<0.05). 4. Patients younger than 35 years showed significantly higher pregnancy rate than those older than 35 years (46.4% vs 9.0%, p<0.05). 5. The removal of a solitary myoma produced a significantly higher pregnancy rate than that of multiple myomas (47.8% vs 20.0%, p<0.05), and the size of the myomas did not influenced the pregnancy rate after myomectomy (p>0.1). 6. The average time period from operation to conception was 12.1 months. Eight of the 14 patients (57.1%) conceived in the first year after operation and 12 patients (85.7%) condeived within two years. In conclusion myomas are a possible cause of infertility and myomectomy can be strongly recommended with good success expectation for the infertile women if uterine myoma be considered as the main cause of infertility. And factors affecting the pregnancy rate after myomectomy in these patients are the age of the patient, the duration of infertiluty, and the number of myoma.

A study has been carried out to elucidate the cytogenetic characteristics of Down's syndrome in Korea. This study includes 877 cases which were diagnosed as Down's syndrome by the chromosomal analyses at the Cytogenetic Laboratory, Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Seoul National University for 13 years from January, 1984 to December, 1996. 1. 83.6% of cases were diagnosed under 1 year of age and 10.9% were between 1 and 4 years old. The overall sex ratio was 3 to 2 (male to female). 2. The most frequent indication for cytogenetic analyses was suspicion of Down's syndrome. The next were growth retardation, congenital heart diseases, congenital anomalies. 3. 88.4% of cases had free trisomy 21. In 6.5%, there was translocation, mostly Robertsonian t(14;21) or t(21;21). 3.9% of cases were mosaics mostly with one normal cell line. 4. Karyotyping was also performed in 204 parents of patients. 6 parents (2.9%) were seen to be translocation carriers of Down's syndrome. We find the unique features of Down's syndrome in Korea that the incidences of free trisomy 21 is relatively lower and that translocation is higher than western countries.

본 연구는 Vero cell을 이용한 사람 배아의 공동배양술이 배아의 질을 향상시킬 수 있거나 또는 반복적 착상 실패를 극복하여 임신을 가능케 할 수 있는지 알아 보고자 시행되었다. 1996년 일년 동안, 반복적 착상 실패를 경험한 환자 (group I)와 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자 (group II)를 포함한 총 202례를 분석하여 대조군과 공동배양군 간의 배아의 질, 임신률, 임신유지율 및 착상률을 비교하였다. Group I 93례 가운데 34례는 공동배양을, 나머지 59례는 기존의 체외수정을 시행하였다. Group II 109례에서는 공동배양 36례, 기존의 체외수정 73례를 시행하였다. Group I에서 공동배양군의 임신률, 임신유지율 및 착상률은 각각 14/34 (41.2%), 9/34 (26.5%), 16/81 (19.8%)로 대조군 (11/59 (18.6%), 8/59 (13.6%), 12/152 (7.9%))에 비하여 높았으며, 특히 임신률과 착상률은 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p=0.028, p=0.015). Group II에서는 공동배양군의 임신률과 임신유지율 및 착상률이 각각 8/36 (22.2%), 5/36 (13.9%), 8/87 (9.2%)로 대조군 (5/73 (6.8%), 3/73 (4.1%), 3/158 (1.9%))에 비하여 높았고, group I의 결과에서와 마찬가지로 임신률과 착상률의 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p=0.028, p=0.022). 이상에서 Vero cell을 이용한 공동배양술은 위의 두가지 주소를 가진 환자군에서 좋은 결과를 나타내었다. 또한 group II에서 3일-공동배양군의 임신률 역시 향상되어 (4/15 (26.7%)), 보조부화술을 겸비한 3일-공동배양이 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자군에 적용될 수 있음을 알 수 있었다. 결론적으로 Vero cell을 이용한 공동배양술은 반복적 착상 실패를 경험한 환자나 또는 이전 주기에서 배아의 질이 나빴던 환자에게 적용하여 임신률을 향상시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

This study was performed to determine if women with day 3 serum inhibin-B concentrations <45pg/ml (conversion factor to SI unit, 1.00) demonstrate a poor response to ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology outcome to women with inhibin-B${\ge}45pg$/ml, independant of day 3 FSH, E2 and patient age. From Jan 1996 to Dec 1996, 16 volunteers patients who underwent 25 IVF cycles with luteal phase GnRH agonist suppression and HMG stimulation were allocated to the study group. We evaluated day 3 serum inhibin-B, FSH, E2, peak E2, cancellation rate per initiated cycle (%) and clinical pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (%) according to the above two groups and independent of patient age, day 3 FSH, day 3 E2 and all of above combined. Women with day 3 serum inhibin-B${\ge}45pg$/ml demonstrated higher average day 3 inhibin-B level, clinical pregnancy rate per initiated cycle ($20.3{\pm}2.5$ pg/ml vs $80.9{\pm}5.0$ pg/ml, p<0.05; 24.8% vs 8.5%, p<0.05) and lower day 3 FSH level, cancellation rate per initiated cycle ($6.9{\pm}0.3$ mIU/ml vs $8.5{\pm}0.5$ mIU/ml, p<0.05; 1.5% vs 9.0%, p<0.05). Women with day 3 serum inhibin${\ge}45pg$/ml and age<40 year demonstrated higher pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (28.2% vs 7.4%, p<0.05) and lows. day 3 FSH level, cancellation rate per initiated cycle ($6.9{\pm}0.5$ mIU/ml vs $8.2{\pm}0.7$ mIU/ml, p<0.05; 1.0% vs 9.0%, p<0.05). Women with day 3 serum inhibin${\ge}45pg$/ml and day 3 FSH<15mIU/ml demonstrated higher pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (33.5% vs 9.5%, p<0.05) and lower day 3 FSH level, cancellation rate per initiated cycle ($7.7{\pm}0.2$ mIU/ml vs $8.5{\pm}0.5$ mIU/ml, p<0.05; 1.5% vs 10.0%, p<0.05). Women with day 3 serum inhibin${\ge}45pg$/ml and day 3 E2<50pg/ml demonstrated higher pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (30.0% vs 9.5%, p<0.05) and lower cancellation rate per initiated cycle (1.5% vs 9.5%, p<0.05). Women with day 3 serum inhibin${\ge}45pg$/ml, age<40 year, day 3 FSH<15mIU/ml and day 3 E2<50pg/ml demonstrated higher pregnancy rate per initiated cycle (30.0% vs 10.8%, p<0.05) and lower day 3 FSH level, cancellation rate per initiated cycle ($6.8{\pm}0.6$ mIU/ml vs $8.4{\pm}0.9$ mIU/ml, p<0.05; 1.5% vs 7.8%, p<0.05). Therefore women with low day 3 serum inhibin-B concentrations demonstrate a poorer response to ovulation induction and are less likely to conceive a clinical pregnancy though ART relative to women with high day 3 inhibin-B and day 3 serum inhibin-B, in addition to a day 3 FSH, E2 and patient age, appears helpful in prediction in IVF-ET outcome.

폐색성 혹은 비폐색성 무정자증에서 부정소 정자채취법 등이 부적절하다고 여겨질때는 정소 조직을 일부 절제하여 그 조직으로부터 정자를 직접 채취하게 되는데 일반적으로 이렇게 정소로부터 추출한 정소정자는 운동성이 전혀 없거나 매우 약한 운동성을 보이는 경우가 많다. 본 연구의 목적은 이러한 정소정자를 Vero cell과 공배양을 시킴으로써 운동성을 획득시키거나 향상시키고 이를 수정시키는 시기까지 지속시킴으로써 정소정자추출술 (TESE)을 시행하는 환자나 의료진들에게 보다 편안하고 융통성있는 시간대를 부여하고, 아울러 정자직접주입술 (ICSI)을 보다 용이하게 하여 성공적인 수정률과 임신율을 얻음에 있다. 또한 ICSI를 시행한 후, 운동성이 향상된 잉여의 정소정자를 냉동보존함으로써 차후에 TESE을 다시 시행치않고도 시험관 아기 시술을 시도할 수 있는 부가적인 잇점도 있다고 할 수 있다. 대상환자군은 정관폐색증(n=11) 혹은 비정관폐색증(n=2)을 보이는 13명의 무정자증의 남성불임환자였으며 난자회수예정일 3일전에 TESE를 시행하여 정소정자를 얻은 후 이를 정자직접주입술이 시행되는 당일까지 Vero cell과 공배양을 실시하였다. Vero cell과의 공배양에 의하여 운동성이 있는 정소정자의 수는 공배양전과 비교하여 평균 3.3배가 증가하였으며, 특히 공배양전에 운동성이 있는 정소정자의 수가 50,000/ml이하의 미약한 운동성만을 보였던 경우 (n=5)에는 공배양 후에 운동성이 있는 정소정자 수의 평균증가율이 7.7배였다. 공배양전 정자운동성이 전혀 없었던 2례의 비정관폐색증환자중 3일간의 공배양을 통하여 1례에서 운동성을 획득한 정소정자를 얻을 수 있었으며 (14,300/ml), 정자직접주입술을 통하여 성공적인 수정 및 임신에 도달할 수 있었다. Vero cell과 공배양을 하고 ICSI했던 결과, 평균 수정률은 75.0% 이었으며 임신율은 61.5%였다.

Embryos of most mammalian species grown in vitro would undergo developmental arrest at the approximate time of genomic activation. Stage-specific cell block and the resulting rapid loss of embryo viability in conventional culture media have limited the duration for which embryos may be cultured prior to transfer. As a result, embryos are usually transferred to the uterus at the 4-to 8-cell stage to avoid the loss of viability associated with long-term in vitro culture. Early transfer has led to asynchrony of the endometrium-trophectoderm interaction at the time of implantation and a resultant reduction in the rate of implantation. To overcome these problems, a variety of co-culture systems has been devised in which embryos can develop for a longer period prior to embryo transfer. Vero cells, derived from African green monkey kidney, share a common embryologic origin with cells from the genital tract. In addition, they are potentially safe to use, since they are highly controlled for viruses and other contaminants. Therefore, co-culture using Vero cells has been widely utilized to enhance embryo viability and development, although not without controversies. We thus designed a series of experiments to demonstrate whether Vero cells do indeed enhance mouse embryo development as well as to compare the efficacy of co-culturing mouse 1-cell embryos on Vero cell monolayer in both Ham's F-10 and human tubal fluid (HTF) culture media. 1-cell stage ICR mouse embryos were cultured either in the presence of Vero cells (Group A) or in conventional culture medium alone (Group B). In Ham's F-10 significantly more 3-to-8cell embryos developed in group A than group B (59.8 versus 10.0%; p<0.01). In contrast, there was no significant difference in embryonic development both group A and group B in HTF. However, significant differences were noted only in later embryonic stage (13 and 0%; p<0.05 of group A and B respectively, hatching or hatched). In Ham's F-10, we also could observe the beneficial effect of Vero cell on hatching process (70.7 and 42.1%; p<0.05 of group A and group B respectively).

체외성숙과 수정된 돼지 난자의 체외발달능이 체외배발생 배양액인 NCSU 배양액에 0.4% BSA, 10% 혈청 혹은 아미노산 (2% BME 아미노산 용액과 1% MEM 아미노산 용액)을 첨가함으로서 조사되었다. 본 실험에 공시된 난자는 체외수정 추 30시간 (2-세포기)혹은 48 시간 ($2{\sim}4$-세포기)에 회수하였다. 실험I에서 0.4% BSA가 첨가된 NCSU 배양액에서 2-세포기 난자들의 배양경과시간에 따른 발달능을 조사한 결과, 배양 후 72 시간 (체외수정 후 102 시간)에 상실배기와 배반포기 배가 나타났으며, 배양 후 120 시간째 (체외수정 후 150 시간)에도 팽창된 배반포기 배까지만 발달하였다. 실험II는 체외수정 후 48 시간의 분할된 ($2{\sim}8$-세포기) 난자들의 핵과 외관적 분할구와의 수적 차이를 조사한 결과, $2{\sim}4$-세포기보다는 5-세포기 이상에서 핵과 분할구의 조화에 차이가 많았다. 실험III에서는 $2{\sim}4$-세포기 난자들을 배양후 5일째의 배반포들의 투명대의 두께, 난자 크기 그리고 inner cell mass (ICM)과 trophectoderm (TE)의 세포 배열을 조사한 결과, 난자의 크기가 커짐에 따라서 투명대가 얇아지고 전체 세포수가 증가하였지만, ICM의 비율은 차이가 없었다. 실험IV에서는 BSA, 혈청 혹은 아미노산이 첨가 혹은 무첨가된 배양액내에서 $2{\sim}4$-세포기 난자들의 배반포 후 부화능력을 조사한 결과, 모든 군에 있는 난자들은 팽창된 배반포기 배까지 발달할 수 있었던 반면, 난자의 부화는 아미노산 혹은 혈청이 포함된 배양액에서만 일어났다. 더우기 상실배기와 배반포기 시기에 혈청의 첨가는 부화 배반포기 배의 발달을 현저히 증가시켰다. 또한 아미노산과 혈청의 영향을 받은 팽창 배반포기 배는 얇은 투명대, 팽창된 난자의 크기 그리고 ICM과 전체 세포수의 증가를 보였다. 이상의 결과로 미루어 볼때, 배양액내에 대한 아미노산과 혈청의 첨가는 돼지 배반포기 배의 부화를 유도할 수 있다고 보며, 더우기 이들 요소들은 투명대의 두께, 난자의 크기 그리고 ICM과 전체 세포수에 영향을 미친다.

Objective: To investigate effects of cryoprotectant and cryopreservation on the chromosome of the human immature oocytes. Design: Intact cumulus-enclosed immature oocytes were collected from unstimulated ovaries and divided into three groups, such as no treatment as control (group 1), only 1,2-propanediol (PROH)-treated (group 2), and cryopreserved oocytes (group 3). Oocytes in group 1, 2, and survived oocytes after cryopreservation in group 3 were cultured for 48 hours. Setting: Infertility Medical Center at the CHA General Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Patients: Oocytes were obtained from Patients undergoing gynecological surgery. Main Outcome Measures: Maturation rate, abnormality in chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Results: There was no effect of PROH only treatment on the chromosomal abnormalities in group 2 compared to control oocytes (41.4% and 31.8%, respectively). Whereas significantly increased abnormalities in chromosome (77.8%) were found in group 3. Conclusions: Human oocytes matured in vitro after cryopreservation at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage showed increased incidence of chromosomal abnormalities. These abnormalities may impair the capacity for further development of the embryos derived from frozen-thawed oocytes.

본 연구는 EGF가 체외수정 및 체외배양에 의해 생산된 생쥐배의 체내 발달에 미치는 영향을 조사하고자 실시하였다. 본 실험에 사용된 난자는 체외수정 후 얻어진 2-세포기배를 EGF 첨가유무에 따라 배양 (5-6 embryos/25${\mu}l$/drop)하여 얻어진 4일령의 배반포기배로서, 각 처리군의 배반포기배는 가임신 3일된 대리모의 자궁내에 이식되어졌다. 그 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1,2-세포기배를 EGF의 첨가유무에 따라 배양하여 배반포기배로의 발달율과 세포수를 조사하였던 바, 처리군간의 유의한 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 2. 하지만, 각 처리군에서 회수된 배반포기배의 체내 발달을 조사하였던 바, 총 수태율의 결과에 있어서는 대조군과 EGF 처리군 각각 64.4%와 69.8%로서 두 군간에 유의한 차이를 나타내지 않았지만, 정상태아 발생율에 있어서는 EGF 처리군 (51.2%)이 대조군 (31.1%)보다 매우 높게 나타냈다. 따라서, 비록 EGF 처리군이 대조군과 비교하여 볼 때 체외수정 및 체외배양에 의해 생산된 난자의 유의한 발달은 나타내지 않았지만 난자의 질적인 향상을 통해서 체내발달을 증진시킬 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is posulated to occur in granulosa cells in ovarian follicular atresia. bcl-2 gene serves as protector from apoptosis and, thus, is associated with increased cell survival. TRPM-2 gene expression has been implicated as a trigger of apoptosis in rat prostate, uterus and mammary gland. Our objective was to determine if bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are expressed in luteinized human GC and, therefore, have regulatory functions for apoptosis in GC. Human GC were obtained via oocyte retrival from the infertile patients stimulated with exogeneous gonadotropins while undergoing IVF. GC were isolated from follicular fluid using Percoll gradient centrifugation. The GC were further purified with anti-CD45 magnetic beads to remove contaminating WBC's. RT-PCR were performed to analyze the mRNA expression of bcl-2 and TRPM-2 in the GC. The PCR primers were designed to amplify a 195 bp fragment of bcl-2 and a 174 bp fragment of TRPM-2. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 4% agarose gel. Three separate experiments indicated that both bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed in human GC. We cultured granulosa cells with FSH (1 ng/ml) for 1 day to investigate the relative changes of TRPM-2 mRNA level with RNAse protection assay. When we cultured GC with serum free medium for 1 day TRPM-2 mRNA level increased with 1.3 fold, however it was decreased 0.64 fold with FSH. Therefore we conclude that bcl-2 and TRPM-2 are concurrently expressed and that the interaction of their products may be involved in GC apoptosis. And TRPM-2 may be regulated with FSH.

This case report describes the pregnancy following the transfer of cryopreserved embryos generated from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using frozen-thawed sperm obtained by microepididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) in patient with congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD).