title: Nitric oxide is associated with poor embryo quality and pregnancy outcome in in vitro fertilization cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between follicular and serum nitric oxide (NO) levels and embryo development and outcome in IVF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, tertiary medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with tubal or peritoneal factor infertility and 18 female partners from couples with male factor infertility underwent controlled ovarian stimulation and IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval followed by IVF/ICSI and embryo culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Degree of fragmentation of embryos and pregnancy rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher follicular NO levels were associated with advanced fragmentation of embryos. Follicular soluble Fas could not prevent embryo fragmentation. Higher serum NO levels were found among nonpregnant patients with tubal or peritoneal factor infertility. No elevated serum NO levels were found in the female partners from couples with male factor infertility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up-regulation of serum NO is associated with implantation failure in patients with tubal or peritoneal factor infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsien
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ming-Yih
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mei-Jou
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kuang-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Hong-Nerng
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Yu-Shih
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide