The objective of this study was to compare embryonic morphokinetic parameters and clinical outcomes of two controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocols in women of advanced maternal age (AMA): Pergoveris (r-hFSH:r-hLH, 2:1 ratio) versus r-hFSH monotherapy (GONAL-f). This retrospective, non-interventional descriptive study was conducted at a private university–affiliated IVF center and included 136 ICSI cycles performed in AMA patients between March 2019 and May 2020. Patients were grouped by COS protocol (GONAL-f, n = 64; Pergoveris, n = 72), and embryo morphokinetics and ICSI outcomes were extracted from the clinic’s database; the main outcome was time to complete blastulation (tB, hours). Embryos from the Pergoveris group reached tB earlier than those from the GONAL-f group (mean 109.3 h vs 112.6 h), and all morphokinetic milestones occurred sooner with Pergoveris, alongside lower multinucleation rates at the 2-cell and 4-cell stages. Although blastocyst development was higher in the GONAL-f group, Pergoveris was associated with higher oocyte yield and maturity, higher implantation, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates, and lower miscarriage and OHSS rates; Pergoveris cycles also required higher gonadotropin doses and longer stimulation. Overall, embryos from the r-hFSH:r-hLH group exhibited faster morphokinetic timings and improved implantation and pregnancy outcomes, and prospective studies are warranted to confirm these observations.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and inactivated virus vaccination on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in infertile couples. A retrospective case–control study was conducted at the Royan Institute from August 2020 to March 2022. The study included 90 couples in the COVID-19 infection phase and 31 in the vaccination phase. A total of 30 infected but unvaccinated couples were compared to a control group of 60 couples with no COVID-19 infection or vaccination history. Additionally, 31 couples underwent treatment before and after receiving the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine. Key variables analysed included sperm parameters (concentration, motility, progressive motility and morphology), ovarian parameters (antral follicle count, oocyte retrieval), embryological outcomes and pregnancy outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly reduced sperm motility (P = 0.02) and progressive motility (P = 0.01) compared to controls. Sperm concentration and morphology showed non-significant declines. Post-vaccination analysis revealed similar but statistically insignificant changes in sperm parameters. Ovarian stimulation parameters and embryological outcomes remained unaffected by both infection and vaccination. Although biochemical, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were lower among the infected group, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.16, 0.08 and 0.09). SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with impaired sperm progressive motility, which may negatively influence ICSI outcomes. In contrast, vaccination with an inactivated virus does not appear to impact fertility outcomes. These findings provide crucial guidance for physicians and infertile couples managing treatments during and after the pandemic, suggesting the need for extended recovery periods before ART procedures following COVID-19 infection.

Zygote wishes to inform its readers that its Editor-in-Chief has decided to retract the above article after an investigation carried out in compliance with the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines found that the authors duplicated substantial parts of the following two articles:

1. 1. Kim H, Yamanouchi K, Nishihara M. (2006) Expression of ski in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles in the rat ovary. J. Reprod. Dev. 52, 715–721

2. 2. Kim H, Yamanouchi K, Matsuwaki T, Nishihara M. (2012) Induction of Ski protein expression upon luteinization in rat granulosa cells without a change in its mRNA expression. J. Reprod. Dev. 58, 254–259

Sloan-Kettering virus gene, a product of a cellular proto-oncogene c-Ski is a unique nuclear pro-oncoprotein and belongs to the Ski/Sno proto-oncogene family. The aim of the present study was to locate Ski protein in rat ovaries in order to find insights into the possible involvement of Ski in follicular development. First, expression of c-Ski mRNA in the ovaries of adult female rats was confirmed by RT-PCR. Then, ovaries obtained on the day of estrus were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for Ski and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in combination with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). RT-PCR and in situ hybridization revealed that c-Ski mRNA was expressed in the ovaries of the adult rat on the day of estrous and localized mainly in the granulose cells. Ski was expressed in granulosa cells that were positive for TUNEL, but negative for PCNA, regardless of the shape and size of follicles. Expression of Ski in TUNEL-positive granulosa cells, but not in PCNA-positive granulosa cells, was also verified in rats having atretic follicles with double staining. These results indicate that Ski is profoundly expressed in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, but not in growing follicles. Based on the present findings, Ski may play a role in the apoptosis of granulosa cells during follicular atresia.