| Title | Abstract | Publication Date | Authors | URL |
| Global status of research on fertility preservation in male patients with cancer: A bibliometric and visual analysis. | Recently, male fertility preservation before cancer treatment has become more prevalent. The research in this field has progressed over time, with some studies having a major impact and providing guidance for further research. However, the trends and hotspots of research on fertility preservation in male cancer patients may have changed; exploring them is essential for relevant research progress. | 2024 | Huang C, Ji XR, Huang ZH, Wang RJ, Fan LQ, Zhu WB, Luo Q | |
| Development of functional spermatozoa in mammalian spermiogenesis. | Infertility is a global health problem affecting one in six couples, with 50% of cases attributed to male infertility. Spermatozoa are male gametes, specialized cells that can be divided into two parts: the head and the flagellum. The head contains a vesicle called the acrosome that undergoes exocytosis and the flagellum is a motility apparatus that propels the spermatozoa forward and can be divided into two components, axonemes and accessory structures. For spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes, the acrosome and flagellum must be formed correctly. In this Review, we describe comprehensively how functional spermatozoa develop in mammals during spermiogenesis, including the formation of acrosomes, axonemes and accessory structures by focusing on analyses of mouse models. | 2024 | Miyata H, Shimada K, Kaneda Y, Ikawa M | |
| Integrative Approach to Address Male Infertility: A Case Study on Organophosphorus Compound Exposure and Traditional Medicinal Interventions. | Factors, including exposure to substances like organophosphorus compounds (OPCs), have been linked to fertility issues, which are a growing concern. In this case study, a 29-year-old farmer and his 26-year-old wife, married for the past five years, faced challenges conceiving despite several attempts. It was found that the husband’s exposure to OPCs like chlorpyrifos, malathion, diazinon, etc., had impacted the quality of his sperm. However, after undergoing treatments and making lifestyle changes such as panchakarma therapy and taking Shilajit supplements, there was an improvement in sperm quality. Through in vitro fertilization¬†using physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection, successful fertilization and the development of high-quality blastocysts were achieved. This case demonstrates the potential for addressing infertility caused by toxins through a blend of traditional medicinal practices and modern reproductive technologies. It underscores the need for research into strategies that can reduce the effects of OPC exposure on male fertility. | 2024 | Mathiya P, Nair N, Singh B, More A, Pareek C | |
| Kdm4d mutant mice show impaired sperm motility and subfertility. | Regulation of gene expression through histone modifications underlies cell homeostasis and differentiation. Kdm4d and Kdm4dl exhibited a high degree of similarity and demethylated H3K9me3. However, the physiological functions of these proteins remain unclear. In this study, we generated Kdm4dl mutant mice and found that Kdm4dl was dispensable for mouse development. However, through the generation of Kdm4d mutant mice, we unexpectedly found that Kdm4d mutant male mice were subfertile because of impaired sperm motility. The absence of Kdm4d was associated with an altered distribution of H3K9me3 in round spermatids, suggesting that the Kdm4d-mediated adjustment of H3K9me3 levels is required to generate motile sperm. Further analysis revealed that the absence of Kdm4d did not affect the functionality of sperm nuclei in generating offspring. As KDM4D is specifically expressed in the human testes, our results suggest that KDM4D expression may be a risk factor for human infertility. | 2024 | Xu Z, Fujimoto Y, Sakamoto M, Ito D, Ikawa M, Ishiuchi T | |
| N6-methyladenosine writer METTL16-mediated alternative splicing and translation control are essential for murine spermatogenesis. | The mitosis-to-meiosis switch during spermatogenesis requires dynamic changes in gene expression. However, the regulation of meiotic transcriptional and post-transcriptional machinery during this transition remains elusive. | 2024 | Ma Q, Gui Y, Ma X, Zhang B, Xiong W, Yang S, Cao C, Mo S, Shu G, Ye J, Liu K, Wang X, Gui Y, Wang F, Yuan S | |
| Engagement of specific intracellular pathways in the inflammation-based reprotoxicity effect of small-size silver nanoparticles on spermatogonia and spermatocytes invitro cell models. | Male infertility is a serious ongoing problem, whose causes have not yet been clearly identified. However, since human exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has recently increased due to their beneficial properties, the present study aimed to determine the impact of small-size AgNPs on mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 spg) and spermatocytes [GC-2 spd(ts)] in vitro models as well as the ability of these nanostructures to induce inflammation. The results showed a significant dose- and time-dependent decrease in the metabolic activity in both cell models, which was correlated with an increase in the intracellular ROS level. Moreover, increased activity of caspase-9 and -3, together with enhanced expression of CASP3 and p(S15)-p53 proteins, was detected. Further studies indicated a decrease in Δ | 2024 | Skóra B, Piechowiak T, Szychowski KA | |
| The impact of mitochondrial impairments on sperm function and male fertility: a systematic review. | Besides adenine triphosphate (ATP) production for sustaining motility, the mitochondria of sperm also host other critical cellular functions during germ cell development and fertilization including calcium homeostasis, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and in some cases steroid hormone biosynthesis. Normal mitochondrial membrane potential with optimal mitochondrial performance is essential for sperm motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and DNA integrity. | 2024 | Vahedi Raad M, Firouzabadi AM, Tofighi Niaki M, Henkel R, Fesahat F | |
| Hormonal male contraception. | Male contraception with exogenously administered hormones suppresses both luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone leading to low intratesticular testosterone concentration. This results in reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and marked decrease in sperm output in the ejaculate and preventing pregnancy in the female partner. | 2024 | Wang C, Meriggiola C, Behre HM, Page ST | |
| The proteomic landscape of sperm surface deciphers its maturational and functional aspects in buffalo. | Buffalo is a dominant dairy animal in many agriculture-based economies. However, the poor reproductive efficiency (low conception rate) of the buffalo bulls constrains the realization of its full production potential. This in turn leads to economic and welfare issues, especially for the marginal farmers in such economies. The mammalian sperm surface proteins have been implicated in the regulation of survival and function of the spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract (FRT). Nonetheless, the lack of specific studies on buffalo sperm surface makes it difficult for researchers to explore and investigate the role of these proteins in the regulation of mechanisms associated with sperm protection, survival, and function. This study aimed to generate a buffalo sperm surface-specific proteomic fingerprint (LC-MS/MS) and to predict the functional roles of the identified proteins. The three treatments used to remove sperm surface protein viz. Elevated salt, phosphoinositide phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and | 2024 | Batra V, Dagar K, Diwakar MP, Kumaresan A, Kumar R, Datta TK | |
| Skoochies and component substances induced testicular damage and impaired sperm functions via increase generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of the glutathione system in rats. | To study examined the effect of skoochies, an illicit cocktail drink, on testicular and sperm function in male rats. | 2024 | Ajayi AF, Ogundipe OO, Hamed MA, Oluwole DT | |
| Triclosan impairs spermatocyte cell proliferation and induces autophagy by regulating MicroRNA-20a-5P by pargeting PTEN. | Triclosan (TCS), as an endocrine disrupter, has been found to affect male fertility. However, the potential molecular mechanism is still unknown. We aimed to investigate whether the toxic effects of TCS on spermatocyte cells was mediated by the regulation of microRNA-20a-5P on PTEN. | 2024 | Ma Y, Guo Y, Yuan G, Huang T | |
| Assessing the Risks of Pesticide Exposure: Implications for Endocrine Disruption and Male Fertility. | Pesticides serve as essential tools in agriculture and public health, aiding in pest control and disease management. However, their widespread use has prompted concerns regarding their adverse effects on humans and animals. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the toxicity profile of pesticides, focusing on their detrimental impacts on the nervous, hepatic, cardiac, and pulmonary systems, and their impact on reproductive functions. Additionally, it discusses how pesticides mimic hormones, thereby inducing dysfunction in the endocrine system. Pesticides disrupt the endocrine system, leading to neurological impairments, hepatocellular abnormalities, cardiac dysfunction, and respiratory issues. Furthermore, they also exert adverse effects on reproductive organs, disrupting hormone levels and causing reproductive dysfunction. Mechanistically, pesticides interfere with neurotransmitter function, enzyme activity, and hormone regulation. This review highlights the effects of pesticides on male reproduction, particularly sperm capacitation, the process wherein ejaculated sperm undergo physiological changes within the female reproductive tract, acquiring the ability to fertilize an oocyte. Pesticides have been reported to inhibit the morphological changes crucial for sperm capacitation, resulting in poor sperm capacitation and eventual male infertility. Understanding the toxic effects of pesticides is crucial for mitigating their impact on human and animal health, and in guiding future research endeavors. | 2024 | Uwamahoro C, Jo JH, Jang SI, Jung EJ, Lee WJ, Bae JW, Kwon WS | |
| AXDND1 is required to balance spermatogonial commitment and for sperm tail formation in mice and humans. | Dynein complexes are large, multi-unit assemblies involved in many biological processes via their critical roles in protein transport and axoneme motility. Using next-generation sequencing of infertile men presenting with low or no sperm in their ejaculates, we identified damaging variants in the dynein-related gene AXDND1. We thus hypothesised that AXDND1 is a critical regulator of male fertility. To test this hypothesis, we produced a knockout mouse model. Axdnd1 | 2024 | Houston BJ, Nguyen J, Merriner DJ, O’Connor AE, Lopes AM, Nagirnaja L, Friedrich C, Kliesch S, T√ºttelmann F, Aston KI, Conrad DF, Hobbs RM, Dunleavy JEM, O’Bryan MK | |
| The Role of Retinoic Acid in Spermatogenesis and Its Application in Male Reproduction. | Spermatogenesis in mammalian testes is essential for male fertility, ensuring a continuous supply of mature sperm. The testicular microenvironment finely tunes this process, with retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, serving a pivotal role. Retinoic acid is critical for various stages, including the differentiation of spermatogonia, meiosis in spermatogenic cells, and the production of mature spermatozoa. Vitamin A deficiency halts spermatogenesis, leading to the degeneration of numerous germ cells, a condition reversible with retinoic acid supplementation. Although retinoic acid can restore fertility in some males with reproductive disorders, it does not work universally. Furthermore, high doses may adversely affect reproduction. The inconsistent outcomes of retinoid treatments in addressing infertility are linked to the incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms through which retinoid signaling governs spermatogenesis. In addition to the treatment of male reproductive disorders, the role of retinoic acid in spermatogenesis also provides new ideas for the development of male non-hormone contraceptives. This paper will explore three facets: the synthesis and breakdown of retinoic acid in the testes, its role in spermatogenesis, and its application in male reproduction. Our discussion aims to provide a comprehensive reference for studying the regulatory effects of retinoic acid signaling on spermatogenesis and offer insights into its use in treating male reproductive issues. | 2024 | Zhao Y, Deng S, Li C, Cao J, Wu A, Chen M, Ma X, Wu S, Lian Z | |
| Adeno-associated-virus-mediated delivery of CRISPR-CasRx induces efficient RNA knockdown in the mouse testis. | 2024 | Li K, Li M, Luo Y, Zou D, Li Y, Mang X, Zhang Z, Li P, Lu Y, Miao S, Song W | ||
| Editorial: Analyzing male reproductive risk, understanding molecular targets, and developing treatments. | No Abstract | 2024 | Xiao X, Li H, Borges CS, Cheng CY | |
| Leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. kurrat) aqueous extract loaded on selenium nanoparticles protects against testis and brain injury induced by mercuric chloride in rats. | Mercuric chloride (HgCl | 2024 | Mumtaz F, Farag BM, Farahat MA, Farouk FA, Aarif MY, Eltresy MH, Amin MH, Habotta OA, Alneghery LM, Alawam AS, Almuqri EA, Aleissa MS, Alhudhaibi AM, Al-Olayan E, Abdel Moneim AE, Ramadan SS | |
| Male fertility restoration: In vivo and In vitro stem cell-based strategies using cryopreserved testis tissue – A scoping review. | Advances in the treatment of childhood cancer have significantly improved survival rates, with more than 80% of survivors reaching adulthood. However, gonadotoxic cancer treatments endanger future fertility and prepubertal males have no option to preserve fertility by sperm cryopreservation. Also, boys with cryptorchidism are at risk of compromised fertility in adulthood. | 2024 | von Rohden E, Jensen CFS, Andersen CY, S√∏nksen J, Fedder J, Thorup J, Ohl DA, Fode M, Hoffmann ER, Mamsen LS | |
| Biomechanical properties of the capsule and extracellular matrix play a major role during the Wolffian/epididymal duct development. | The epididymis is important for sperm maturation and without its proper development, male infertility will result. Biomechanical properties of tissues/organs play key roles during their morphogenesis, including the Wolffian duct. It is hypothesized that structural/bulk stiffness of the capsule and mesenchyme/extracellular matrix that surround the duct is a major biomechanical property that regulates Wolffian duct morphogenesis. These data will provide key information as to the mechanisms that regulate the development of this important organ. | 2024 | Oliveira ECS, Hu P, Shook DR, Wallrabe H, Townsend NN, Bingham GC, Barker TH, Hinton BT | |
| Zinc as a Possible Critical Element to Prevent Harmful Effects of COVID-19 on Testicular Function: a Narrative Review. | Research into innovative non-pharmacological therapeutic routes via the utilization of natural elements like zinc (Zn) has been motivated by the discovery of new severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2) variants and the ineffectiveness of certain vaccination treatments during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, research on SARS-COV-2’s viral cellular entry and infection mechanism has shown that it may seriously harm reproductive system cells and impair testicular function in young men and adolescents, which may lead to male infertility over time. In this context, we conducted a narrative review to give an overview of the data pertaining to Zn’s critical role in testicular tissue, the therapeutic use of such micronutrients to enhance male fertility, as well as in the potential mitigation of COVID-19, with the ultimate goal of elucidating the hypothesis of the potential use of Zn supplements to prevent the possible harmful effects of SARS-COV2 infection on testis physiological function, and subsequently, on male fertility. | 2024 | Chemek M, Kadi A, Al-Mahdawi FKI, Potoroko I | |
| The role of immune cell death in spermatogenesis and male fertility. | The male reproductive system provides a distinctive shield to the immune system, safeguarding germ cells (GCs) from autoimmune harm. The testis in mammals creates a unique immunological setting due to its exceptional immune privilege and potent local innate immunity. which can result from a number of different circumstances, including disorders of the pituitary gland, GC aplasia, and immunological elements. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death (PCD), is essential for mammalian spermatogenesis to maintain and ensure an appropriate number of GCs that correspond with the supporting capability of the Sertoli cells. Apoptosis is substantial in controlling the number of GCs in the testis throughout spermatogenesis, and any dysregulation of this process has been linked to male infertility. There is a number of evidence about the potential of PCD in designing novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of infertility. A detailed understanding of PCD and the processes that underlie immunological infertility can contribute to the progress in designing strategies to prevent and treat male infertility. This review will provide a summary of the role of immune cell death in male reproduction and infertility and describe the therapeutic strategies and agents for treatment based on immune cell death. | 2024 | Jiahong C, Junfeng D, Shuxian L, Tao W, Liyun W, Hongfu W | |
| The increasing demand for reproductive urologists and male fertility care. | No Abstract | 2024 | Greenberg DR, Nam CS, Halpern JA | |
| A dataset of hidden small non-coding RNA in the testis of heat-stressed models revealed by Pandora-seq. | Infertility, a worldwide reproductive health concern, impacts approximately one in five couples. Male infertility, stemming from spermatogenic dysfunction and reduced sperm quality, stands as a primary factor contributing to infertility. Given the global decrease in male fertility linked to environmental factors like the greenhouse effect, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive understanding of how increased temperatures impact both the quantity and quality of sperm. In this study, we utilized Pandora-seq technology to detect the small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) expression profile in the testicular tissue of heat-stressed mice. The investigation explores the dynamic shifts in sncRNAs within the mouse testis under heat stress, including miRNAs, tsRNAs, piRNAs, rsRNAs and other sncRNAs. Furthermore, we successfully identified differentially expressed sncRNAs in testicular tissues before and after heat stress. Subsequently, we conducted functional enrichment analysis on the potential predicted target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs and tsRNAs. These datasets will constitute a valuable foundational resource for further investigations into the decline in male reproductive capacity triggered by heat stress. | 2024 | Gan M, Lei Y, Wang K, Wang Y, Liao T, Ma J, Zhu L, Shen L | |
| The impact of impaired intrauterine growth on male fertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis. | Adverse intrauterine environment was believed to have deleterious effects on the gonadal function. However, the association between impaired intrauterine growth and fertility in adult males has not been established. | 2024 | Meng F, Yao M, Li S, Tian A, Zhang C, Luo X | |
| GLUTAMYL-tRNA SYNTHETASE 1 deficiency confers thermo-sensitive male sterility in rice by affecting ROS homeostasis. | Temperature is one of the key environmental factors influencing crop fertility and yield. Understanding how plants sense and respond to temperature changes is, therefore, crucial for improving agricultural production. In this study, we characterized a temperature-sensitive male-sterile mutant in rice (Oryza sativa), glutamyl-tRNA synthetase 1-2 (ers1-2), that shows reduced fertility at high temperatures and restored fertility at low temperatures. Mutation of ERS1 resulted in severely delayed pollen development and meiotic progression at high temperatures, eventually leading to male sterility. Moreover, meiosis-specific events, including synapsis and crossover formation, were also delayed in ers1-2 compared with the wild type. However, these defects were all mitigated by growing ers1-2 at low temperatures. Transcriptome analysis and measurement of ascorbate, glutathione, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents revealed that the delayed meiotic progression and male sterility in ers1-2 were strongly associated with changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. At high temperatures, ers1-2 exhibited decreased accumulation of ROS scavengers and overaccumulation of ROS. In contrast, at low temperatures, the antioxidant system of ROS was more active, and ROS contents were lower. These data suggest that ROS homeostasis in ers1-2 is disrupted at high temperatures but restored at low temperatures. We speculate that ERS1 dysfunction leads to changes in ROS homeostasis under different conditions, resulting in delayed or rescued meiotic progression and thermosensitive male fertility. ers1-2 may hold great potential as a thermosensitive material for crop heterosis breeding. | 2024 | Liu H, You H, Liu C, Zhao Y, Chen J, Chen Z, Li Y, Tang D, Shen Y, Cheng Z | |
| Influence of Age, Obesity, Smoking, Sleep duration, and Sleep Quality on Concentration, Morphology, and Sperm Motility: A Cross-Sectional Study. | Age, smoking, sleep duration, sleep quality, and obesity are risk factors that can affect the amount of sperm concentration, morphology, and motility. The aim of this study is to assess the lifestyle effects: of age, smoking, sleep duration, sleep quality, and obesity on the amount of concentration, morphology, and motility of sperm. | 2024 | Budihastuti UR, Melinawati E, Prakosa T, Angelia Ratnasari A, Hadi C, Laqif A, Pangestu M, Oktadiani Putri L, Murti B, Nurwati I | |
| CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Nap knockout affects female reproduction and egg shape in Bombyx mori. | Insect reproductive capacity can affect effective pest control and infertility studies and has become an important focus in recent molecular genetic research. Nucleosome assembly protein (Nap) is highly conserved across multiple species and is involved in forming the sperm nucleus in many species. We used clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/Cas9 technology to knockout BmNap in Bombyx mori and observed that the mutations caused female infertility, whereas male fertility was not affected. BmNap mutants grew and mated normally; however, female mutants laid smaller eggs that could not be fertilised and did not hatch. In addition, female sterility produced by the mutation could be inherited stably via male mutants; therefore, Nap could be used as a potential target for lepidopteran pest control through population regulation. In the current study, we elucidated a new function of BmNap, increased the understanding of the oogenesis regulation network in Lepidoptera and promoted the development of insect sterility technologies. | 2024 | Liu X, Zhang L, Zhang N, Li K, Mater PB, He L | |
| The Correlation of Paternal Age on Semen Parameters in Assisted Reproduction: A Retrospective Study in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. | In the past, fertility concerns have predominantly revolved around the effect of a woman’s age on the quality of her eggs and the success of her pregnancy. While men generally retain their ability to father children throughout their lives, there is evidence suggesting a decline in natural conception rates as paternal age increases. A growing body of research indicates a potential link between advanced paternal age (APA) and various adverse outcomes, including changes in sperm genetics, reduced conception rates, higher rates of miscarriage, lower live birth rates, and even long-term health consequences in offspring. However, it remains unclear whether there is an association between APA and the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This study aims to shed light on the relationship between APA and semen parameters. | 2024 | Alharbi B, Alqossayir F, Moalwi A, Alwashmi E, Alharbi AH, Aloraini A, Aljumah A, Alhomaidhi M, Almansour M | |
| Biogenic amines in the testis: sources, receptors and actions. | Biogenic amines are signaling molecules with multiple roles in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs, including the gonads. A series of studies indicated that these molecules, their biosynthetic enzymes and their receptors are present in the testis and that they are involved in the regulation of male reproductive physiology and/or pathology. This mini-review aims to summarize the current knowledge in this field and to pinpoint existing research gaps. We suggest that the widespread clinical use of pharmacological agonists/antagonists of these signaling molecules, calls for new investigations in this area. They are necessary to evaluate the relevance of biogenic amines for human male fertility and infertility, as well as the potential value of at least one of them as an anti-aging compound in the testis. | 2024 | Frungieri MB, Mayerhofer A | |
| Alkylating agents-induced gonadotoxicity in prepubertal males: Insights on the clinical and preclinical front. | Rising cure rates in pediatric cancer patients warrants an increased attention toward the long-term consequences of the diagnosis and treatment in survivors. Chemotherapeutic agents can be gonadotoxic, rendering them at risk for infertility post-survival. While semen cryopreservation is an option that can be provided for most (post)pubertal boys before treatment, this is unfortunately not an option prepubertal in age, simply due to the lack of spermatogenesis. Over the last couple of years, studies have thus focused on better understanding the testis niche in response to various chemotherapeutic agents that are commonly administered and their direct and indirect impact on the germ cell populations. These are generally compounds that have a high risk of infertility and have been classified into risk categories in curated fertility guidelines. However, with it comes the lack of evidence and the challenge of using informative models and conditions most reflective of the physiological scenario, in short, the appropriate study designs for clinically relevant outcomes. Besides, the exact mechanism(s) of action for many of these “risk” compounds as well as other agents is unclear. Understanding their behavior and effect on the testis niche will pave the way for incorporating new strategies to ultimately combat infertility. Of the various drug classes, alkylating agents pose the highest risk of gonadotoxicity as per previously established studies as well as risk stratification guidelines. Therefore, this review will summarize the findings in the field of male fertility concerning gonadotoxicity of akylating agents as a result of chemotherapy exposure. | 2024 | Sriram S, Macedo T, Mavinkurve-Groothuis A, van de Wetering M, Looijenga LHJ | |
| Lead and calcium crosstalk tempted acrosome damage and hyperpolarization of spermatozoa: signaling and ultra-structural evidences. | Exposure of humans and animals to heavy metals is increasing day-by-day; thus, lead even today remains of significant public health concern. According to CDC, blood lead reference value (BLRV) ranges from 3.5 µg/dl to 5 μg/dl in adults. Recently, almost 2.6% decline in male fertility per year has been reported but the cause is not well established. Lead (Pb | 2024 | Yadav RS, Kushawaha B, Dhariya R, Swain DK, Yadav B, Anand M, Kumari P, Rai PK, Singh D, Yadav S, Garg SK | |
| ZnO NPs induce miR-342-5p mediated ferroptosis of spermatocytes through the NF-κB pathway in mice. | Zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) is one of the metal nanomaterials with extensive use in many fields such as feed additive and textile, which is an emerging threat to human health due to widely distributed in the environment. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the toxic effects associated with ZnO NPs. Although previous studies have found accumulation of ZnO NPs in testis, the molecular mechanism of ZnO NPs dominated a decline in male fertility have not been elucidated. | 2024 | Liu G, Lv J, Wang Y, Sun K, Gao H, Li Y, Yao Q, Ma L, Kochshugulova G, Jiang Z | |
| Evaluation of sperm quality and male fertility: The use of molecular markers in boar sperm and seminal plasma. | In pig production, the optimization of artificial insemination (AI) efficiency significantly relies on the accurate assessment of semen quality and fertility of boars. Traditional methods such as conventional seminogram techniques, although long-standing, exhibit limited sensitivity in predicting boar fertility, warranting the exploration of novel molecular markers. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the utilization of molecular markers for semen quality evaluation and male fertility prediction in boars, providing an in-depth examination of molecular markers in this context. Specifically, the present work delves into the potential of OMICs technologies, encompassing genetic and genomic approaches, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. A diverse array of molecular markers, including genomic regions associated with sperm quality and male fertility, chromatin integrity, mitochondrial DNA content, mRNA and non-coding RNA signatures, as well as proteins and metabolites in sperm and seminal plasma, are identified as promising molecular markers for fertility prediction in boars. Furthermore, the need of validating biomarkers and their practical implementation in AI centres is here emphasized. Addressing these considerations and integrating molecular markers within the swine breeding field holds the potential to enhance reproductive management practices and optimize productivity in boar breeding programs. This integration can significantly improve overall efficiency within the pig breeding industry. | 2024 | Llavanera M | |
| The development of yellow lupin anthers depends on the relationship between jasmonic acid and indole-3-acetic acid. | The main purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the course of anther development, including post-meiotic maturation, dehiscence and senescence, is ensured by the interdependencies between jasmonic acid (JA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.). The concentration of JA peaked during anther dehiscence when IAA level was low, whereas the inverse relationship was specific to anther senescence. Cellular and tissue localization of JA and IAA, in conjunction with broad expression profile for genes involved in biosynthesis, signalling, response, and homeostasis under different conditions, allowed to complete and define the role of studied phytohormones during late anther development, as well as predict events triggered by them. The development/degeneration of septum and anther wall cells, dehydration of epidermis, and rupture of stomium may involve JA signalling, while the formation of secondary thickening in endothecial cell walls is rather JA independent. The IAA is involved in programmed cell death (PCD)-associated processes during anther senescence but does not exclude its participation in the anther dehiscence processes, mainly related to cell disintegration and degeneration. A detailed understanding of these multistage processes, especially at the level of phytohormonal interplay, can contribute to the effective control of male fertility, potentially revolutionizing the breeding of L. luteus. | 2024 | Marciniak K, Przedniczek K, Kƒôsy J, ≈öwiƒôcicki W, Kopcewicz J | |
| DIS3 ribonuclease is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice. | Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation provide foundational support for long-term, steady-state spermatogenesis in mammals. Here, we have investigated the essential role of RNA exosome associated DIS3 ribonuclease in maintaining spermatogonial homeostasis and facilitating germ cell differentiation. We have established male germ-cell Dis3 conditional knockout (cKO) mice in which the first and subsequent waves of spermatogenesis are disrupted. This leads to a Sertoli cell-only phenotype and sterility in adult male mice. Bulk RNA-seq documents that Dis3 deficiency partially abolishes RNA degradation and causes significant increases in the abundance of transcripts. This also includes pervasively transcribed PROMoter uPstream Transcripts (PROMPTs), which accumulate robustly in Dis3 cKO testes. In addition, scRNA-seq analysis indicates that Dis3 deficiency in spermatogonia significantly disrupts RNA metabolism and gene expression, and impairs early germline cell development. Overall, we document that exosome-associated DIS3 ribonuclease plays crucial roles in maintaining early male germ cell lineage in mice. | 2024 | Wang Z, Wu D, Xu X, Yu G, Li N, Wang X, Li JL, Dean J | |
| Can semen analysis be utilized as a screening tool for overall health in young men? | Traditionally, semen analysis has been viewed solely as a tool for assessing male fertility. However, emerging research suggests that abnormal semen parameters may serve as indicators of broader health issues beyond reproductive function. Studies have revealed significant associations between abnormal semen parameters and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as prostate cancer, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and metabolic disorders. These findings challenge the conventional understanding and position semen analysis as a potential screening tool for overall male health. The correlation between abnormal semen parameters and conditions like erectile dysfunction further underscores the multifaceted implications of semen quality. This suggests that abnormal semen parameters may be a risk factor for poorer overall health and a higher likelihood of developing comorbidities over time. Given these compelling associations, there is a growing call to integrate semen analysis into routine health assessments for young men, particularly in conjunction with established general health screenings. This proactive approach aligns with a preventative healthcare paradigm, facilitating early detection of underlying health concerns and timely interventions. However, overcoming cultural, logistical, and cost-related barriers is crucial for the successful implementation of this shift in reproductive health. | 2024 | Saffati G, Thompson LN, Starke N, Khera M, Muthigi A | |
| Association between post-COVID-19 conditions and male semen quality in Japan: A descriptive investigation. | Some reports suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect male reproductive function. There is also concern in Japan that COVID-19 may contribute to the pre-existing decline in male fertility; however, no studies have investigated the effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive function. In this study, we aimed to analyze the semen quality of men who had recovered from COVID-19. Male patients who had recovered from COVID-19 between February 2020 and September 2021 were recruited for this study. Participants were sent a semen collection kit; they were asked to collect semen at home and deliver it to a laboratory at Osaka University. We used these samples to analyze sperm concentration, total sperm count, and semen volume. In total, 125 participants were included in this study. The median age of all patients was 46 years (interquartile range (IQR): 38-52 years). The severity of COVID-19 was mild in 80 patients; 19 were moderate I, 22 were moderate II, and four were severe. The median semen volume was 2.5 mL (IQR: 1.8-3.1), the median sperm concentration was 98.9 million/mL (IQR: 43.8-162.2), and the median total sperm count was 212.1 million (IQR: 89.7-368.2). In a previous study in Japan, the median sperm count in adult men was reported to be 201 million. Participants in our study did not have lower sperm counts than this, despite their older age. Our results suggest that the long-term effects of COVID-19 on spermatogenesis are minimal. | 2024 | Maruki T, Morioka S, Miyazato Y, Tsuzuki S, Takezawa K, Kuribayashi S, Kutsuna S, Ohmagari N, Fukuhara S | |
| The application of mean number of DNA breakpoints in sperm cryopreservation. | Growing concerns over declining male semen quality and rising infertility have shifted attention to male fertility. Sperm cryopreservation emerges as a crucial tool in preserving male fertility, especially for patients who need proactive preservation, such as cancer patients before undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Although cryopreservation does not directly address infertility, effective preservation can support future fertility. However, the process may compromise sperm DNA integrity. Despite their impairment, damaged sperm often retain vitality and may still have the potential to fertilize an egg. Nonetheless, if damaged sperm fertilize an egg, excessive DNA damage could impede embryo implantation and development, despite the egg’s repair capabilities. Consequently, precise detection of sperm DNA damage is crucial and urgent. To better address the issue of sperm DNA damage detection, we have introduced a novel fluorescence biosensor technology known as the TDT/SD Probe. This technology utilizes terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and strand displacement probes to accurately detect the number of sperm DNA breakage points during the cryopreservation process. Experimental results reveal that the number of sperm DNA breakpoints significantly increases after both sperm vitrification (8.17¬†√ó¬†10 | 2024 | Yan B, Wang J, Zhou Y, Pei L, Zhang F, Gao B, Wang H | |
| Golgi associated RAB2 interactor protein family contributes to murine male fertility to various extents by assuring correct morphogenesis of sperm heads. | Sperm heads contain not only the nucleus but also the acrosome which is a distinctive cap-like structure located anterior to the nucleus and is derived from the Golgi apparatus. The Golgi Associated RAB2 Interactors (GARINs; also known as FAM71) protein family shows predominant expression in the testis and all possess a RAB2-binding domain which confers binding affinity to RAB2, a small GTPase that is responsible for membrane transport and vesicle trafficking. Our previous study showed that GARIN1A and GARIN1B are important for acrosome biogenesis and that GARIN1B is indispensable for male fertility in mice. Here, we generated KO mice of other Garins, namely Garin2, Garin3, Garin4, Garin5a, and Garin5b (Garin2-5b). Using computer-assisted morphological analysis, we found that the loss of each Garin2-5b resulted in aberrant sperm head morphogenesis. While the fertilities of Garin2-/- and Garin4-/- males are normal, Garin5a-/- and Garin5b-/- males are subfertile, and Garin3-/- males are infertile. Further analysis revealed that Garin3-/- males exhibited abnormal acrosomal morphology, but not as severely as Garin1b-/- males; instead, the amounts of membrane proteins, particularly ADAM family proteins, decreased in Garin3 KO spermatozoa. Moreover, only Garin4 KO mice exhibit vacuoles in the sperm head. These results indicate that GARINs assure correct head morphogenesis and some members of the GARIN family function distinctively in male fertility. | 2024 | Wang H, Iida-Norita R, Mashiko D, Pham AH, Miyata H, Ikawa M | |
| Testosterone maintains male longevity and female reproduction in | Vertebrate testosterone, an androgen present in the testes, is essential for male fertility. Vertebrate-type steroid hormones have been identified in insects, but their function remains unknown. Insect vitellogenin (Vg) is usually a female-specific protein involved in reproductive processes. However, males of some species, such as the green lacewing | 2024 | Liu X, Guo X, Zhang T, Duan J, Zhang L, Wang M, Li Y, Shen Z, Mao J | |
| Climate change, microplastics, and male infertility. | Semen quality is on the decline. While the etiology is unknown, recent literature suggests there may be a relationship between climate change, environmental toxins and male fertility. This review relays new information regarding associations between our environment and male infertility. | 2024 | Daniels D, Berger Eberhardt A | |
| pH Homeodynamics and Male Fertility: A Coordinated Regulation of Acid-Based Balance during Sperm Journey to Fertilization. | pH homeostasis is crucial for spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, sperm physiological function, and fertilization in mammals. HCO | 2024 | Dai P, Zou M, Cai Z, Zeng X, Zhang X, Liang M | |
| 9-cis-retinoic acid signaling in Sertoli cells regulates their immunomodulatory function to control lymphocyte physiology and Treg differentiation. | Testis is an immune privileged organ, which prevents the immune response against sperm antigens and inflammation. Testicular cells responsible for immune tolerance are mainly Sertoli cells, which form the blood-testis barrier and produce immunosuppressive factors. Sertoli cells prevent inflammation in the testis and maintain immune tolerance by inhibiting proliferation and inducing lymphocyte apoptosis. It has been shown that 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA) blocks ex vivo apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes and promotes the differentiation of Treg cells in the gut. However, the role of retinoid signaling in regulating the immune privilege of the testes remains unknown. | 2024 | Kamińska A, Pardyak L, Lustofin S, Gielata K, Arent Z, Pietsch-Fulbiszewska A, Hejmej A | |
| Sperm handling and management in the teleost model fish Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). | Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) has been used as a model organism in different research fields, including reproductive physiology. Sperm motility is the most important marker for male fertility in fish and, thus, reproduction success. However, because of small volume of ejaculate and short motility duration, it is still challenging to manage the sperm collection and analysis in small model fish. In the present study, we aimed to investigate sperm motility and to optimize sperm collection, short-term sperm storage, and cryopreservation in¬†Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Using two different approaches for sperm collection: testes dissection and abdominal massage, different housing conditions and activating the sperm with different activation solutions, we investigated immediate sperm motility. In the second part of this study, we used different osmolalities of immobilization solution, Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for sperm storage at 0, 2 and 3¬†h after sperm collection. Finally, the sperm were cryopreserved using methanol as cryoprotectant and HBSS as extender at two different osmolalities, and post-thaw sperm motility was investigated. The highest post-activating sperm motility was achieved in the groups activated by the extender at 300 mOsm/kg. The quality of sperm remained unaffected by co-housing with females or with males only. Furthermore, Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) with an osmolality of 600 mOsm/kg demonstrated its efficacy as a suitable extender for sperm storage, preserving motility and progressivity for 3 h. The highest post-thaw motility was around 35%. There were no significant differences between post-thaw motility in different groups. We also found that post-thaw incubation on ice can maintain the motility of the sperm for up to one hour after thawing. | 2024 | Sayyari A, Krogen√¶s AK, Mayer I, Labb√© C | |
| High seminal BPA in IVF patients correlates with lower sperm count and up-regulated miR-21 and miR-130a. | Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread industrial chemical, used as the key monomer of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. BPA has been detected in human seminal fluid and has been correlated with changes in sperm parameters, crucial in determining male fertility. In this study, semen samples were collected from 100 patients aged 29-47 years undergoing fertility assessment between 2021 and 2023 and analyzed according to WHO guidelines. BPA levels in the seminal plasma were then measured through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared to sperm quality metrics. The relative mRNA/miRNA expression of key genes associated to male reproduction, including androgen receptor, miR-34c, miR-21, miR-130a, was then quantified and compared between groups with high or low BPA content. Our results revealed that BPA levels were increased with age and were negatively correlated with sperm counts (p<0.05). The negative correlation remained significant when patients were age-matched. No other relationships between seminal BPA and motility, morphology or DNA fragmentation levels were observed. qPCR analysis showed that androgen receptor mRNA expression was significantly greater in sperm with high seminal BPA (p<0.05). Moreover, we found that the expression of miR-21 and miR-130a was also upregulated in the higher BPA group (p<0.05). These results display a relationship between BPA content in the semen and male fertility parameters, and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms through which BPA may be affecting male reproductive capability. Ultimately, this research can potentially drive changes to guidelines and exposure limits for BPA exposure. | 2024 | Davis OS, Scandlan OLM, Sabry R, Ghaffarzadeh M, Hannam TG, Lagunov A, Favetta LA | |
| piRNA expression patterns in high vs. low fertility bovine sperm. | PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are 24-32 nucleotide RNA sequences primarily expressed in germ cells and developing embryos that suppress transposable element expression to protect genomic integrity during epigenetic reprogramming events. We characterized the expression of piRNA sequences and their encoding clusters in sperm samples from an idiopathic fertility model of Holstein bulls with high and low Sire Conception Rates. The piRNA populations were determined to be mostly similar between fertility conditions when investigated by principal component and differential expression analysis, suggesting that a high degree of conservation in the piRNA system is likely necessary for the production of viable sperm. Both fertility conditions demonstrated evidence of ‘ping-pong’ activity – a secondary biogenesis pathway associated with active transposable element targeting and suppression. Most sperm-borne piRNAs were between 29-30 nucleotides in length and originated from 226 clusters across the genome, with the exception of chromosome 20. Mapping analysis revealed abundant targeting of several transposable element families, suggesting a suppressive function of sperm piRNAs consistent with their established roles. Expression of genes targeted by sperm-borne piRNAs is significantly reduced throughout early embryogenesis compared to the mRNA population. Limited transposable element expression is known to be essential for spermatogenesis, thus epigenetic regulation of this pathway is likely to influence sperm quality and fertilizing capacity. | 2024 | Werry N, Russell SJ, Sivakumar R, Miller S, Hickey K, Larmer S, Lohuis M, Librach C, LaMarre J | |
| Type 1 diabetes mellitus and sperm quality: A case-control study. | The potential impact of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) on male fertility is currently poorly defined. Hyperglycaemia and insulin deficiency may affect spermatogenesis. Some evidence suggests that men with DM1 have a significant reduction in progressive sperm motility, sperm morphology and semen volume, without significant changes in sperm concentration and count, but definite data are lacking. | 2024 | Delbarba A, Anelli V, Bambini F, Buoso C, Facondo P, Gatta E, Girelli A, Cappelli C, Ferlin A | |
| Determination of Electrolytes and Trace Elements in Biological Samples from Patients with Altered Semen Parameters: a Correlational Analysis. | The effects of important nutrients such as calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) have been investigated in relation to male fertility due to their roles in proper spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, motility, and optimal sperm function. An imbalance between these elements has been associated with several pathologic conditions and male reproductive issues. The purpose of this study was to determine the essential trace and electrolytes elements, such as Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn, in human biological samples (blood, serum, and semen) from patients with male infertility. This study used correlational analysis to determine the potential associations between these elements and male fertility. Imbalances in these elements have been linked to various pathological conditions and male reproductive issues. One hundred eighty referent male adults and two hundred twenty-nine patients diagnosed with subtypes of infertility were included in the study, divided into two age groups. Acid digestion was controlled using a microwave oven, and the essential trace elements and electrolytes in the oxidized biological samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Certified reference materials of blood and serum were used to validate the accuracy of the methodology. The results showed that the concentrations of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, and Zn in the blood, serum, and seminal plasma of male adults in all age groups were higher than those in patients with different infertility phenotypes. Essential element deficiency in all biological fluid samples may significantly negatively affect human reproductive health and lead to male infertility. Through a multidimensional approach, our study sought to unravel the intricate biochemical signatures associated with OAT, providing insights that may shape the landscape of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for male reproductive health. | 2024 | Unar A, Afridi HI, Ali A, Ali N, Qureshi T | |
| The | A low-calcium microenvironment is imperative for spermatozoa maturation within the epididymis. Our previous work has shown that γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), the carboxylation enzyme of the matrix Gla protein (MGP), plays an essential role in epididymal calcium homeostasis and sperm maturation in rats and that the GGCX SNP mutation rs699664 was associated with asthenozoospermia (AZS) in humans. Here, we investigated the expression patterns of GGCX and MGP in the mouse epididymis and generated | 2024 | Xiong M, Cheng P, Liu B, Zhao Y, Gao T, Li Z | |
| The | 2024 | Pasquini M, Chiani F, Gambadoro A, Di Pietro C, Paoletti R, Orsini T, Putti S, Scavizzi F, La Sala G, Ermakova O | ||
| Editorial: The role of paternal obesity on offspring health. | No Abstract | 2024 | Xie X | |
| Pistil-derived lipids influence pollen tube growth and male fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana. | Pollen germination and pollen tube elongation require rapid phospholipid production and remodeling in membrane systems that involve both de novo synthesis and turnover. Phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAH) and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase (LPCAT) are two key enzymes in membrane lipid maintenance. PAH generates diacylglycerol (DAG), a necessary precursor for the de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), while LPCAT reacylates lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to PC and plays an essential role in the remodeling of membrane lipids. In this study, we investigated the synthetic defects of pah and lpcat mutations in sexual reproduction of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and explored the prospect of pistil lipid provision to pollen tube growth. The combined deficiencies of lpcat and pah led to decreased pollen tube growth in the pistil and reduced male transmission. Interestingly, pistils of the lipid mutant dgat1 ameliorated the male transmission deficiencies of pah lpcat pollen. In contrast, pollination with a non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) mutant exacerbated the fertilization impairment of the pah lpcat pollen. Given the importance of DAG in lipid metabolism and its contrasting changes in the dgat1 and npc mutants, we further investigated whether DAG supplement in synthetic media could influence pollen performance. DAG was incorporated into phospholipids of germinating pollen and stimulated pollen tube growth. Our study provides evidence that pistil derived lipids contribute to membrane lipid synthesis in pollen tube growth, a hitherto unknown role in synergistic pollen-pistil interactions. | 2024 | Song J, Mavraganis I, Shen W, Yang H, Patterson N, Wang L, Xiang D, Cui Y, Zou J | |
| Eliminating malaria vectors with precision-guided sterile males. | Controlling the principal African malaria vector, the mosquito | 2024 | Apte RA, Smidler AL, Pai JJ, Chow ML, Chen S, Mondal A, S√°nchez C HM, Antoshechkin I, Marshall JM, Akbari OS | |
| Role of Anti-Müllerian Hormone in Male Reproduction and Sperm Motility. | Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is secreted by Sertoli cells and is responsible for the regression of Müllerian ducts in the male fetus as part of the sexual differentiation process. Serum AMH concentrations are at their lowest levels in the first days after birth but increase after the first week, likely reflecting active Sertoli cell proliferation. AMH rises rapidly in concentration in boys during the first month, reaching a peak level at ∼6 months of age, and it remains high during childhood, then they will slowly decline during puberty, falling to low levels in adulthood. Serum AMH measurement is used by pediatric endocrinologist as a specific marker of immature Sertoli cell number and function during childhood. After puberty, AMH is released especially by the apical pole of the Sertoli cells toward the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, resulting in higher levels in the seminal plasma than in the serum. Recently, AMH has received increasing attention in research on male fertility-related disorders. This article reviews and summarizes the potential contribution of serum AMH measurement in different male fertility-related disorders. | 2024 | Benderradji H, Prasivoravong J, Marcelli F, Leroy C | |
| What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Effects of paternal age at conception on fathers and sons. | Advancing male age is often hypothesised to reduce both, male fertility and offspring quality due to reproductive senescence. However, the effects of advancing male age on reproductive output and offspring quality are not always deleterious. For example, older fathers might buffer effects of reproductive senescence by terminally investing in reproduction. Similarly, males that survive to reproduce at an old age, might carry alleles that confer high viability (viability selection) which are then inherited by offspring, or might have high reproductive potential (selective disappearance). Differentiating these mechanisms requires an integrated experimental study of paternal survival and reproductive performance, as well as offspring quality, which is currently lacking. Using a cross-sectional study in Drosophila melanogaster, we test the effects of paternal age at conception (PAC) on paternal survival and reproductive success, and on the lifespans of sons. We discover that mating at an old age is linked with decreased future male survival, suggesting that mating-induced mortality is possibly due to old fathers being frail. We find no evidence for terminal investment, and show that reproductive senescence in fathers does not onset until their late-adult life. Additionally, we find that as a father’s lifespan increases, his probability of siring offspring increases, for older PAC treatments only. Lastly, we show that sons born to older fathers live longer than those born to younger fathers, due to viability selection. Collectively, our results suggest that advancing paternal age is not necessarily associated with deleterious effects for offspring, and may even lead to older fathers producing longer-lived offspring. | 2024 | Sanghvi K, Pizzari T, Sepil I | |
| Deficiency of MFSD6L, an acrosome membrane protein, causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice. | Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors. However, there are still a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cannot be explained by known pathogenic genetic variants. Here, we perform genetic analyses and identify bi-allelic loss-of-function variants of MFSD6L from an oligoasthenoteratozoospermia-affected family. Mfsd6l knock-out male mice also present male subfertility with reduced sperm concentration, motility, and deformed acrosomes. Further mechanistic analyses reveal that MFSD6L, as an acrosome membrane protein, plays an important role in the formation of acrosome by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1. Moreover, poor embryonic development is consistently observed after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment using spermatozoa from the MFSD6L-deficient man and male mice. Collectively, our findings reveal that MFSD6L is required for the anchoring of sperm acrosome and head shaping. The deficiency of MFSD6L affects male fertility and causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice. | 2024 | Zhou D, Wu H, Wang L, Wang X, Tang S, Zhou Y, Wang J, Wu B, Tang J, Zhou X, Tian S, Liu S, Lv M, He X, Jin L, Shi H, Zhang F, Cao Y, Liu C | |
| Beneficial effect of residential greenness on sperm quality and the role of air pollution: A multicenter population-based study. | Poor sperm quality is a major cause of male infertility. However, evidence remains scarce on how greenness affects male sperm quality. | 2024 | Dai T, Li W, Wang L, Zhou J, Zhong K, Yao Y, Cai X, Tian L, Wu H, Xu T, Xiao L, Ni H, Song C, Li Y, Li F, Meng T, Sheng H, Lv Z, Guo P, Wang Q, Zhang X | |
| A 2-step remote TUNEL approach for sperm DNA fragmentation assessment. Analysis in donors and patients. | Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive systems. Male reproductive workup is based on routine semen analysis, although of limited value. The 2021 WHO Manual incorporated Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) assessment, and highlighted the need for individual laboratories to define suitable thresholds. This study aimed to present an alternative to address this issue, determine an SDF cut-off value with fertile donors, and characterize SDF in a patient cohort and their relationship with semen parameters. | 2024 | Verón GL, Manjon AA, Bello R, Catalano D, Arévalo L, Santiago J, Vazquez-Levin MH | |
| New Insights of Target Therapy: Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors on Male Gonadal Function: A Systematic Review. | The number of cancer patients undergoing chronic treatment with target therapy is increasing. Although much is known about the toxicity of conventional anticancer therapies, evidence on the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on fertility is still lacking. Therefore, this review was undertaken to evaluate the effects of TKIs on male gonadal function. A comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus databases was conducted, focusing on the effects of TKIs on spermatogenesis and testicular endocrine function. We included animal studies, observational studies, and case reports published up to December 31, 2023. Identified articles were reviewed and analyzed to evaluate the impact of TKIs on the male gonad. Their long-term effects, the reversibility of the observed changes, and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved were recorded. The findings emerging on the effects of TKIs on male gonadal function are conflicting. Although specific TKIs (imatinib, gefitinib, sorafenib, sunitinib, quizartinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib) have been identified as potentially as potential interfering with spermatogenesis and hormone production, the extent and severity of these effects may vary from patient to patient and between different drugs within this drug class. Experimental studies on mouse models have suggested a potential interference with spermatogenesis. Evidence also suggests that TKIs affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, decreasing serum testosterone and gonadotropin levels. The effects of TKIs on male gonadal function highlight the need for personalized treatment choices. Potential fertility concerns can help minimize adverse effects and improve patient outcomes. Addressing the potential impact of TKIs on male fertility helps optimize cancer treatment and survival outcomes. | 2024 | Marino M, Cannarella R, Condorelli RA, Crafa A, La Vignera S, Calogero AE | |
| The potential significance of antioxidants in livestock reproduction: Sperm viability and cryopreservation. | Male reproductive efficiency is primarily defined by the generation of high-quality and viable sperm cells in farm animals. However, the literature shows that male fertility has declined in recent years due various factors including heat stress, which causes the development of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) which damages sperm cells. This review aimed to examine the potential significance of antioxidants in increasing and preserving sperm quality and viability. Data used to produce this review paper came from recently published articles in peer reviewed journals. Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, Web of Science, and the Directory of Open Access Journals were used to access the data. Various studies have shown that antioxidants play acritical role in preserving the sperm quality and viability by protecting sperm cells from the potential damage from oxidative stress induced by the development of oxygen species imbalances. However, there is less information on the use of natural or synthetic antioxidants to preserve semen quality through in vivo procedures, despite its growing popularity and promising results. Hence, there is a need for researchers to explore more on this topic, especially in other livestock species than poultry. | 2024 | Kujoana TC, Sehlabela LD, Mabelebele M, Sebola NA | |
| Male Fertility in Spondyloarthritis: from Clinical Issues to Cytokines Milieu. A Narrative Review. | Male fertility is an emergent issue that should be considered in clinical practice, when dealing with chronic inflammatory diseases in young men. As it is known, the chronic inflammation is the main pathophysiologic mechanism in some rheumatological conditions such as spondyloarthritis (SpA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Therefore, it is paramount to be aware if these diseases could impair male fertility, both due to the inflammation or to the treatments needed: we reviewed the literature on the most relevant and recent evidence on male fertility in patients affected by SpA, AS and PsA. | 2024 | Scriffignano S, Perrotta FM, Lubrano E | |
| Integrative Assessment of Seminal Plasma Biomarkers: A Narrative Review Bridging the Gap between Infertility Research and Clinical Practice. | Infertility represents a significant global health challenge impacting millions of couples worldwide. Approximately half of all infertile couples exhibit compromised semen quality, indicative of diminished male fertility. While the diagnosis of male infertility traditionally relies on semen analysis, its limitations in providing a comprehensive assessment of male reproductive health have spurred efforts to identify novel biomarkers. Seminal plasma, a complex fluid containing proteins, lipids, and metabolites, has emerged as a rich source of such indicators. Reproduction depends heavily on seminal plasma, the primary transporter of chemicals from male reproductive glands. It provides a non-invasive sample for urogenital diagnostics and has demonstrated potential in the identification of biomarkers linked to illnesses of the male reproductive system. The abundance of seminal proteins has enabled a deeper understanding of their biological functions, origins, and differential expression in various conditions associated with male infertility, including azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, among others. The true prevalence of male infertility is understated due to the limitations of the current diagnostic techniques. This review critically evaluates the current landscape of seminal plasma biomarkers and their utility in assessing male infertility. Βy bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, the integrative assessment of seminal plasma biomarkers offers a multimodal approach to comprehensively evaluate male infertility. | 2024 | Moustakli E, Zikopoulos A, Skentou C, Stavros S, Sofikitis N, Georgiou I, Zachariou A | |
| Do Popular Diets Impact Fertility? | Infertility affects 15% of the population in developed countries, and its prevalence is increasing. Fertility can be influenced by different factors. Although key factors like maternal age cannot be changed, there is growing evidence that other modifiable factors, such as diet, can have an impact on fertility. Diet has become increasingly important in recent years for a number of reasons: the new trend toward a healthy lifestyle, the higher prevalence of certain digestive disorders, a lack of time that leads people to consume more prepared and processed food, and personal choice to not eat meat, among others. To meet these needs, several diets have recently become popular, such as the Mediterranean diet, known as the gold standard of health; the DASH diet, known for preventing hypertension; the Western diet, characterized by processed food; the ketogenic diet, characterized by low carbohydrate intake; and the vegetarian diet, which is the choice for people who do not eat meat or animal by-products. Diets present a unique composition characterized by the presence or absence of specific nutrients, which have also been associated with male and female fertility individually. This review assesses the impact of these diets and of macro- and micronutrients on both female and male fertility. | 2024 | Salvaleda-Mateu M, Rodríguez-Varela C, Labarta E | |
| Hormone Regulation in Testicular Development and Function. | The testes serve as the primary source of androgens and the site of spermatogenesis, with their development and function governed by hormonal actions via endocrine and paracrine pathways. Male fertility hinges on the availability of testosterone, a cornerstone of spermatogenesis, while follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) signaling is indispensable for the proliferation, differentiation, and proper functioning of Sertoli and germ cells. This review covers the research on how androgens, FSH, and other hormones support processes crucial for male fertility in the testis and reproductive tract. These hormones are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis, which is either quiescent or activated at different stages of the life course, and the regulation of the axis is crucial for the development and normal function of the male reproductive system. Hormonal imbalances, whether due to genetic predispositions or environmental influences, leading to hypogonadism or hypergonadism, can precipitate reproductive disorders. Investigating the regulatory network and molecular mechanisms involved in testicular development and spermatogenesis is instrumental in developing new therapeutic methods, drugs, and male hormonal contraceptives. | 2024 | Li L, Lin W, Wang Z, Huang R, Xia H, Li Z, Deng J, Ye T, Huang Y, Yang Y | |
| Intersectional Hybrids between Darrow’s Blueberry ( | An initial cross of | 2024 | Ehlenfeldt MK, Bassil N, King R, Zalapa J, de la Torre F, Luteyn JL | |
| CWF19L2 is Essential for Male Fertility and Spermatogenesis by Regulating Alternative Splicing. | The progression of spermatogenesis along specific developmental trajectories depends on the coordinated regulation of pre-mRNA alternative splicing (AS) at the post-transcriptional level. However, the fundamental mechanism of AS in spermatogenesis remains to be investigated. Here, it is demonstrated that CWF19L2 plays a pivotal role in spermatogenesis and male fertility. In germline conditional Cwf19l2 knockout mice exhibiting male sterility, impaired spermatogenesis characterized by increased apoptosis and decreased differentiated spermatogonia and spermatocytes is observed. That CWF19L2 interacted with several spliceosome proteins to participate in the proper assembly and stability of the spliceosome is discovered. By integrating RNA-seq and LACE-seq data, it is further confirmed CWF19L2 directly bound and regulated the splicing of genes related to spermatogenesis (Znhit1, Btrc, and Fbxw7) and RNA splicing (Rbfox1, Celf1, and Rbm10). Additionally, CWF19L2 can indirectly amplify its effect on splicing regulation through modulating RBFOX1. Collectively, this research establishes that CWF19L2 orchestrates a splicing factor network to ensure accurate pre-mRNA splicing during the early steps of spermatogenesis. | 2024 | Wang S, Cai Y, Li T, Wang Y, Bao Z, Wang R, Qin J, Wang Z, Liu Y, Liu Z, Chan WY, Chen X, Lu G, Chen ZJ, Huang T, Liu H | |
| E3 ligase FBXO22 is not significant for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice. | F-box-only protein 22 (FBXO22), an important substrate receptor of the SKP1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligases, has been reported to be involved in many biological processes, including tumorigenesis, neurological disorders, cellular senescence, and DNA damage. However, the specific role of FBXO22 during spermatogenesis is poorly understood. | 2024 | Wu T, Jin X, Huang C, Yu X, Xu B, Gao W, Qiu X, Bao M, Zhao D, Feng G, Zheng B, Huang X | |
| The effects of radiofrequency exposure on male fertility: A systematic review of human observational studies with dose-response meta-analysis. | The World Health Organization (WHO) is bringing together evidence on radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure in relation to health outcomes, previously identified as priorities for research and evaluation by experts in the field, to inform exposure guidelines. A suite of systematic reviews have been undertaken by a network of topic experts and methodologists to collect, assess and synthesise data relevant to these guidelines. Following the WHO handbook for guideline development and the COSTER conduct guidelines, we systematically reviewed the evidence on the potential effects of RF-EMF exposure on male fertility in human observational studies. | 2024 | Pw Kenny R, Evelynne Johnson E, Adesanya AM, Richmond C, Beyer F, Calderon C, Rankin J, Pearce MS, Toledano M, Craig D, Pearson F | |
| Loss of DIS3L in the initial segment is dispensable for sperm maturation in the epididymis and male fertility. | DIS3L, a catalytic exoribonuclease associated with the cytoplasmic exosome complex, degrades cytoplasmic RNAs and is implicated in cancers and certain other diseases in humans. Epididymis plays a pivotal role in the transport, maturation, and storage of sperm required for male fertility. However, it remains unclear whether DIS3L-mediated cytoplasmic RNA degradation plays a role in epididymis biology and functioning. Herein, we fabricated a Dis3l conditional knockout (Dis3l cKO) mouse line in which DIS3L was ablated from the principal cells of the initial segment (IS). Morphological analyses showed that spermatogenesis and IS differentiation occurred normally in Dis3l cKO mice. Additionally, the absence of DIS3L had no dramatic influence on the transcriptome of IS. Moreover, the sperm count, morphology, motility, and acrosome reaction frequency in Dis3l cKO mice were comparable to that of the control, indicating that the Dis3l cKO males had normal fertility. Collectively, our genetic model demonstrates that DIS3L inactivation in the IS is nonessential for sperm maturation and male fertility. | 2024 | Wang X, Feng YQ, Li H, Xu Y, Yu J, Zhou M, Qiu F, Li N, Wang Z | |
| Oral exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics altered the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis role in hormonal regulation, inducing reproductive toxicity in albino rats. | Nanoplastics can be considered a novel contaminant for the environment because of their extensive applications in modern society, which represents a possible threat to humans. Nevertheless, the negative effect of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on male reproduction, fertility, and progeny outcomes is not well known. Thus, the aim of the present work was to calculate the median lethal dose (LD50) and investigate the consequences of exposure to PS-NPs (25‚Äânm) on male reproductive toxicity. | 2024 | Ebrahim MM, El-Dakdoky MH, El-Shafiey SH, Amer AS | |
| Usefulness of alien sterilizing cytoplasms for the hybrid breeding of triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack): preliminary results. | To be useful for cereal breeding, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) should express the complete sterility of maternal lines and the full restoration of the male fertility of F | 2024 | Simlat M, Warzecha T, Stojałowski S, Góral H | |
| BeneÔ¨Åcial effects of melatonin on boar sperm motility and kinematics are mediated by MT1 receptor. | Melatonin, a hormone synthesized in various tissues, plays a crucial role in modulating sperm characteristics, yet its protective function on boar sperm remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the expression and localization of melatonin-related proteins (AANAT, ASMT, MT1, MT2, and NQO2) in pig tissues, assess the impact of melatonin on pig sperm motility parameters and quality, and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results revealed widespread expression of AANAT, ASMT, MT1, MT2, and NQO2 proteins in pig tissues, particularly in the testis. Specific localization patterns were observed in Leydig cells, reproductive epithelium, and columnar epithelium cells in the testis and cauda epididymis. Additionally, melatonin membrane receptors MT1 and MT2 were detected in boar sperm. Melatonin treatment significantly enhanced boar sperm motility parameters and quality, particularly with 10¬†nM melatonin treatment. Inhibition of the MT1 receptor, but not the MT2 receptor, resulted in decreased sperm motility, highlighting the pivotal role of the MT1 receptor in mediating melatonin’s effects on boar sperm. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant alterations in sperm metabolites following melatonin supplementation, particularly in amino acid metabolism. Overall, our findings provide comprehensive insights into melatonin’s mechanisms in improving boar sperm quality, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for enhancing male fertility. | 2024 | Yang D, Wang C, Lu W, Tian X, Sun Y, Peng H | |
| Identification of male-fertility gene | Garlic cultivars are predominantly characterized by their sterility and reliance on asexual reproduction, which have traditionally prevented the use of hybrid breeding for cultivar improvement in garlic. Our investigation has revealed a notable exception in the garlic line G398, which demonstrates the ability to produce fertile pollen. Notably, at the seventh stage of anther development, callose degradation in the sterile line G390 was impeded, while G398 exhibited normal callose degradation. Transcriptome profiling revealed an enhanced expression of the callose-degrading gene, | 2024 | Liu Z, Duan N, Yang Z, Yue L, Fei Z, Kong S | |
| Association of Polymorphisms in Estrogen Receptors with non-obstructive Azoospermia and Severe Secretory OligozoospermiaÔºöa Meta-Analysis. | Estrogen receptor (ER) genes play key roles in male and female reproduction. Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and severe secretory oligozoospermia (SOL) are the most severe and complex conditions impacting male fertility. This meta-analysis aimed to study the association between PvuII ( rs2234693, 397T>C ), XbaI ( rs9340799, 351G>A ), AluI (1730G>A, rs4986938), and RsaI (1082G>A, rs1256049) polymorphisms and spermatogenic failure. | 2024 | Zhang A, Wang S, Liu L, Zhang Z, Pan Y, Niu S, Liu X | |
| Male fertility and high cholesterol: to treat or not to treat? | No Abstract | 2024 | Sbrana F, Dal Pino B, Bertozzi MA | |
| The Effect of Endurance Exercise on Semen Quality in Male Athletes: A Systematic Review. | Endurance exercise has the potential to affect reproductive function, with amenorrhea in female athletes. However, most studies focus on women. Evidence on the association between endurance exercise and male fertility is limited. | 2024 | Aerts A, Temmerman A, Vanhie A, Vanderschueren D, Antonio L | |
| Differential transcriptome study on the damage of testicular tissues caused by chronic infection of T. gondii in mice. | Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that is widely distributed in humans and warm-blooded animals. T. gondii chronic infections can cause toxoplasmic encephalopathy, adverse pregnancy, and male reproductive disorders. In male reproduction, the main function of the testis is to provide a stable place for spermatogenesis and immunological protection. The disorders affecting testis tissue encompass abnormalities in the germ cell cycle, spermatogenic retardation, or complete cessation of sperm development. However, the mechanisms of interaction between T. gondii and the reproductive system is unclear. The aims were to study the expression levels of genes related to spermatogenesis, following T. gondii infection, in mouse testicular tissue. | 2024 | Li H, Yuan H, Yang ZP, Song Y, Wang JJ, Wen Q, Zheng YX, Zhang XX, Yu M, Yuan ZG | |
| Whole transcriptome analysis to identify non-coding RNA regulators and hub genes in sperm of non-obstructive azoospermia by microarray, single-cell RNA sequencing, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA interaction analysis. | The issue of male fertility is becoming increasingly common due to genetic differences inherited over generations. Gene expression and evaluation of non-coding RNA (ncRNA), crucial for sperm development, are significant factors. This gene expression can affect sperm motility and, consequently, fertility. Understanding the intricate protein interactions that play essential roles in sperm differentiation and development is vital. This knowledge could lead to more effective treatments and interventions for male infertility. | 2024 | Karoii DH, Azizi H, Skutella T | |
| Correction to: Anti-sperm Antibodies as an Increasing Threat to Male Fertility: Immunological Insights, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies. | No Abstract | 2024 | Mukherjee AG, Gopalakrishnan AV | |
| Seminal plasma proteomics as putative biomarkers for male infertility diagnosis. | Male infertility represents a significant global public health issue that is currently emerging as a prominent research focus. Presently, laboratories adhere to the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) manuals for conducting routine semen analysis to diagnose male infertility. However, the accuracy of results in predicting sperm quality and fertility is limited because some individuals with a normal semen analysis report, an unremarkable medical history, and a physical examination may still experience infertility. As a result, the importance of employing more advanced techniques to investigate sperm function and male fertility in the treatment of male infertility and/or subfertility becomes apparent. The standard test for evaluating human semen has been improved by more complex tests that look at things like reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), sperm DNA fragmentation levels, DNA compaction, apoptosis, genetic testing, and the presence and location of anti-sperm antibodies. Recent discoveries of novel biomarkers have significantly enriched our understanding of male fertility. Moreover, the notable biological diversity among samples obtained from the same individual complicates the efficacy of routine semen analysis. Therefore, unraveling the molecular mechanisms involved in fertilization is pivotal in expanding our understanding of factors contributing to male infertility. By understanding how these proteins work and what role they play in sperm activity, we can look at the expression profile in men who can’t have children to find diagnostic biomarkers. This review examines the various sperm and seminal plasma proteins associated with infertility, as well as proteins that are either deficient or exhibit aberrant expression, potentially contributing to male infertility causes. | 2024 | Parvin A, Erabi G, Alemi A, Rezanezhad A, Maleksabet A, Sadeghpour S, Taheri-Anganeh M, Ghasemnejad-Berenji H | |
| The effects of vitamin E supplementation on sperm parameters, chromatin integrity, and gene expression before and after freezing in aged mice. | Some age-related testicular changes, such as Sertoli cell vacuolization and blood-testis barrier breakdown, reduce total sperm production and male fertility. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of vitamin E on restoring testicular function in aged mice. Sperm cryo-resistance was also assessed. | 2024 | Zarei S, Molavi F, Abasnezhad FA, Majidi B, Mohammadihosseinabad S, Ranjbar FE, Vatanparast M | |
| Preconceptional paternal caloric restriction of high-fat diet-induced obesity in Wistar rats dysregulates the metabolism of their offspring via AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. | Obesity is a metabolic syndrome where allelic and environmental variations together determine the susceptibility of an individual to the disease. Caloric restriction (CR) is a nutritional dietary strategy recognized to be beneficial as a weight loss regime in obese individuals. Preconceptional parental CR is proven to have detrimental effects on the health and development of their offspring. As yet studies on maternal CR effect on their offspring are well established but paternal CR studies are not progressing. In current study, the impact of different paternal CR regimes in diet-induced obese male Wistar rats (WNIN), on their offspring concerning metabolic syndrome are addressed. | 2024 | Anuradha R, Srinivas M, Satyavani M, Suresh K, Muralidhar MN, Rajender Rao K | |
| Impact of heat waves on semen quality: A retrospective study in Argentina between 2005 and 2023. | Heat waves, defined as periods with daily temperatures surpassing the historical average for a specific region, have become more frequent worldwide in recent years. Previous studies have reported a negative association between temperature and semen quality, but the focus has mainly been on Asian and European populations. The study included 54,926 men (18-60 years) undergoing routine semen analysis between 2005 and 2023 at CEUSA-LAEH andrology unit, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Hourly temperature readings were provided by the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional. R programming (R Studio v2022.07.2) was used to define heat waves, calculate key characteristics, visualize results, and perform statistical tests at the IBYME laboratory. During the period studied, a total of 124 days had heat waves (defined after at least 3 consecutive days with 32.3 °C and 22 °C). Men exposed to heat waves during spermatogenesis exhibited lower sperm number (concentration and count; P < 0.0001) and decreased normal morphology (percentage of normal sperm and normal motile count; P < 0.05) compared to those not exposed. These differences were most pronounced between semen samples from years with several heat waves (2013, 2023) and none (2005, 2007, 2016), displaying 4-5 times higher fold changes (P < 0.05). Further analysis employing multiple regression revealed a significantly negative association between semen quality and heat wave length, suggesting that a prolonged exposure may be more detrimental than an acute exposure. Subsequent analysis focusing on prolonged exposure (≥6-days heat wave) during spermatogenesis revealed a negative (P < 0.05) association between early exposure (spermatocytogenesis: 64-90 days prior semen collection) and semen quality. This study underscores the negative association between early exposure to heat waves during sperm development and semen quality, raising concerns about its possible association with the worldwide declining male fertility. A comprehensive collaborative approach is crucial, involving global governmental policies, sustainable practices, and coordinated efforts across scientific, healthcare, and policy domains. | 2024 | Verón GL, Manjon AA, Arévalo L, Santiago J, Vazquez-Levin MH | |
| Male infertility and Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances: Evidence for alterations in phosphorylation of proteins and fertility-related functional attributes in bull spermatozoa. | Perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pervasive environmental pollutants and emerging risk factors for reproductive health. Although epidemiological evidence supports the link between these substances and male infertility, their specific effects on male fertility remain poorly understood. | 2024 | Kumaresan A, Yadav P, Sinha MK, Nag P, John Peter ESK, Mishra JS, Kumar S | |
| COVID-19 and male fertility: short- and long-term impacts of asymptomatic vs. symptomatic infection on male reproductive potential. | Studies exploring the effect of COVID-19 on male reproductive system suggest a detrimental association, however with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the association between COVID-19 infection and male reproductive potential including hormone profiles and semen parameters. | 2024 | Majzoub A, Khalafalla K, Arafa M, El Ansari W, Nair A, Al Bishawi A, Saleh M, Khair Ella M, ElBardisi H, Khattab MA, AlRumaihi K | |
| Gene-deficient mouse model established by CRISPR/Cas9 system reveals 15 reproductive organ-enriched genes dispensable for male fertility. | Since the advent of gene-targeting technology in embryonic stem cells, mice have become a primary model organism for investigating human gene function due to the striking genomic similarities between the two species. With the introduction of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome editing in mice, the pace of loss-of-function analysis has accelerated significantly. This has led to the identification of numerous genes that play crucial roles in male reproductive processes, including meiosis, chromatin condensation, flagellum formation in the testis, sperm maturation in the epididymis, and fertilization in the oviduct. Despite the advancements, the functions of many genes, particularly those enriched in male reproductive tissues, remain largely unknown. In our study, we focused on 15 genes and generated 13 gene-deficient mice [ | 2024 | Nguyen TTT, Tokuhiro K, Shimada K, Wang H, Mashiko D, Tonai S, Kiyozumi D, Ikawa M | |
| The relationship of the male’s proctodeal gland size to sperm-egg interaction and the duration of fertility in Japanese quail. | In avian species, male fertility significantly impacts reproductive success. This study investigates the relationship between proctodeal gland size in male Japanese quails and sperm function, as well as female fertility duration. Six hundred adult Japanese quails were selected and housed in individual cages. Males (n = 300) were divided into 6 groups (50/group) based on the size of their proctodeal glands. Females (n = 300) were randomly assigned to corresponding groups. After acclimatization, sperm kinematics and the frequency and weight of foam discharge were evaluated. Males were paired with females for 24 h, and eggs were collected for 20 d postcopulation. Eggs were incubated to assess fertility duration. Fresh eggs (n = 20/group/d) were used to assess sperm penetration into the perivitelline membrane on the 2nd, 9th, and 16th d postinsemination. Plasma testosterone levels and the testes’ relative weight were determined. The results indicated a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, and nearly all sperm kinematic parameters such as VSL, VCL, VAP, LIN, WOB, and STR values as the size of the proctodeal gland increased. Quails copulated with males having a small and average proctodeal gland area (<400 mm | 2024 | Abuoghaba AA, Abdelfattah MG, Abdelhamid Mohamed Sayed M, Hosny M | |
| Novel insights into necrozoospermia from a single-center study: reference ranges, possible etiology, and impact on male fertility. | Necrozoospermia is a poorly documented condition with a low incidence, and its definition and clinical significance are unclear. Herein, we provide a reference range for necrozoospermia and discuss its possible etiology and impact on male fertility and assisted reproductive outcomes. We extracted relevant information from 650 Chinese male partners of infertile couples and statistically analyzed sperm vitality. Necrozoospermia was present in 3.4% (22/650) of our study population, and the lower cut-off value for sperm vitality was 75.3%. We compared two methods for assessing sperm vitality (eosin-nigrosin head staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test [HOST]), for which the percentage in the eosin-nigrosin group (mean ± standard deviation [s.d.]: 77.5% ± 10.5%) was significantly higher than that in the HOST group (mean ± s.d.: 58.1% ± 6.7% [5-10 min after incubation] and 55.6% ± 8.2% [25-30 min after incubation]; both P < 0.001). The incidence of necrozoospermia increased with age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.116, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.048-1.189, P = 0.001), while the percentage of normal sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were significantly associated with necrozoospermia, with ORs of 0.691 (95% CI: 0.511-0.935, P = 0.017) and 1.281 (95% CI: 1.180-1.390, P < 0.001), respectively. In the following 6 months, we recruited 166 patients in the nonnecrozoospermia group and 87 patients in the necrozoospermia group to compare intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. The necrozoospermia group had a significantly lower normal fertilization rate (74.7% vs 78.2%, P = 0.041; OR = 0.822; 95% CI: 0.682-0.992) than that in the nonnecrozoospermia group. This study presents substantial information on necrozoospermia to establish comprehensive and applicable reference values for sperm vitality for spontaneous conception and artificially assisted reproductive management. | 2024 | Zhang EC, Yin XY, Peng ZY, Lai ZZ, Hu L, Peng YQ, Zhang H, Ming R, Lin G, Li WN | |
| Anti-sperm Antibodies as an Increasing Threat to Male Fertility: Immunological Insights, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies. | It is a fact that sperm possess antigenic properties. Substantial scientific research suggests that specific antibodies that attach to sperm antigens can induce infertility in both humans and other species. Antisperm antibodies (ASA) represent a significant etiology of infertility in humans, leading to immunoinfertility. The association between ASA and infertility is multifaceted. The observation of sperm agglutination, although not conclusive for the diagnosis of immunological infertility, may suggest the presence of ASA. Nevertheless, ASA may also manifest in the lack of any sperm agglutination. Managing ASA from an andrological perspective depends on the underlying cause and the specific approaches healthcare professionals adopt. The precise etiology of male infertility resulting from ASA remains unclear. Current research has examined the impact of ASA and its prevalence among infertile males to understand the relationship between ASA and changes in semen parameters. However, the findings have been inconclusive. Numerous techniques have been documented for the management of immunoinfertility. This review examines the importance of ASA in the context of infertility, encompassing the postulated mechanisms underlying the development of ASA, the various assays employed for detecting them, and the available treatments. | 2024 | Mukherjee AG, Gopalakrishnan AV | |
| Interplay between male gonadal function and overall male health. | The process-of-male reproduction is intricate, and various medical conditions-have the potential to disrupt spermatogenesis. Moreover, infertility in males can serve as an indicator of-potential future health issue. Numerous conditions with systemic implications have been identified, encompassing genetic factors (such as Klinefelter Syndrome), obesity, psychological stress, environmental factors, and others. Consequently, infertility assessment-presents an opportunity for comprehensive health counseling, extending-beyond discussions about reproductive goals. Furthermore, male infertility has been suggested as a harbinger of future health problems, as poor semen quality and a diagnosis of-male infertility are associated with an increased risk of hypogonadism, cardiometabolic disorders, cancer, and even mortality. This review explores the existing-literature on the relationship between systemic illnesses and male fertility, impacting both clinical-outcomes and semen parameters. The majority of the literature analyzed, which compared gonadal function with genetic, chronic, infectious or tumoral diseases, confirm the association between overall male health and infertility. | 2024 | Asero V, Scornajenghi CM, Iaconis S, Sicignano E, Falcone A, Dinacci F, Pagano G, Carino D, Corvino R, Tresh A | |
| Therapeutic effects of vitamin B17 against anabolic steroid Trenorol induced testicular toxicity, injury, DNA damage and apoptosis in male rats. | Several anabolic androgenic steroids (ASSs) are a group of synthetic molecules derived from testosterone and developed mainly for veterinary use that classed as a Schedule III and sometimes utilized by athletes to enlarge their muscles. Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids can result in severe organ damage that cannot be repaired. Therefore; the objective of the current investigation was to examine the therapeutic effects of vitamin B17 (VitB17) on the testicular toxicity caused by the anabolic steroid Trenorol in male rats. Rats were randomly assigned into control, VitB17 (50 mg/kg b.wt./day, orally), Trenorol (received 10 mg/kg b.wt./week, IM) and Trenorol + VitB17 treated groups. At the end of experiment, hormonal assay, semen evaluation, testicular enzymes, and DNA damage were assessed. Besides, the histopathological and immunohistochemical investigations of the P53 expression were performed. Current results revealed that; Trenorol induced significant depletion in relative weights of testis (RWT), total testosterone follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), sperm count, morphology index, viability, progressive motility, and testicular injury and a significant increase sperm abnormalities, testicular DNA damage and P53 experssions. Treatment of rats with Trenorol + VitB17 decreased the testicular toxicity, sperm parameters, DNA damage and apoptosis. We can conclude that; Trenorol induced toxicity, DNA damage and apoptosis in rat testis and treatments with VitB1 improved these parameters. | 2024 | Al-Otaibi AM | |
| CD147 mediates S protein pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its induction of spermatogonia apoptosis. | Male cases diagnosed COVID-19 with more complications and higher mortality compared with females, and the overall consequences of male sex hormones and semen parameters deterioration were observed in COVID-19 patients, whereas the involvement and mechanism for spermatogenic cell remains unclear. The study was aimed to investigate the infection mode of S protein (D614G) pseudovirus (pseu-S-D614G) to spermatogenic cells, as well as the influence on cell growth. Both mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 cell, immortalized spermatogonia) and spermatocyte (GC-2 cell, immortalized spermatocytes) were used to detect the infection of pseu-S-D614G of SARS-CoV-2, and further explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (S-protein) and SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (omicron) (O-protein) on GC-1 cell apoptosis and proliferation. The data showed that the pseu-S-D614G invaded into GC-1 cells through either human ACE2 (hACE2) or human CD147 (hCD147), whereas GC-2 cells were insensitive to viral infection. In addition, the apoptosis and proliferation suppression inflicted by S-protein and O-protein on GC-1 cells was through Bax-Caspase3 signaling rather than arresting cell cycle progression. These findings suggest that CD147, apart from ACE2, may be a potential receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in testicular tissues, and that the apoptotic effect was induced in spermatogonia cells by S-protein or O-protein, eventually resulted in the damage to male fertility. | 2024 | Dai P, Ma C, Jiang T, Shi J, Liu S, Zheng M, Zhou Y, Li X, Liu Y, Chen H | |
| Mechanistic Insights into Bisphenol A-Mediated Male Infertility: Potential Role of Panax Ginseng Extract. | . The escalating prevalence of male infertility in the contemporary era across the globe can be largely attributed to environmental pollution, which is the common etiological factor due to the ubiquitous presence of the environmental contaminants. Bisphenol A is recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has adverse effects on both male and female reproductive systems. On the other hand, numerous studies have demonstrated that Panax ginseng possessed the potential to improve male infertility parameters; promote spermatogenesis, recover the quality and motility of sperm and enhance testicular functions as it acted as a natural androgen supplement. The objective of this review is to offer a summary of the findings obtained from the current research data on the insult of bisphenol A (BPA) on male infertility and its supposed mode of action, as well as shed light on the potent ameliorative role of Panax ginseng extract, with a special focus on the mechanism behind its action. This review delivers a clear understanding of BPA mechanism of action on male infertility and the presumed risks deriving from its exposure. Also, this review provides evidence for the functional role of Panax ginseng extract in restoring male fertility. | 2024 | Hanna D, El-Shimi BI, Mohareb RM, Ahmed HH, Abohashem RS, Mahmoud KF | |
| Type 1 diabetes impairs the activity of rat testicular somatic and germ cells through NRF2/NLRP3 pathway-mediated oxidative stress. | It is well known that metabolic disorders, including type 1 diabetes (T1D), are often associated with reduced male fertility, mainly increasing oxidative stress and impairing the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis, with consequently altered spermatogenesis and reduced sperm parameters. Herein, using a rat model of T1D obtained by treatment with streptozotocin (STZ), we analyzed several parameters of testicular activity. | 2024 | Venditti M, Romano MZ, Boccella S, Haddadi A, Biasi A, Maione S, Minucci S | |
| The essential role of adenine nucleotide translocase 4 on male reproductive function in mice. | Adenine nucleotide translocator 4 (Ant4), an ATP/ADP transporter expressed in the early phases of spermatogenesis, plays a crucial role in male fertility. While Ant4 loss causes early arrest of meiosis and increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in male mice, its other potential functions in male fertility remain unexplored. Here, we utilized Ant4 knockout mice to delineate the effects of Ant4-deficiency on male reproduction. Our observations demonstrated that Ant4-deficiency led to infertility and impaired testicular development, which was further investigated by evaluating testicular oxidative stress, autophagy, and inflammation. Specifically, the loss of Ant4 led to an imbalance of oxidation and antioxidants. Significant ultrastructural alterations were identified in the testicular tissues of Ant4-deficient mice, including swelling of mitochondria, loss of cristae, and accumulation of autophagosomes. Our results also showed that autophagic flux and AKT-AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway were affected in Ant4-deficient mice. Moreover, Ant4 loss increased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors. Overall, our findings underscored the importance of Ant4 in regulating oxidative stress, autophagy, and inflammation in testicular tissues. Taken together, these insights provided a nuanced understanding of the significance of Ant4 in testicular development. | 2024 | Yang F, Yang X, Zhu H, Wang X, Liao X, Fu Y, Fu T, Chen X, Sysa A, Lyu J, Zhou H | |
| Age, sexual abstinence duration, sperm morphology, and motility are predictors of sperm DNA fragmentation. | Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has recently received attention as a cause of male infertility. However, SDF cannot be fully assessed using conventional semen parameter evaluations alone. Therefore, the authors aimed to elucidate the relationship between SDF and sperm parameters via computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) to improve treatment strategies in reproductive medicine. | 2024 | Yoshiakwa-Terada K, Takeuchi H, Tachibana R, Takayama E, Kondo E, Ikeda T | |
| Infertility risk assessment with ultrasound in congenital adrenal hyperplasia male patients. | Testicular adrenal rest tumor (TART) is a prevalent complication associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), culminating in gonadal dysfunction and infertility. Early hormonal intervention is preventive, but excessive glucocorticoid poses risks. Developing reliable methods for early TART diagnosis and monitoring is crucial. The present study aims to formulate a scoring system to identify high-risk infertility through analysis of TART ultrasound features. Grayscale and power Doppler ultrasound were employed in this retrospective study to evaluate testicular lesions in male CAH patients. Lesion assessment encompassed parameters such as range, echogenicity, and blood flow, and these were subsequently correlated with semen parameters. Results of 49 semen analyzes from 35 patients demonstrated a notable inverse correlation between lesion scores and both sperm concentration (r | 2024 | Wang Z, Wang R, Wang X, Zheng S, Li M, Yu Y, Liu Z, Sun S, Zhan W | |
| Comparative Evaluation of Levamisole and Broccoli in Mitigating Testicular Oxidative Stress and Apoptotic Alterations Caused by Cadmium and Lead Exposure in Rats. | Considering the significance of heavy metals in infertility and their reduction through natural and synthetic compounds, a comparative study of broccoli and levamisole in cadmium and lead poisoning was conducted. Male Wistar rats (48 in total) were divided into 8 groups. Control, cadmium, lead, levamisole, and broccoli were administered individually to groups 1-5, while groups 6-8 received combinations. Various measurements were taken, including final weight, testicular weight, and the GSI coefficient. Sperm parameters, spermatogenesis cell count, oxidative stress biomarkers, and apoptosis indices were assessed using ELISA kits and methods in testicular tissue. The results indicated that the GSI coefficient was lowest in group 2 and highest in group 4, showing a significant difference (P‚Äâ<‚Äâ0.001). Sperm concentration peaked in group 1 and broccoli-treated ones, while motility was highest in group 5. Testicular cell counts and Johnson score were highest in groups 1 and 2, and lowest in cadmium-exposed groups. These differences were statistically significant at P‚Äâ<‚Äâ0.01. Enzyme activities related to oxidative stress varied. Group 2 exhibited the highest catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, while glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels peaked in groups 1, 4, and 5. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were significantly reduced in the group 5 (P‚Äâ<‚Äâ0.05). Apoptosis indices revealed that broccoli had the highest Bcl-2 levels and lowest Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, indicating its anti-apoptotic effect. Group 4 showed less efficacy compared to broccoli in protecting fertility indices. In conclusion, cadmium and lead significantly impact male fertility, while broccoli extract demonstrates promising efficacy in mitigating damage when compared to levamisole. This underscores its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. | 2024 | Esfandyari F, Raeeszadeh M, Amiri AA | |
| Investigating the effects of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on sperm parameters and serum levels of male sexual hormones: Prospective observational study. | With the progress and prevalence of COVID-19, concerns have arisen regarding its impact on men’s sexual health. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of examining the effects of COVID-19 on serum levels of sex hormones and semen. | 2024 | Mohammadi Y, Ranjbaran J, Mamashli M, Marzuni HZ, Dashtgard A, Mohsenizadeh SM | |
| CircCamsap1 is dispensable for male fertility in mice. | Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of RNAs present in mammals. Among these, | 2024 | Zhang S, Li H, Jiang W, Chen X, Zhou H, Wang C, Kong H, Shi Y, Shi X | |
Beli Vitality Review
The Bottom Line The Bottom Line: Our review of Beli Vitality™ prenatal vitamins for Men finds a well-formulated supplement that
