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Huang TK, Huang CH, Chen PA, Chen CH, Lu F, Yang WJ, Huang JYJ, Li BR. Development of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic device for motile spermatozoa sorting. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 258:116353. [PMID: 38696966 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Kuan Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Hsien Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-An Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ching Hung Chen
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Farn Lu
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ju Yang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jack Yu Jen Huang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bor-Ran Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation and Translation R&D Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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Zhang XY, Zhang YH, Guo YY, Luo Y, Xu SS, Lu X, Liang NN, Wu HY, Huang YC, Xu DX. Arsenic exposure causes decline in sperm motility accompanied by energy metabolism disorders in mouse testes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 351:124060. [PMID: 38685555 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a notorious environmental toxicant widely present in various natural environments. As exposure has been correlated with the decline in sperm motility. Yet, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Adult male C57 mice were given 0, 1, or 15 mg/L NaAsO2 for 10 weeks. The mature seminiferous tubules and sperm count were decreased in As-exposed mice. Sperm motility and several sperm motility parameters, including average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), beat-cross frequency (BCF), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), were declined in As-exposed mice. RNA sequencing and transcriptomics analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways. Untargeted metabolomics analyses indicated that energy metabolism was disrupted in As-exposed mouse testes. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation were disturbed in As-exposed mouse testes. As-induced disruption of testicular glucose metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation was further validated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In conclusion, As exposure causes decline in sperm motility accompanied by energy metabolism disorders in mouse testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yi Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Hao Zhang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yue-Yue Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shan-Shan Xu
- Department of Public Health and General Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Xue Lu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Nan-Nan Liang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hong-Yan Wu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Chao Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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Aisyah CR, Mizuno Y, Masuda M, Iwamoto T, Yamasaki K, Uchida M, Kariya F, Higaki S, Konishi S. Association between Sperm Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Concentrations of Urinary Cadmium and Selenium. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:2488-2500. [PMID: 37755586 PMCID: PMC11052814 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-03868-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Elevated sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) is associated with damage to sperm and poorer measures of semen quality. Exposure to cadmium (Cd) can increase oxidative stress and damage sperm mitochondria. The adverse effects of Cd can potentially be reduced by sufficient selenium (Se). The objective of this study was to examine the associations between sperm mtDNAcn and urinary concentrations of Cd and Se, as well as the Cd/Se molar ratio. Participants were recruited from patients who sought infertility treatment at two hospitals in Japan. Urine and semen specimens and self-administered questionnaires were collected on the day of recruitment. Sperm mtDNAcn was measured in extracted sperm DNA by multiplex real-time qPCR. Urinary Cd and Se concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and their molar weights were calculated to obtain the Cd/Se molar ratio. Linear regression was used to estimate associations after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise, varicocele, and hospital of recruitment. Sperm mtDNAcn showed statistically insignificant associations with creatinine-adjusted concentrations of urinary Cd (β = 0.13, 95% CI -0.18, 0.44) and Se (β = -0.09, 95% CI -0.54, 0.35), and Cd/Se molar ratio (β = 0.12, 95% CI -0.13, 0.37). The current study found no evidence of an association between mtDNAcn and urinary concentrations of Cd or Se, or the Cd/Se molar ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuki Mizuno
- Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Momoka Masuda
- Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Teruaki Iwamoto
- International University of Health and Welfare, Otawara, Japan
- Sanno Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Fumiko Kariya
- Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shogo Higaki
- Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoko Konishi
- Department of Human Ecology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Yin T, Ji D, Su X, Zhou X, Wang X, He S, Jiang T, Yue X, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Peng J, Zou W, Liang D, Liu Y, Du Y, Zhang Z, Liang C, Cao Y. Using Bayesian and weighted regression to evaluate the association of idiopathic oligoastenoteratozoospermia with seminal plasma metal mixtures. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 351:141202. [PMID: 38237779 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic oligoastenoteratozoospermia (iOAT) affects 30% of infertile men of reproductive age. However, the associations between Cr, Fe, Cu, Se or Co levels and iOAT risk have not been determined. This research aimed to assess the associations between Cr, Fe, Cu, Se and Co levels as well as their mixtures in seminal plasma and the risk of iOAT and severe iOAT. Therefore, a case‒control study including 823 participants (416 iOAT patients and 407 controls) recruited from October 2021 to August 2022 at the reproductive medicine center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University was conducted in Anhui, China. The concentrations of Cr, Fe, Cu, Se and Co in seminal plasma were detected via inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry. Binary logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between the levels of Cr, Fe, Cu, Se and Co and the risk of iOAT and severe iOAT; additionally, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regressions were performed to evaluate the joint effect of seminal plasma levels of Cr, Fe, Cu, Se and Co on the risk of iOAT and explore which elements contributed most to the relationship. We found significant associations between the concentrations of Fe, Cu and Se in seminal plasma and iOAT risk after adjusting for covariates (Fe, lowest tertile vs. second tertile: aOR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.31, 2.64; Cu, lowest tertile vs. second tertile: aOR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.76; Se, lowest tertile vs. second tertile: aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.17, 2.35). A lower Se concentration in seminal plasma (lowest tertile vs. second tertile: aOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.10, 3.10) was positively associated with the risk of severe iOAT. Additionally, we also observed an association between the concentration of Cr in seminal plasma and the risk of iOAT before adjusting for covariates (Cr, third tertile vs. lowest tertile: OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.02). According to the BKMR analyses, the risk of iOAT increased when the overall concentrations were less than the 25th percentile. The results from the WQS regression indicated that a negative WQS index was significantly associated with the iOAT risk, while a positive WQS index was not. Se and Fe had significant weights in the negative direction. In conclusion, lower Cu, Fe and Se levels in seminal plasma were positively associated with iOAT risk, while higher Cr levels in seminal plasma were positively associated with iOAT risk according to the single element model, and lower levels of Se were related to a greater risk of severe iOAT; when comprehensively considering all the results from BKMR and WQS regression, Fe, Se and Cr levels contributed most to this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Dongmei Ji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xun Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shitao He
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Tingting Jiang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xinyu Yue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jie Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Weiwei Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Dan Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yinan Du
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chunmei Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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5
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Chen HG, Wu P, Zheng XF, Su QL, Lin QF, Sun B, Chen YJ, Meng TQ, Xiong CL, Pan A, Wang YX, Ye W. Association of urinary and seminal plasma vanadium concentrations with semen quality: A repeated-measures study of 1135 healthy men. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 272:116075. [PMID: 38325273 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Although animal studies have shown the reproductive toxicity of vanadium, less is known about its effects on semen quality in humans. Among 1135 healthy men who were screened as potential semen donors, we investigated the relationships of semen quality with urinary and seminal plasma vanadium levels via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Spearman rank correlation tests and linear regression models were used to assess the correlations between average urinary and within-individual pooled seminal plasma vanadium concentrations (n = 1135). We utilized linear mixed-effects models to evaluate the associations of urinary and seminal plasma vanadium levels (n = 1135) with repeated sperm quality parameters (n = 5576). Seminal plasma vanadium concentrations were not significantly correlated with urinary vanadium concentrations (r = 0.03). After adjusting for possible confounders, we observed inverse relationships of within-individual pooled seminal plasma vanadium levels with total count, semen volume, and sperm concentration (all P values for trend < 0.05). Specifically, subjects in the highest (vs. lowest) tertile of seminal plasma vanadium concentrations had - 11.3% (-16.4%, -5.9%), - 11.1% (-19.1%, -2.4%), and - 20.9% (-29.0%, -11.8%) lower sperm volume, concentration, and total count, respectively; moreover, urinary vanadium levels appeared to be negatively associated with sperm motility. These relationships showed monotonically decreasing dose-response patterns in the restricted cubic spline analyses. Our results demonstrated a poor correlation between urinary and seminal plasma levels of vanadium, and elevated vanadium concentrations in urine and seminal plasma may be adversely related to male semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Gui Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qing-Ling Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qiao-Fen Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tian-Qing Meng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Cheng-Liang Xiong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - An Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weimin Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.
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6
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Ma Y, Hu C, Cai G, Xia Q, Fan D, Cao Y, Pan F. Associations of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter constituents from different pollution sources with semen quality: Evidence from a prospective cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 343:123200. [PMID: 38135136 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The association between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and semen quality remains inconclusive, possibly due to variations in pollution sources and PM2.5 compositions. Studies investigating the constituents of PM2.5 have been hindered by small sample sizes, and research exploring the relationships between PM2.5 pollution sources and semen quality is lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive study based on the Anhui prospective assisted reproduction cohort to evaluate the associations between semen quality and the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5. This study included 9013 semen samples from 4417 males in the urban districts of Hefei. The median concentrations of PM2.5 constituents, including eight metals and four water-soluble ions (WSIs), were measured for seven days per month at two monitoring stations during the 0-90-day exposure window. A linear mixed-effects model, weighted quantile sum regression, and positive matrix factorisation were used to evaluate the associations of the constituents and pollution sources of PM2.5 with semen quality. The results showed that exposure to PM2.5-bound metals (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and thallium) and WSIs (sulphate and chloride) were negatively associated with semen quality parameters. Moreover, mixtures of PM2.5-bound metals and WSIs were negatively associated with semen quality. Additionally, PM2.5 derived from traffic emissions was negatively associated with semen quality. In summary, our study revealed that ambient PM2.5 and its constituents, especially metals, were negatively associated with semen quality. Antimony, lead, and thallium emerged as the primary contributors to toxicity, and PM2.5 from traffic emissions was associated with decreased semen quality. These findings have important public health implications for the management of PM2.5 pollution in the context of male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chengyang Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Department of Humanistic Medicine, School of Humanistic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Guoqi Cai
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dazhi Fan
- Foshan Institute of Fetal Medicine, Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Faming Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; The Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, 81 Meishan Road, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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7
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Chen HG, Sun B, Lin F, Chen YJ, Xiong CL, Meng TQ, Duan P, Messerlian C, Hu Z, Pan A, Ye W, Wang YX. Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number mediates the association between seminal plasma selenium concentrations and semen quality among healthy men. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 251:114532. [PMID: 36640579 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is essential for successful male reproduction. However, the association of Se status with human semen quality remains controversial and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We measured seminal plasma Se concentrations, sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), and sperm quality parameters among healthy Chinese men screened as potential sperm donors. Linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the associations of within-subject pooled seminal plasma Se concentrations (n = 1159) with repeated sperm quality parameters (n = 5617); mediation analyses were applied to evaluate the mediating role of sperm mtDNAcn (n = 989). Seminal plasma Se concentrations were positively associated with sperm concentration and total count (both P for trend < 0.001). In adjusted models, men in the top vs. bottom quartiles of seminal plasma Se concentrations had 70.1 % (95 % CI: 53.3 %, 88.9 %) and 59.1 % (95 % CI: 40.5 %, 80.2 %) higher sperm concentration and total count, respectively. Meanwhile, we observed inverse associations between seminal plasma Se concentrations and sperm mtDNAcn, and between sperm mtDNAcn and sperm motility, concentration, and total count (all P for trend < 0.05). Mediation analyses suggested that sperm mtDNAcn mediated 19.7 % (95 % CI: 15.9 %, 25.3 %) and 23.1 % (95 % CI: 17.4 %, 33.4 %) of the associations between seminal plasma Se concentrations and sperm concentration and total count, respectively. Our findings suggest that Se is essential for male spermatogenesis, potentially by affecting sperm mtDNAcn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Gui Chen
- Clinical Research and Translation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian Province, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fuxin Lin
- Clinical Research and Translation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, Fujian Province, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Cheng-Liang Xiong
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tian-Qing Meng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Peng Duan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China
| | - Carmen Messerlian
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhijian Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - An Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Weimin Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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8
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Chen HG, Wu P, Sun B, Chen JX, Xiong CL, Meng TQ, Huang XY, Su QL, Zhou H, Wang YX, Ye W, Pan A. Association between electronic device usage and sperm quality parameters in healthy men screened as potential sperm donors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:120089. [PMID: 36058315 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell phone use and radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMF) are rapidly increasing and may be associated with lower semen quality, yet results from epidemiological studies are inconclusive. Information on electronic devices use was collected through standard questionnaires from 1454 men aged 22-45 years old. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motility, progressive motility, and normal morphology in repeated specimens were determined by trained clinical technicians. Percent changes [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were estimated as (10β-1) × 100 for electronic devices use associated with repeated sperm quality parameters in the linear mixed-effect models. After adjusting for multiple confounders, we found significant inverse associations of total duration of electronic devices use with sperm progressive motility and total motility, duration of cell phone and computer use with sperm concentration, progressive motility, and total motility (all P < 0.05). No significant association was found between cell phone/computer use alone and sperm quality parameters. Moreover, per hour increase of time spent on cell phone talking was associated with decreased sperm concentration and total count by an average of -8.0% (95% CI: -15.2%, -0.2%) and -12.7% (95% CI: -21.3%, -3.1%), respectively. Besides, daily calling time was associated with lower sperm progressive motility and total motility among those who used headsets during a call (P for interaction <0.05). In conclusion, our study suggested that more time spent on electronic devices use had a modest reduction effect on semen quality. Daily calling time was significantly associated with lower sperm concentration and total count, and using headsets during a call appeared to aggravate the negative association between daily calling time and sperm motility. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Gui Chen
- Clinical Research and Translation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China; Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jun-Xiang Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Cheng-Liang Xiong
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tian-Qing Meng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yin Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Qing-Ling Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Huiliang Zhou
- Department of Andrology & Sexual Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Weimin Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - An Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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9
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Karabulut S, Korkmaz S, Güneş E, Kabil E, Keskin İ, Usta M, Omurtag GZ. Seminal trace elements and their relationship with sperm parameters. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14610. [PMID: 36175375 DOI: 10.1111/and.14610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Male reproductive problems may derive from many reasons including the environmental toxicants which may either intaken by occupational exposure, nutrition or bad air quality. The increased exposure to these substances due to rapid industrial development and technology has raised the questions: Is there a relationship between sperm parameters and these substances, and if so, in what extent? Results of studies on the subject reported conflicting results, many of which were not investigated in the seminal plasma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between 23 metals and trace elements in human seminal plasma and semen parameters many of which were not investigated before. Levels of 23 metals in human seminal plasma were assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We examined the differences between subjects with normal ejaculate (normozoospermia) and pathologic ejaculate (with at least one abnormal semen parameter) according to the WHO criteria. The only significant difference was detected for Se while the other element's difference was not statistically significant. Se was statistically significantly increased in normal semen group suggesting the positive effect of this element on semen parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seda Karabulut
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Health Science and Technologies Research Institute (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serol Korkmaz
- Doping Control Laboratory, Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ertuğrul Güneş
- Doping Control Laboratory, Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Erol Kabil
- Doping Control Laboratory, Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İlknur Keskin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Health Science and Technologies Research Institute (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Melek Usta
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey.,Health Science and Technologies Research Institute (SABITA), Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gülden Zehra Omurtag
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
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10
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Xu S, Wu Y, Chen Y, Lu W, Wang YX, Gao B, Zhang J. Environmental metal exposure, seminal plasma metabolome and semen quality: Evidence from Chinese reproductive-aged men. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155860. [PMID: 35595136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental metal exposure has been associated with decreasing semen quality, but the effects of multiple metal exposure on seminal plasma metabolome remain obscure. In this study, semen and repeated urine samples from 551 volunteers were collected in Wuhan City. Heavy metals and trace elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and seminal plasma metabolomes were acquired using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed more than half of the seminal plasma metals were associated with specific metabolite modules, whereas only a few urine metals presented weak associations, indicating that seminal plasma may be an ideal biological sample for male reproductive biomarker discovery and exposure risk assessment. Seminal plasma zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) concentrations were significantly associated with 22 metabolites (e.g., glycerophospholipids, acyl-carnitines and amino acid derivatives). Among these metabolites, acyl-carnitines were positively associated with semen quality and sperm concentration. Moreover, acyl-carnitines were associated with both Zn and Se exposure, indicating the potential role of carnitine pathway in their toxicity mechanism. Our findings suggest that seminal plasma metabolome connects Zn and Se exposure and sperm concentrations in Chinese men of reproductive age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yaru Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wenqing Lu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Departments of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Biling Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China.
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11
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Chai Z, Zhang G, Ling X, Dong T, Wang J, Zhang Y, Zou P, Yang H, Zhou N, Chen Q, Zheng Y, Liu J, Cao J, Ao L. Low-level and combined exposure to environmental metal elements affects male reproductive outcomes: Prospective MARHCS study in population of college students in Chongqing, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154395. [PMID: 35276165 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male fertility has shown a continuously declining tendency for decades. Over exposure to metal/metalloid elements has been proposed as associated with reproductive impairment. However, the hazard profile remained unclear in general public experiencing low-level and combined metal exposure. METHODS Based on the MARHCS cohort in Chongqing, China, 796 college students were recruited from June 2013 and 666 subjects were followed up next year. At each phase, semen and blood samples were collected for an assessment of semen quality and six sex hormones levels. Eighteen urinary metal/metalloid elements were quantified by ICP-MS as internal exposure biomarkers. Cluster analysis was conducted to characterize reproductive outcomes in the subgroups for different overall estimated exposure levels. Effects of each metal/metalloid element were analyzed using multiple statistical strategies: single-element mixed model, multiple-elements model and self before-after comparison design. RESULTS The urine concentration for 18 metal/metalloid elements was at a typically lower level (far away from the exposure limits) and positively associated with each other. After adjustment of the potential confounders, a decrease of 11.53% (95% CI: -18.61, -3.84%) and 10.84% (95% CI: -17.93, -3.14%) in spermatid morphology was observed in the highest quantile groups of vanadium (V) and nickel (Ni), respectively. Urinary silver (Ag) was dose-dependent associated with an increase in total sperm number (6.91%, 95% CI: 1.14, 13.00%), sperm concentration (16.38%, 95% CI: 5.15, 28.81%) and semen volume (23.73%, 95% CI: 10.46, 38.60%). Further, hormone testosterone presented a significant decrease in subgroup with higher overall estimated exposure and a stable negative association with lithium (Li). The above relationships remained significant across different statistical strategies (all p values <0.05). CONCLUSION Our study provided new evidences that exposure to metal/metalloid elements potentially exert bidirectional influences on semen quality at a relatively low level. And serum testosterone appears as a vulnerable index for metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Chai
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xi Ling
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Tingting Dong
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jingrong Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomaterial Research, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Yanqi Zhang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Peng Zou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Niya Zhou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yuxin Zheng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Jinyi Liu
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jia Cao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Lin Ao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
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12
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Choudhury BP, Roychoudhury S, Sengupta P, Toman R, Dutta S, Kesari KK. Arsenic-Induced Sex Hormone Disruption: An Insight into Male Infertility. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1391:83-95. [PMID: 36472818 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-12966-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is one of the most potent natural as well as anthropogenic metalloid toxicants that have various implications in the everyday life of humans. It is found in several chemical forms such as inorganic salt, organic salt, and arsine (gaseous form). Although it is mostly released via natural causes, there are many ways through which humans come in contact with As. Drinking water contamination by As is one of the major health concerns in various parts of the world. Arsenic exposure has the ability to induce adverse health effects including reproductive problems. Globally, around 15% of the couples are affected with infertility, of which about 20-30% are attributed to the male factor. Arsenic affects the normal development and function of sperm cells, tissue organization of the gonads, and also the sex hormone parameters. Stress induction is one of the implications of As exposure. Excessive stress leads to the release of glucocorticoids, which impact the oxidative balance in the body leading to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This may in turn result in oxidative stress (OS) ultimately interfering with normal sperm and hormonal parameters. This study deals with As-induced OS and its association with sex hormone disruption as well as its effect on sperm and semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pallav Sengupta
- School of Medical Sciences, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research (BIHER), Selaiyur, Chennai, India.,Physiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Robert Toman
- Department of Veterinary Disciplines, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Sulagna Dutta
- Department of Oral Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University, Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kavindra Kumar Kesari
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
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13
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Chen HG, Lu Q, Tu ZZ, Chen YJ, Sun B, Hou J, Xiong CL, Wang YX, Meng TQ, Pan A. Identifying windows of susceptibility to essential elements for semen quality among 1428 healthy men screened as potential sperm donors. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106586. [PMID: 33910075 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Essential elements such as iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), and molybdenum (Mo) are necessary for reproductive health. However, their associations with human semen quality remain inconclusive. OBJECTIVES To investigate the associations of urinary Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, and Mo concentrations with semen quality in healthy men screened as potential sperm donors and identify critical windows of susceptibility. METHODS 1428 healthy men provided 3766 urine and 6527 semen samples, which were measured for urinary essential element concentrations and sperm quality parameters, respectively. Linear mixed models and cubic spline curves were used to evaluate associations between urinary essential elements and semen quality. Multiple informant models were used to identify potential critical windows of susceptibility. RESULTS Linear mixed models and cubic spline curves showed positive dose-response relationships between urinary Zn and sperm concentration and total count and between urinary Mo and total sperm count [all False Discovery Rate (FDR) adjusted p-value for trend < 0.05]. In the multiple-element linear mixed models, the men in the highest versus lowest quartiles of urinary Zn and Mo had a higher sperm concentration of 17.5% (95% CI: 2.8%, 34.2%; p-value for trend = 0.006) and total sperm count of 18.3% (95% CI: 1.4%, 38.0%; p-value for trend = 0.027), respectively. Urinary Zn was also positively associated with total sperm count in a dose-dependent manner (p-value for trend = 0.036), though the percentile difference in total sperm count between men in the highest and lowest quartile was not statistically significant (16.4%, 95% CI: -1.7%, 37.9%). These associations appeared to be stronger when urinary Zn and Mo were measured at 0-9 days before the date of semen examination (i.e., corresponding to epididymal storage). CONCLUSIONS Higher urinary Zn and Mo, particularly during the period of epididymal storage, were associated with greater sperm production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Gui Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Qi Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhou-Zheng Tu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ying-Jun Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Bin Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jian Hou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Cheng-Liang Xiong
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yi-Xin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Tian-Qing Meng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
| | - An Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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Zhang XY, Wang B, Xu S, Wang J, Gao L, Song YP, Lv JW, Xu FX, Li J, Chen J, Cui AQ, Zhang C, Wang H, Xu DX. Reactive oxygen species-evoked genotoxic stress mediates arsenic-induced suppression of male germ cell proliferation and decline in sperm quality. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124768. [PMID: 33310327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether genotoxic stress mediates arsenic (As)-induced decline in sperm quality. Mice drank ultrapure water containing NaAsO2 (15 mg/L) for 70 days. The mature seminiferous tubules and epididymal sperm count were reduced in As-exposed mice. Cell proliferation, determined by immunostaining with Ki67, was suppressed in As-exposed seminiferous tubules and GC-1 cells. PCNA, a proliferation marker, was reduced in As-exposed mouse testes. Cell growth index was decreased in As-exposed GC-1 cells. Flow analysis showed that As-exposed GC-1 cells were retarded at G2/M phase. CDK1 and cyclin B1 were reduced in As-exposed GC-1 cells and mouse testes. Additional experiment revealed that p-ATR, a marker of genotoxic stress, was elevated in As-exposed mouse testes and GC-1 cells. Accordingly, p-p53 and p21, two downstream molecules of ATR, were increased in As-exposed GC-1 cells. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), measured by immunofluorescence, and DNA-strand break, determined by Comet assay, were observed in As-exposed GC-1 cells. γH2AX, a marker of DNA-strand break, was elevated in As-exposed seminiferous tubules and GC-1 cells. NAC alleviated As-evoked DNA damage, genotoxic stress, cell proliferation inhibition and sperm count reduction. In conclusion, ROS-evoked genotoxic stress mediates As-induced germ cell proliferation inhibition and decline in sperm quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yi Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Shen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Lan Gao
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Ya-Ping Song
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Jin-Wei Lv
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Fei-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - An-Qi Cui
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China.
| | - De-Xiang Xu
- Department of Toxicology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China.
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Chai Z, Zhao C, Jin Y, Wang Y, Zou P, Ling X, Yang H, Zhou N, Chen Q, Sun L, Chen W, Ao L, Cao J, Liu J. Generating adverse outcome pathway (AOP) of inorganic arsenic-induced adult male reproductive impairment via integration of phenotypic analysis in comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD) and AOP wiki. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 411:115370. [PMID: 33338516 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a worldwide environmental pollutant which exerts complicated and various toxic effects in organisms. Increasingly epidemic studies have revealed the association between iAs exposure and adult male reproductive impairment. Consistent with the proposal for toxicity testing in the 21st century (TT21C), the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework may help unravel the iAs-caused molecular and functional changes leading to male reproductive impairment. METHOD Combining CTD's phenotype-disease inference data, iAs-phenotypes were anchored to five male reproductive diseases induced by iAs, and local network topological algorithm was applied in prioritizing their interference significance. Through integrating analysis in AOP Wiki knowledge base, filtered phenotypes were linked to key events consisting of AOPs and assembled together based on evidentially upstream and downstream relationships. RESULTS A subset of 655 phenotypes were filtered from CTD as potential key events and showed a significant coherence in five reproductive diseases wherein 39 significant phenotypes showed a good clustering features involving cell cycle, ROS and mitochondria function. Two AOP subnetworks were enriched in AOP Wiki where testosterone reduction and apoptosis of sperm served as focus events respectively. Besides, a candidates list of molecular initialing events was provided of which glucocorticoid receptor activation was overall assessed as an example. CONCLUSION This study applied computational and bioinformatics methods in generating AOPs for arsenic reproductive toxicity, which identified the imperative roles of testosterone reduction, response to ROS, spermatogenesis and provided a global view about their internal association. Furthermore, this study helped address the existing knowledge gaps for future experimental verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Chai
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Chenhao Zhao
- Information and Navigation College, Air Force Engineering University, Xi'an 710077, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Yimeng Wang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Peng Zou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Xi Ling
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Niya Zhou
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition and Health, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Lin Ao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Jia Cao
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China.
| | - Jinyi Liu
- Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, China.
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Wu Y, Ma J, Sun Y, Tang M, Kong L. Effect and mechanism of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the apoptosis of GC-1 cells induced by nickel nanoparticles. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 255:126913. [PMID: 32402875 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) have a wide range of application prospects, but there is still a lack of their safety evaluation for the reproductive system. Nowadays, male reproductive health has been widely concerned because of the increasing incidence of male infertility. Studies have shown that Ni NPs can cause male reproductive toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicity of Ni NPs on GC-1 cells, a mouse spermatogonia cell line, and to explore the possible mechanism underlying the induction of apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The cell ultrastructure was firstly observed under a transmission electron microscope. Then, cell proliferation, cycle and apoptosis were detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, the expression levels of related proteins and genes were determined by Western blot and Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The results showed that Ni NPs could not only cause changes in cell ultrastructure, decreased survival rate and arrested G1 phase cell cycle, but also activated apoptosis pathway by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The results of this study provide novel insights to explore the mechanisms of reproductive toxicity of Ni NPs and are of great significance to develop safety evaluation criteria for Ni NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongya Wu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yufei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Meng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Lu Kong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Liu P, Yuan G, Zhou Q, Liu Y, He X, Zhang H, Guo Y, Wen Y, Huang S, Ke Y, Chen J. The association between metal exposure and semen quality in Chinese males: The mediating effect of androgens. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:113975. [PMID: 32559873 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
As a crucial factor in male reproduction, androgens may represent an intermediate biological mechanism linking metal exposure with effects on semen quality. This study aimed to investigate the association between metal exposure and semen quality, and to assess the mediating role of seminal androgens between metal exposure and semen quality. We investigated the presence of 10 metals in semen and assessed their effect on semen quality in 1136 men recruited from a hospital in Shenzhen, China. Of these, 464 subjects were randomly selected for 4 androgens detection in semen. Cross-sectional associations between single/multiple metals, androgen levels and semen quality were explored by multivariable linear regressions. Mediation analysis was performed to detect the role of seminal androgens on the association between metal exposure and semen quality. Seminal selenium and iron were positively associated with both sperm concentration and total sperm count. Negative associations were observed between both manganese and zinc and sperm concentration, molybdenum and total sperm count, copper and sperm motility. Furthermore, we found significant dose-dependent relationships between both iron and selenium levels and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), arsenic levels and testosterone, as well as zinc and dehydroepiandrosterone. Mediation analysis indicated that higher seminal iron and selenium were associated with an increasing sperm concentration after controlling for DHT, with 10.32% and 12.89% of these associations were mediated by DHT, respectively. A similar mediation effect of DHT was observed in the associations between iron and selenium levels and total sperm count (13.39% and 21.57% mediation, respectively). Our findings suggested that the presence of selenium and iron in semen was beneficial to sperm concentration and total count. Seminal manganese, zinc, molybdenum and copper may be associated with reduced semen quality. The associations between seminal selenium and iron and sperm concentration and total count were partially explained by the concomitant variation of seminal DHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyi Liu
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Rd, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Guanxiang Yuan
- Laboratory of Physical Testing and Chemical Analysis, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, 1017 Dongmen North Rd, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, 1017 Dongmen North Rd, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinpeng He
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Laboratory of Physical Testing and Chemical Analysis, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yinsheng Guo
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Wen
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuebin Ke
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinquan Chen
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Longyuan Rd, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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Pokhrel G, Shi Y, Wang W, Khatiwada SU, Sun Z, Yan J, Liu J, Zheng D. Correlation between urinary chromium level and semen quality in men attending an andrology laboratory. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:23301-23308. [PMID: 32335839 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08890-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chromium is an essential element that is required for the normal physiology but can be toxic to humans above a certain level. In spite of growing interest in research on chromium exposure to human health consensus about its effect on human, semen quality has not been achieved. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of chromium exposure on semen parameters. A total of 760 males attending andrology laboratory of Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, for routine semen analysis were enrolled and requested to provide semen and urine samples. The urine level of chromium was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) was applied to examine semen parameters. Associations between semen parameters and urinary chromium were analyzed by means of multivariate linear regression analysis. Multivariate analysis showed a negative association between the urinary concentrations of chromium and progressive motility (β = - 0.014, p = 0.040) and total motility (β = - 1.077, p = 0.048), while other semen parameters did not show any statistically significant changes. Urinary chromium could influence semen quality parameters and impair male fecundity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurab Pokhrel
- Department of Urology; Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yihao Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wangcheng Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shikha Upadhyaya Khatiwada
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhongyang Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianqiao Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jihong Liu
- Department of Urology; Institute of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095, Jiefang Ave, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Dan Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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He Y, Zou L, Luo W, Yi Z, Yang P, Yu S, Liu N, Ji J, Guo Y, Liu P, He X, Lv Z, Huang S. Heavy metal exposure, oxidative stress and semen quality: Exploring associations and mediation effects in reproductive-aged men. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 244:125498. [PMID: 31812049 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heavy metal exposure induces oxidative stress, which is critical for adverse male reproductive health. OBJECTIVE To explore the mediating effect of oxidative stress on the relationship of heavy metal exposure with semen quality. METHODS Urinary levels of three oxidative stress markers, semen quality, and urinary arsenic, cadmium and lead were examined among 1020 men. Multivariate linear regression was applied to explore cross-sectional associations, and the role of oxidative stress as mediators was investigated. RESULTS Quartiles of metals showed significant dose-dependent relationships with increasing levels of 8-hydroxy-2deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoPGF2α) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid (HNE-MA). Significant or suggestive associations were also found between urinary 8-OHdG levels and the percentage of normal sperm morphology (ptrend < 0.001), between urinary 8-isoPGF2α levels and total motility (ptrend = 0.052), progressive motility (ptrend = 0.050) respectively. The mediation analysis showed that about 14.59%, 18.06%, 15.35% or 16.49% of the association between arsenic/cadmium exposure and the decreased total motility/progressive motility was mediated by 8-isoPGF2α, respectively. In addition, about 16.47% of the relationship between lead exposure and the decreased percentage of normal sperm morphology was mediated by 8-OHdG. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that higher urinary arsenic, cadmium and lead levels were associated with increased oxidative stress markers, which also related with altered semen quality. 8-isoPGF2α and 8-OHdG might be the possible mediators of the associations between urinary heavy metals and total motility, progressive motility or the proportion of normal sperm morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinni He
- School of Medicine, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, 422000, Hunan Province, China
| | - Lijun Zou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhiyong Yi
- School of Medicine, Shaoyang University, Shaoyang, 422000, Hunan Province, China
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuyuan Yu
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiajia Ji
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yinsheng Guo
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Peiyi Liu
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinpeng He
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ziquan Lv
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Suli Huang
- Department of Environment and Health, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong Province, China.
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21
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Reproducibility of essential elements chromium, manganese, iron, zinc and selenium in spot samples, first-morning voids and 24-h collections from healthy adult men. Br J Nutr 2019; 122:343-351. [DOI: 10.1017/s0007114519001193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AbstractEvaluation of Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn and Se in humans is challenged by the potentially high within-individual variability of these elements in biological specimens, which are poorly characterised. This study aimed to evaluate their within-day, between-day and between-month variability in spot samples, first-morning voids and 24-h collections. A total of 529 spot urine samples (including eighty-eight first-morning voids and 24-h collections) were collected from eleven Chinese adult men on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 30, 60 and 90 and analysed for these five elements using inductively coupled plasma-MS. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were utilised to characterise the reproducibility, and their sensitivity and specificity were analysed to assess how well a single measurement classified individuals’ 3-month average exposures. Serial measurements of Zn in spot samples exhibited fair to good reproducibility (creatinine-adjusted ICC = 0·47) over five consecutive days, which became poor when the samples were gathered months apart (creatinine-adjusted ICC = 0·33). The reproducibility of Cr, Mn, Fe and Se in spot samples was poor over periods ranging from days to months (creatinine-adjusted ICC = 0·01–0·12). Two spot samples were sufficient for classifying 60 % of the men who truly had the highest (top 33 %) 3-month average Zn concentrations; for Cr, Mn, Fe and Se, however, at least three specimens were required to achieve similar sensitivities. In conclusion, urinary Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn and Se concentrations showed a strong within-individual variability, and a single measurement is not enough to efficiently characterise individuals’ long-term exposures.
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Tian M, Liu L, Zhang J, Huang Q, Shen H. Positive association of low-level environmental phthalate exposure with sperm motility was mediated by DNA methylation: A pilot study. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 220:459-467. [PMID: 30594797 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.12.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that phthalate exposures may affect human semen quality. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation might be linked chemical exposure and spermatogenesis epigenetic reprogramming. In the present study, we investigated associations between phthalate exposures, DNA methylation and sperm quality in undergoing fertility assessment male population. Urine was used for phthalate exposures monitoring, six selected metabolites (i.e., monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP)) were measured by using HPLC-MS/MS. Sperm quality parameters were determined by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Sperm DNA methylation patterns (long interspersed nuclear element-1(LINE-1), H19 and LIT1) were analysed employing high-melting resolution (HRM) PCR. Urinary MMP, MEHP, MEOHP, sum of DEHP metabolites (∑DEHP) and sum of selected phthalates metabolites (∑PAEs) were significantly positively associated with sperm motility. Sperm LINE-1 DNA methylation were found to be negatively associated with ∑DEHP exposure and sperm quality (ejaculate volume, total sperm number and motility). Epigenetic modification LINE-1 DNA methylation demonstrated mediating effects in association between DEHP exposure and sperm motility, and 20.7% of the association was mediated by serum LIEN-1 DNA methylation. These results extend the previous studies in association between phthalate exposures and classical semen parameters, mainly of inverse association, and sperm DNA methylation may be linked phthalate exposures and male reproductive health outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiping Tian
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Liangpo Liu
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Qingyu Huang
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Heqing Shen
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China.
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