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Krishnan S, Daly MP, Kipping R, Harrison C. A systematic review of interventions to improve male knowledge of fertility and fertility-related risk factors. HUM FERTIL 2024; 27:2328066. [PMID: 38497245 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2024.2328066] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health concern. The effectiveness of interventions developed to improve males' knowledge of fertility regulation and fertility-related risk factors remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the evidence for these interventions. Four databases were searched from inception to June 2023. Eligible studies examined interventions to increase fertility knowledge among presumed fertile males aged ≥16 years of age. Conference abstracts, protocols and studies without sex-disaggregated results for males were excluded. A narrative synthesis without meta-analysis was performed. A total of 4884 records were identified. Five studies (reported in six publications), all conducted in high-income countries, were included. Two were randomized control trials, and three were experimental studies. Interventions were delivered in person by a health professional (n = 3), online and via a mobile app. All studies showed a significant improvement in knowledge of fertility or fertility-related risk factors from baseline to follow-up. The largest improvement was observed for secondary and vocational students. A moderate, long-term retainment of knowledge was observed at two-year follow-up in one study. Available evidence suggests interventions to improve males' fertility knowledge are effective, particularly for younger, less educated males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinithy Krishnan
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael P Daly
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ruth Kipping
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - China Harrison
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- The National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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2
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Said Ali-Samani F, Shahrisa A, Tahmasebi-Birgani M, Hajjari M, Ghandil P. Study of the genomics and transcriptomics profiles of male-infertility genes in human prostate cancer: an in silico analysis. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2024; 70:139-149. [PMID: 38870367 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2024.2354305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The World Health Organization has considered the infertility as an international public health problem. Infertility affect nearly 1 in 7 couples and male component contributes to 50% of infertility cases. There is a clear link between male infertility and some cancers such as testicular germ cell, prostate and colon cancers. Two possibilities support this finding: 1) Cancer treatments can affect the fertility factors 2) Genetic profile of infertility genes have been altered in cancer patients. Although the previously published researches have mostly focused on the first factor, no article has yet confirmed the role of genetic factors. In this in silico study, we collected the large number of genes (n = 17703) involved in infertility. These genes were collected from NGS panel tests of male infertility and comprehensive literature review or online data base. The Prostate Adenocarcinoma genomic and transcriptomics raw data were downloaded from the cBioPortal Cancer dataset. This included with 494 patients of Prostate Cancer with 494 mutation data, 489 with CNA and 493 with RNA seqV2 data. TCGA RNA-Seq raw data was extracted in R using the cgdsr extension package with a threshold of ±2 relative to normal samples. The observed data showed that male infertility genes have been distributed through the human genome. Among the 17703 analyzed genes of this study, the genomic profile of three genes including OR9Q1, H4C6 and PSG7 were changed approximately in 100% of (n = 493) patients. In most of patients (>98%), genetic alteration was related to change in gene expression. In conclusion, this study showed that the genomic and transcriptomics patterns of some male-infertility genes are notably altered in patients of prostate cancer and suggested a possible role of genetic factors in occurrence of infertility in cancer patients. Our information can be used as a source for the design of genetic database of male-infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farima Said Ali-Samani
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Arman Shahrisa
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Tahmasebi-Birgani
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Hajjari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Pegah Ghandil
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Fan Y, Xiao Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Huang S, Bai W. Transcriptomic and multi-cytokines profile analysis revealed new insights into the integrating mechanisms of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside on male reproductive damage amelioration. Food Res Int 2024; 192:114802. [PMID: 39147501 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114802] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis is a public health issue with a rising worldwide incidence. It has been found that current medications for treating UC may cause varying degrees of damage to male fertility. Our previous study demonstrated that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) treatment could effectively restore reproductive damage in a mouse model of DSS induced colitis. However, the underlying mechanism of C3G alleviates UC induced male reproductive disorders remain scarce. The aim of this study is to discover the molecular mechanisms of C3G on the amelioration of UC stimulated reproductive disorders. The targeted genes toward UC-induced reproductive injury upon C3G treatments were explored by transcriptomic analysis. Hematological analysis, histopathological examination, and real time transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis were applied for conjoined identification. Results showed that C3G may effectively target for reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in testis through cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. Transcriptome sequencing found that a series of genetic pathways involved in the protective effects of C3G on male reproduction were identified by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Further results presented that C3G could effectively restore mRNA expression levels of Ly6a and Col1a1, closely linked with UC induced male reproductive damage pathways. Sufficient results implied that Ly6a and Col1a1 may be treated as the promising therapeutic targets for the mechanism of C3G in treating UC induced reproductive impairment. C3G administration might be an effective dietary supplementation strategy for male reproduction improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyao Fan
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yuhang Xiao
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Sammi Huang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Weibin Bai
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Zheng XM, Zhang XD, Tan LL, Zhang J, Wang TT, Ling Q, Wang H, Ouyang KW, Wang KW, Chang W, Li H, Zhu HL, Xiong YW, Wang H. Sirt1 m6A modification-evoked Leydig cell senescence promotes Cd-induced testosterone decline. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 284:116884. [PMID: 39153281 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Diminished testosterone levels have been documented as a key factor in numerous male health disorders. Both human and animal studies have consistently demonstrated that cadmium (Cd), a pervasive environmental heavy metal, results in decreased testosterone levels. However, the exact mechanism through which Cd interferes with testosterone synthesis remains incompletely elucidated. This research sought to examine the impact of cellular senescence on Cd-suppressed testosterone synthesis. We also investigated the related m6A modification mechanism. The results demonstrated that Cd (100 mg/L) led to a decrease in testosterone levels, along with downregulated expression of testosterone synthase in C57BL/6 N male mice. Furthermore, Cd significantly increased β-galactosidase staining intensity, senescence-related proteins, and senescence-related secretory phenotypes in mouse testicular Leydig cells. Subsequent investigations revealed that Cd decreased the mRNA and protein levels of NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) in Leydig cells. Mechanistically, mice treated with resveratrol (50 mg/kg), a specific SIRT1 activator, mitigated Leydig cell senescence and reversed Cd-reduced testosterone levels in mouse testes. These effects were also restored by SIRT1 overexpression in Leydig cells. Additionally, we found that Cd increased the level of methyltransferase enzyme METTL3 and Sirt1 m6A modification in Leydig cells. Mettl3 siRNA effectively restored Cd-enhanced Sirt1 m6A level and reversed Cd-downregulated Sirt1 mRNA expression in Leydig cells. Overall, our findings suggest that Cd exposure inhibits testosterone synthesis via Sirt1 m6A modification-mediated senescence in mouse testes. These results offer an experimental basis for investigating the causes and potential treatments of hypotestosteronemia induced by environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Mei Zheng
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, China
| | - Xu-Dong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Lu-Lu Tan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Tian-Tian Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Qing Ling
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Kong-Wen Ouyang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Kai-Wen Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Wei Chang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Hua-Long Zhu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China
| | - Yong-Wei Xiong
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China.
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, Anhui Medical University, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, China.
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Rajpoot A, Yadav K, Yadav A, Mishra RK. Shilajit mitigates chemotherapeutic drug-induced testicular toxicity: Study on testicular germ cell dynamics, steroidogenesis modulation, and Nrf-2/Keap-1 signaling. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2024; 15:100930. [PMID: 39121783 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2024.100930] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medications, including chemotherapeutic drugs, contribute to male infertility as external factors by inducing oxidative stress in testicular cells. Shilajit is a naturally occurring bioactive antioxidant used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of ailments. OBJECTIVE This study examines the potential of Shilajit to counteract the negative effects of the chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CPA) on testicular germ cell dynamics. MATERIAL AND METHODS Male Parkes mice received single intraperitoneal CPA injection (200 mg/kg BW) on day one, followed by daily supplementation of Shilajit (100 and 200 mg/kg BW) for one spermatogenic cycle. RESULTS CPA adversely affected testicular germ cell dynamics by inhibiting the conversion of spermatogonia-to-spermatids, altering testicular histoarchitecture, impairing Sertoli cell function and testicular steroidogenesis, and disturbing the testicular oxido-apoptotic balance. Shilajit supplementation restores testicular germ cell dynamics in CPA-exposed mice, as evidenced by improved histoarchitecture of the testis. Shilajit improves testicular daily production and sperm quality by promoting the conversion of spermatogonia (2C) into spermatids (1C), stimulating germ cell proliferation (PCNA), improving Sertoli cell function (N-Cadherin and β-Catenin), and maintaining the Bax/Bcl2 ratio. Additionally, Shilajit enhances testosterone biosynthesis by activating enzymes like 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD. Shilajit also reduces testicular oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD) and decreasing lipid peroxidation (LPO). These effects are mediated by upregulation of the antioxidant protein Nrf-2 and downregulation of Keap-1. CONCLUSION The findings underscore the potent androgenic and antioxidant characteristics of Shilajit, as well as its ability to enhance fertility in cases of testicular damage caused by chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arti Rajpoot
- Male Reproductive Physiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Kiran Yadav
- Male Reproductive Physiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Anupam Yadav
- Male Reproductive Physiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Raghav Kumar Mishra
- Male Reproductive Physiology Lab, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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Saikia Q, Adhikari K, Sanjeev A, Hazarika A, Sarma K. Isoliquiritigenin: a potential drug candidate for the management of erectile dysfunction. J Pharm Pharmacol 2024; 76:1065-1077. [PMID: 38865360 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgae054] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the erectogenic properties of isoliquiritigenin taking sildenafil (SDF) as the standard. METHODS The binding affinity of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) with the erectile marker proteins (endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] and enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 [PDE5]) was investigated using Autodock Vina, which was validated using molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, the effect of ISL on the eNOS and PDE5 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and the sexual behavior of mice was investigated, along with the assessment of the pharmacokinetics of ISL. KEY FINDINGS The results revealed that the binding affinity of ISL-eNOS/PDE5 and SDF-eNOS/PDE5 was in the range of -7.5 to -8.6 kcal/mol. The ISL-eNOS/PDE5 complexes remained stable throughout the 100 ns simulation period. Root mean square deviation, Rg, SASA, hydrogen, and hydrophobic interactions were similar between ISL-eNOS/PDE5 and SDF-eNOS/PDE5. Analysis of mRNA expressions in paroxetine (PRX)-induced ED mice showed that the co-administration of PRX with ISL reduced PDE5 and increased eNOS mRNA expression, similar to the co-administered group (PRX+SDF). The sexual behavior study revealed that the results of PRX+ISL were better than those of the PRX+SDF group. Pharmacokinetic evaluation further demonstrated that ISL possesses drug-like properties. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that ISL is equally potent as SDF in terms of binding affinity, specific pharmacological properties, and modulating sexual behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Queen Saikia
- Department of Zoology, Mangaldai College, Mangaldai, Assam 784125, India
| | - Kamal Adhikari
- Department of Zoology, Tihu College, Tihu, Assam 781371, India
| | - Airy Sanjeev
- ACTREC, Sector 22, Utsav Chowk - CISF Rd, Owe Camp, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210, India
| | - Ajit Hazarika
- Tyagbir Hem Baruah College, Jamugurihat, Sonitpur, Assam 784189, India
| | - Kishore Sarma
- Department of Computational Biology and Biotechnology, Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankardeva Viswavidyalaya (Guwahati Unit), Rupnagar, Guwahati 781032, India
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Zheng Z, Wang H, Chen Z, Gao H, Gao P, Gao J, Jiang H, Zhang X. Impact of chronic sleep deprivation on male reproductive health: Insights from testicular and epididymal responses in mice. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 39092868 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep deprivation (SD) can cause damage to the male reproductive system. However, the duration required for such damage and the specific sequence and severity of damage to the testis and epididymis remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of different durations of SD on different parts of the testis and epididymis caput, corpus, and cauda. METHODS Adult ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups: the SD group (SD for 18 h/day for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks), the SD + Vit E group (supplemented with Vit E 50 mg/kg/d during 4 weeks of SD, the SD+NS group (saline supplementation during 4 weeks of SD), the SD + RS group (5 weeks of recovery sleep after 4 weeks of SD), and a normal sleep control (Ctrl) group. Following the interventions, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal histopathology, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress markers were compared between the groups. RESULTS Compared to the Ctrl group, the SD group showed a decrease in sperm motility and concentration from SD 2 W and SD 3 W, respectively. Decreases in sperm concentration and motility were more pronounced in the cauda compared to the caput and corpus. Pathological damage was less severe in the epididymis caput than in the corpus and cauda. After 4 weeks of SD, inflammation and oxidative stress increased in both testes and epididymis. Both sleep recovery and vitamin E supplementation showed significant improvements, though they did not fully reach the level of the Ctrl group. CONCLUSION Chronic SD for more than 2 weeks causes varying degrees of damage to the testis, epididymis caput, corpus, and cauda in male mice. This damage is not fully reversible after 5 weeks of sleep recovery and antioxidant stress treatment. These findings help us to identify and prevent SD damage to the male reproduction at an early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenming Zheng
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhimin Chen
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pan Gao
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jingjing Gao
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Andrology Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Urological and Andrological Diseases Research and Medical Transformation, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Yilmaz N, Yasi N RZI, Yildiz A. Intracerebroventricular injection of spexin stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and increases the secretion of male reproductive hormones in rats. Ann Anat 2024; 255:152300. [PMID: 38971451 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2024.152300] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male reproductive functions are regulated in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Any problem in this axis would lead to the deterioration of reproductive functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) Spexin (SPX) infusion on the HPG axis in detail. METHODS 40 Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: control, sham, SPX 30 nmol and SPX 100 nmol (n=10). 30 nmol/1 µl/hour SPX was administered icv to the rats in the SPX 30 nmol group for 7 days, while rats in the SPX 100 nmol group were administered 100 nmol/1 µl/hour SPX. On the 7th day, the rats were decapitated, blood and tissue samples were collected. Serum LH, FSH and testosterone levels were determined with the ELISA method, GnRH mRNA expression level was determined in hypothalamus with the RT-PCR method. Seminiferous tubule diameter and epithelial thickness were determined with the hematoxylin-eosin staining method. RESULTS SPX infusion was increased GnRH mRNA expression in the hypothalamus tissue independent of the dose (p<0.05). Serum LH, FSH and testosterone levels in the SPX groups were increased when compared to the control and sham groups independent of the dose (p <0.05). Histological analysis revealed that SPX infusion did not lead to any changes in seminiferous epithelial thickness, while the tubule diameter increased in the SPX groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION The study findings demonstrated that icv SPX infusion stimulated the HPG axis and increased the secretion of male reproductive hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesibe Yilmaz
- Karabük University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Karabük, Turkey.
| | | | - Azibe Yildiz
- İnönü University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embriyology, Malatya, Turkey
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9
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Mao Z, Ji Q, Chen P, Zhong K, Zeng X. Hydrogen sulfide protects against toxicant acrolein-induced ferroptotic cell death in Sertoli cells. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1440147. [PMID: 39148534 PMCID: PMC11324607 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1440147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Acrolein (ACR) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and byproduct of lipid peroxidation that has been implicated in male infertility. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ACR-induced toxicity in Sertoli cells remain unclear. Given its role in inducing oxidative stress, we examined whether ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, could mediate ACR toxicity in Sertoli cells. We also tested if hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which has antioxidant and ACR detoxifying properties, could protect Sertoli cells from ACR-induced ferroptosis. ACR exposure decreased Sertoli cell viability, increased protein carbonylation and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, indicating oxidative injury. ACR also depleted glutathione (GSH), downregulated the cystine importer SLC7A11, increased intracellular ferrous iron (Fe2+) and lipid peroxidation, suggesting activation of ferroptosis. Consistently, the ferroptosis inhibitor deferoxamine (DFO) markedly attenuates ACR-induced cell death. Further studies revealed that ACR-induced ferroptotic changes were prevented by exogenous H2S and exaggerated by inhibition of endogenous H2S production. Furthermore, H2S also suppressed GPX4 inhibitor RSL3-induced intracellular ACR accumulation and ferroptosis. In summary, our study demonstrates that ACR induces ferroptotic cell death in Sertoli cells, which can be prevented by H2S through multiple mechanisms. Targeting the H2S pathway may represent a therapeutic strategy to mitigate ACR-induced Sertoli cell injury and preserve male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Mao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qun Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Zhong
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuhui Zeng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Mahmoud AAN, Ahmed EA, Omar AR. Thiacloprid impairs reproductive functions of male Wistar rats. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:6197-6211. [PMID: 38441570 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03025-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/18/2024]
Abstract
Global male infertility correlated to the rise of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including insecticides, has grown into a pressing problem. Thiacloprid is one of the most commonly used neonicotinoids that accounts for more than 25% of the global pesticide industry. However, its impact on the reproductive system and male fertility has not been fully elucidated. The object of this study was to explore the adverse effects of thiacloprid on male Wistar rats' reproductive system. Thirty healthy male rats were separated into one of three groups: control group, and two groups that were orally administered with low (22.5 mg/kg) and high dose (62.1 mg/kg) of thiacloprid for 56 days. Thiacloprid significantly (p<0.05) reduced body weight and relative testicular weight, as well as sperm quality (count, motility, viability, and morphology), in a dose-dependent manner. THIA-treated groups revealed a large effect (d > 0.8) on semen quality with Cohen's d of (6.57, 8.82), (20.14, 23.54), and (2.81, 9.10) for count, motility, and viability respectively. Meanwhile, the serum testosterone level dropped while the levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones increased. 17ꞵ-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 3ꞵ-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase levels were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The activity of the tested antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione reduced (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exhibited a considerable decrease compared to the control group with a significant elevation in the lipid peroxidation activity as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The testicular histology revealed degenerative changes in spermatogenic cells and interstitial tissue. Comet assay revealed DNA fragmentation in treated groups' testicular tissue. Thiacloprid exposure interferes with reproductive function and impairs male Wistar rat fertility. Such harmful consequences may also develop in humans frequently exposed to thiacloprid.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amel Ramadan Omar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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Bar-Chama N, Elsheikh B, Hewamadduma C, Guittari CJ, Gorni K, Mueller L. Male Reproduction in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and the Potential Impact of Oral Survival of Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2) Pre-mRNA Splicing Modifiers. Neurol Ther 2024; 13:933-947. [PMID: 38750391 PMCID: PMC11263299 DOI: 10.1007/s40120-024-00626-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by deletions or mutations in the survival of motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene resulting in reduced levels of SMN protein. SMN protein is produced by cells throughout the body, and evidence suggests that low SMN protein can have systemic implications, including in male reproductive organs. However, a paucity of research exists on this important topic. This article will discuss findings from non-clinical studies on the role of SMN in the male reproductive system; additionally, real-world observational reports of individuals with SMA will be examined. Furthermore, we will review the non-clinical reproductive findings of risdiplam, a small-molecule SMN2 splicing modifier approved for the treatment of SMA, which has widespread distribution in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Specifically, the available non-clinical evidence of the effect of risdiplam on male reproductive organs and spermatogenesis is examined. Lastly, the article will highlight available capabilities to assess male fertility as well as the advanced reproductive technologies utilized to treat male infertility. This article demonstrates the need for further research to better understand the impacts of SMA on male fertility and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natan Bar-Chama
- The Center for Male Reproductive Health, Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Urology, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA.
- , 635 Madison Ave 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA.
| | - Bakri Elsheikh
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Channa Hewamadduma
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neurosciences (SITRAN), University of Sheffield and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Carol Jean Guittari
- PDMA Neuroscience and Rare Disease, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ksenija Gorni
- PDMA Neuroscience and Rare Disease, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Mueller
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
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Verón GL, Manjon AA, Bello R, Catalano D, Arévalo L, Santiago J, Vazquez-Levin MH. A 2-step remote TUNEL approach for sperm DNA fragmentation assessment. Analysis in donors and patients. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2024; 299:231-239. [PMID: 38905966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.06.018] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive systems. Male reproductive workup is based on routine semen analysis, although of limited value. The 2021 WHO Manual incorporated Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) assessment, and highlighted the need for individual laboratories to define suitable thresholds. This study aimed to present an alternative to address this issue, determine an SDF cut-off value with fertile donors, and characterize SDF in a patient cohort and their relationship with semen parameters. STUDY DESIGN A service unit was established to remotely perform TUNEL assay in a 2 step-process. Semen samples were received at andrology laboratories, subjected to routine semen analysis (WHO, 2010), partially processed and transported to the service unit for SDF evaluation. Using this setting, studies were done in fertile donors (n = 15) to define the cut-off value, and in men undergoing infertility workup (n = 318). RESULTS A cut-off value of 9.17 % was determined with the fertile donor cohort. With this cut-off, a 64.46 % abnormal SDF incidence was determined in the patient cohort. SDF negatively correlated with sperm number, vitality and motility, and positively with abnormal morphology and male age (P < 0.05). TUNEL-positive cases depicted lower sperm quality and higher male age (P < 0.05). A similar abnormal SDF incidence was determined among patients with semen abnormalities. Asthenozoospermic and ≥40 years patient samples depicted higher (P < 0.05) SDF than those of the general population. SDF incidence was also high in normozoospermic patients. CONCLUSIONS Using a 2-step remote approach with a standardized procedure and an SDF cut-off value established with fertile donors, high SDF incidence in semen samples depicting normal and abnormal quality were identified in men consulting for infertility, highlighting the relevance of its evaluation as part of the male fertility workup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Luis Verón
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ania Antonella Manjon
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Bello
- Universidad de Tres de Febrero. Sáenz Peña, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Débora Catalano
- Centro de Diagnóstico Enrique Rossi (CDRossi), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | | | | | - Mónica Hebe Vazquez-Levin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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13
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Huang L, Hong X, Zhang X, Li H, Wang X, Zhang Y, Yang H, Wang B. Plasma Proteomics Analysis of Early Biomarkers for Predicting Female Fecundability: A Nested Case-Control Study. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 39083672 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify and verify new plasma protein markers to predict the female fecundability level. A nested case-control study was conducted involving couples who participated in the Chinese National Free Preconception Check-up Project. Women who successfully conceive within one year were defined as the high fecundability group, and those unable to conceive were defined as the low fecundability group. In the training cohort, potential protein biomarkers were identified using proteomics technology and were further tested in a validation cohort by the Western blotting assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biochemical tests. Meanwhile, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive value. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to calculate hazard ratios; restricted cubic spline analysis was used to assess the linear relationship between the the protein level and hazard ratios for fecundability. Pyruvate, a key product of glycolysis, was significantly increased in the high fecundability group (P < 0.01) compared to the low fecundability group, and its area under the curve value was 0.68 (P < 0.05). There was a linear positive dose-response association between the pyruvate level and fecundability possibility (hazard ratios = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07-2.59, p for trend = 0.025, nonlinearity, p-value = 0.2927).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Huang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Xiang Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Xuening Zhang
- National Health Commission Contraceptives Adverse Reaction Surveillance Center, Nanjing 210036, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Laboratory of Fertility Protection and Health Technology Assessment, Nanjing 210036, China
- Jiangsu Health Development Research Center, Nanjing 210036, China
| | - Hongqiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Xinru Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- National Health Commission Contraceptives Adverse Reaction Surveillance Center, Nanjing 210036, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Laboratory of Fertility Protection and Health Technology Assessment, Nanjing 210036, China
- Jiangsu Health Development Research Center, Nanjing 210036, China
| | - Bei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
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14
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Bdeir R, Aljabali SM, Banihani SA. Role of pyridoxine and oxidative stress in asthenozoospermia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34799. [PMID: 39148988 PMCID: PMC11325350 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Infertility is a worldwide concern, and recent research indicates that vitamin B6 deficiency may play a role in male infertility, primarily by inducing hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress. These processes can have a detrimental effect on semen quality, ultimately affecting male fertility. Here, we aim to evaluate the biochemical status of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in relation to total glutathione and total antioxidant capacity. Materials and methods A case control study samples were collected of asthenozoospermic (n = 63) and normospermic (n = 43) cases, with average men age 30.35 ± 7.03 years old. Semen plasma specimens representing both fertile and sub-fertile men visiting two different secondary care health institute in Irbid province, Jordan. All samples were assessed according to WHO guidelines (2021) and by using spectrophotometry to evaluate the semen plasma levels of vitamin B6, glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Results Our main finding is there is significant positive correlations between the seminal plasma concentration of GSH (p < 0.0001) and TAC (p < 0.0073) are significantly correlated with vitamin B6 deficiency in asthenozoospermia group in comparison to normozoospermia cases. A significant decrease (p < 0.0001) the levels of vitamin B6 in men with asthenozoospermia compared to normozoospermic men (control) with an approximate 80 % percent reduction in the mean levels between groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that pyridoxine deficiency may very well alter the GSH system, in so doing affecting the antioxidant defense mechanism against reactive oxygen species to sperm, impacting sperm development and maturation. leading to asthenozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roba Bdeir
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, Al-Balqa Applied University, As-salt, Jordan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jadara University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Shefa' Muneer Aljabali
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Jadara University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Saleem Ali Banihani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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15
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Guo Y, Dong Y, Zheng R, Yan J, Li W, Xu Y, Yan X, Ke Y, Li Y, Xiang L. Correlation between viral infections in male semen and infertility: a literature review. Virol J 2024; 21:167. [PMID: 39080728 PMCID: PMC11290048 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02431-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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects approximately one-sixth of couples globally, with the incidence of male infertility steadily increasing. However, our understanding of the impact of viral infections on fertility remains limited. This review consolidates findings from previous studies, outlining 40 viruses identified in human semen and summarizing their key characteristics, modes of transmission, and their effects on both the reproductive and endocrine systems. Furthermore, it elucidates potential pathogenic mechanisms and treatment prospects of viruses strongly associated with male infertility. This synthesis will enhance our comprehension of how viral infections influence male reproductive health, offering valuable insights for future research as well as the diagnosis and treatment of infectious infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunhua Dong
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Runzi Zheng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiacong Yan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Weiyuan Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ya Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xuelan Yan
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yunmei Ke
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yantao Li
- Department of Reproductive Gynecology, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lifeng Xiang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Healthy Birth and Birth Defect Prevention in Western China, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- KUST-YPFPH Reproductive Medicine Joint Research Center, Medical school of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
- The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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16
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Cao SS, Liu XM, Song BT, Hu YY. Interpretable machine learning models for predicting clinical pregnancies associated with surgical sperm retrieval from testes of different etiologies: a retrospective study. BMC Urol 2024; 24:156. [PMID: 39075422 PMCID: PMC11285258 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-024-01537-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between surgical sperm retrieval of different etiologies and clinical pregnancy is unclear. We aimed to develop a robust and interpretable machine learning (ML) model for predicting clinical pregnancy using the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) association of surgical sperm retrieval from testes of different etiologies. METHODS A total of 345 infertile couples who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment with surgical sperm retrieval due to different etiologies from February 2020 to March 2023 at the reproductive center were retrospectively analyzed. The six machine learning (ML) models were used to predict the clinical pregnancy of ICSI. After evaluating the performance characteristics of the six ML models, the Extreme Gradient Boosting model (XGBoost) was selected as the best model, and SHAP was utilized to interpret the XGBoost model for predicting clinical pregnancies and to reveal the decision-making process of the model. RESULTS Combining the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, brier score, and the area under the precision-recall (P-R) curve (AP), the XGBoost model has the best performance (AUROC: 0.858, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.778-0.936, accuracy: 79.71%, brier score: 0.151). The global summary plot of SHAP values shows that the female age is the most important feature influencing the model output. The SHAP plot showed that younger age in females, bigger testicular volume (TV), non-tobacco use, higher anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in females, lower FSH in males, the temporary ejaculatory disorders (TED) group, and not the non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) group all resulted in an increased probability of clinical pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The XGBoost model predicts clinical pregnancies associated with testicular sperm retrieval of different etiologies with high accuracy, reliability, and robustness. It can provide clinical counseling decisions for patients with surgical sperm retrieval of various etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Shun Cao
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Bo-Tian Song
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China
| | - Yang-Yang Hu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
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Guerra-Carvalho B, Carrageta DF, Maurício T, Pereira SC, Barros A, Carvalho RA, Alves MG, Domingues P, Oliveira PF. Metabolomics analysis of human spermatozoa reveals impaired metabolic pathways in asthenozoospermia. Eur J Clin Invest 2024:e14289. [PMID: 39046266 DOI: 10.1111/eci.14289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility is a major health issue, affecting 15% of reproductive-age couples with male factors contributing to 50% of cases. Asthenozoospermia (AS), or low sperm motility, is a common cause of male infertility with complex aetiology, involving genetic and metabolic alterations, inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the molecular mechanisms behind low motility are unclear. In this study, we used a metabolomics approach to identify metabolic biomarkers and pathways involved in sperm motility. METHODS We compared the metabolome and lipidome of spermatozoa of men with normozoospermia (n = 44) and AS (n = 22) using untargeted LC-MS and the metabolome of seminal fluid using 1H-NMR. Additionally, we evaluated the seminal fluid redox status to assess the oxidative stress in the ejaculate. RESULTS We identified 112 metabolites and 209 lipids in spermatozoa and 27 metabolites in the seminal fluid of normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men. PCA analysis of the spermatozoa's metabolomics and lipidomics data showed a clear separation between groups. Spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men presented lower levels of several amino acids, and increased levels of energetic substrates and lysophospholipids. However, the metabolome and redox status of the seminal fluid was not altered inAS. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate impaired metabolic pathways associated with redox homeostasis and amino acid, energy and lipid metabolism in AS. Taken together, these findings suggest that the metabolome and lipidome of human spermatozoa are key factors influencing their motility and that oxidative stress exposure during spermatogenesis or sperm maturation may be in the aetiology of decreased motility in AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Guerra-Carvalho
- LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - David F Carrageta
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UMIB-Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedicine and (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago Agra do Crasto, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tatiana Maurício
- Institute of Biomedicine and (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago Agra do Crasto, Aveiro, Portugal
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sara C Pereira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
- ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Barros
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centre for Reproductive Genetics Professor Alberto Barros, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui A Carvalho
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- REQUIMTE/LAQV, Group of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marco G Alves
- Institute of Biomedicine and (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago Agra do Crasto, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Domingues
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro F Oliveira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
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Geng H, Wang K, Liang D, Ni X, Yu H, Tang D, Lv M, Wu H, Li K, Shen Q, Gao Y, Xu C, Zhou P, Wei Z, Cao Y, Sha Y, Yang X, He X. Further evidence from DNAH12 supports favorable fertility outcomes of infertile males with dynein axonemal heavy chain gene family variants. iScience 2024; 27:110366. [PMID: 39071892 PMCID: PMC11278020 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a major concern affecting reproductive health. Biallelic deleterious variants of most DNAH gene family members have been linked to male infertility, with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) being an efficacious way to achieve offspring. However, the association between DNAH12 and male infertility is still limited. Here, we identified one homozygous variant and two compound heterozygous variants in DNAH12 from three infertile Chinese men. Semen analysis revealed severe asthenozoospermia, abnormal morphology, and structure of sperm flagella. Furthermore, the Dnah12 knock-out mouse revealed severe spermatogenesis failure and validated the same male infertility phenotype. Favorable fertility outcomes were achieved through ICSI in three human individuals and Dnah12 knock-out mice. Collectively, our study indicated that biallelic variants of DNAH12 can induce male infertility in both human beings and mice. Notably, evidence from DNAH12 enhanced that ICSI was an optimal intervention to achieve favorable fertility outcomes for infertile males with DNAH gene family variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Geng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dan Liang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoqing Ni
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Yu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dongdong Tang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mingrong Lv
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Kuokuo Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chuan Xu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhaolian Wei
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanwei Sha
- School of Public Health & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, The Center for Clinical Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, Anhui, China
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19
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Ye JJ, Chen ZY, Wang QH, Liao XY, Wang XY, Zhang CC, Liu LR, Wei Q, Bao YG. Current treatment for male infertility: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Asian J Androl 2024:00129336-990000000-00206. [PMID: 39028629 DOI: 10.4103/aja202428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This umbrella review aimed to summarize and provide a general evaluation of the effectiveness of current treatments for male infertility and assess the quality of evidence and possible biases. An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses available in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, covering studies published up to October 2023, was conducted. Sperm concentration, morphology, and motility were used as endpoints to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. Of 2998 studies, 18 published meta-analyses were extracted, yielding 90 summary effects on sperm concentration (n = 36), sperm morphology (n = 26), and sperm motility (n = 28) on 28 interventions. None of the meta-analyses were classified as having low methodological quality, whereas 12 (66.7%) and 6 (33.3%) had high and moderate quality, respectively. Of the 90 summary effects, none were rated high-evidence quality, whereas 53.3% (n = 48), 25.6% (n = 23), and 21.1% (n = 19) were rated moderate, low, and very low, respectively. Significant improvements in sperm concentration, morphology, and motility were observed with pharmacological interventions (N-acetyl-cysteine, antioxidant therapy, aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators, hormones, supplements, and alpha-lipoic acid) and nonpharmacological interventions (varicocele repair and redo varicocelectomy). In addition, vitamin supplementation had no significant positive effects on sperm concentration, motility, or morphology. Treatments for male infertility are increasingly diverse; however, the current evidence is poor because of the limited number of patients. Further well-designed studies on single treatment and high-quality meta-analysis of intertreatment comparisons are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Ye
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ze-Yu Chen
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qi-Hao Wang
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xin-Yang Liao
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xing-Yuan Wang
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chi-Chen Zhang
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Liang-Ren Liu
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi-Ge Bao
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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20
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Ozkocer SE, Guler I, Ugras Dikmen A, Bozkurt N, Varol N, Konac E. Male infertility is associated with differential DNA methylation signatures of the imprinted gene GNAS and the non-imprinted gene CEP41. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03202-w. [PMID: 39017772 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03202-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate whether the DNA methylation profiles of GNAS(20q13.32), MEST(7q32.2), MESTIT1(7q32.2), IGF2(11p15.5), H19 (7q32.2), and CEP41(7q32.2) genes are related to the transcriptomic and epigenomic etiology of male infertility. METHODS The DNA methylation levels of spermatozoa were obtained from fertile (n = 30), oligozoospermic (n = 30), and men with normal sperm count (n = 30). The methylation status of each CpG site was categorized as hypermethylated or hypomethylated. Expression levels of target gene transcripts were determined using real-time PCR. RESULTS The oligozoospermia showed a higher frequency of hypermethylation at GNASAS 1st, 3rd, and 5th CpG dinucleotides (66.7%, 73.3%, 73.3%) compared to the fertile group (33.3%, 33.3%, 40%, respectively). The normal sperm count exhibited a higher frequency of hypermethylation at the 3rd CpG of CEP41 (46.7%) than the fertile group (16.7%). Normal sperm count was predicted by CEP41 hypermethylation (OR = 1.750, 95%CI 1.038-2.950) and hypermethylation of both CEP41 and GNASAS (OR = 2.389, 95%CI 1.137-5.021). Oligozoospermia was predicted solely by GNASAS hypermethylation (OR = 2.460, 95%CI 1.315-4.603). In sperms with decreased IGF2 expression in the fertile group, we observed hypomethylation in the 2nd CpG of IGF2 antisense (IFG2AS), and hypermethylation in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th CpGs of H19. No significant relationship was found between IGF2 expression and methylation status of IGF2AS and H19 in infertile groups. CONCLUSION The disappearance of the relationship between IGF2 expression and IGF2AS and H19 methylations in the infertile group provides new information regarding the disruption of epigenetic programming during spermatogenesis. A better understanding of sperm GNASAS and CEP41 hypermethylation could advance innovative diagnostic markers for male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suheyla Esra Ozkocer
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Institute of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Kavaklıdere Çankaya, 06540, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ismail Guler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Asiye Ugras Dikmen
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nuray Bozkurt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nuray Varol
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ece Konac
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Institute of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Kavaklıdere Çankaya, 06540, Ankara, Turkey.
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.
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Guo J, Yang Z, Wang J, Liang N, Shi Y, Zhong J, Zhang X, Hu Y, Nashun B. Oral exposure to phenanthrene during gestation disorders endocrine and spermatogenesis in F1 adult male mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116566. [PMID: 38850701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116566] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Phenanthrene (Phe), a typical low-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) of three benzene rings, is one of the most abundant PAHs detected in daily diets. Pregnant women and infants are at great risk of Phe exposure. In the present study, Phe was administered to pregnant mice at a dose of 0, 60, or 600 μg/kg body weight six times, and the F1 male mice showed significant reproductive disorders: the testicular weight and testis somatic index were significantly reduced; the levels of serum testosterone, GnRH and SHBG were increased, while the FSH levels were reduced; histological analysis showed that the amount of Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes in seminiferous tubules was increased, while the amount of secondary spermatocytes and spermatids were decreased in Phe groups. The protein levels of PCNA and androgen receptor were reduced. Differently expressed genes in the testis screened by RNA sequence were enriched in antioxidant capacity, reproduction et al.. Further biochemical tests confirmed that the antioxidant capacity in the F1 testis was significantly inhibited by treatment with Phe during pregnancy. Those results suggested that gestational Phe exposure disordered hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormones on the one hand, and on the other hand reduced testicular antioxidant capacity and further arrested cell cycle in F1 adult male mice, which co-caused the inhibition of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China; Inner Mongolia Engineering Technology Research Center of Germplasm Resources Conservation and Utilization, Hohhot, China.
| | - Zongxuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Nan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yunshu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jiameng Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yu Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Buhe Nashun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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22
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Tirumalasetty MB, Bhattacharya I, Mohiuddin MS, Baki VB, Choubey M. Understanding testicular single cell transcriptional atlas: from developmental complications to male infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1394812. [PMID: 39055054 PMCID: PMC11269108 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1394812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a multi-step biological process where mitotically active diploid (2n) spermatogonia differentiate into haploid (n) spermatozoa via regulated meiotic programming. The alarming rise in male infertility has become a global concern during the past decade thereby demanding an extensive profiling of testicular gene expression. Advancements in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized our empathy towards complex biological events including spermatogenesis. However, despite multiple attempts made in the past to reveal the testicular transcriptional signature(s) either with bulk tissues or at the single-cell, level, comprehensive reviews on testicular transcriptomics and associated disorders are limited. Notably, technologies explicating the genome-wide gene expression patterns during various stages of spermatogenic progression provide the dynamic molecular landscape of testicular transcription. Our review discusses the advantages of single-cell RNA-sequencing (Sc-RNA-seq) over bulk RNA-seq concerning testicular tissues. Additionally, we highlight the cellular heterogeneity, spatial transcriptomics, dynamic gene expression and cell-to-cell interactions with distinct cell populations within the testes including germ cells (Gc), Sertoli cells (Sc), Peritubular cells (PTc), Leydig cells (Lc), etc. Furthermore, we provide a summary of key finding of single-cell transcriptomic studies that have shed light on developmental mechanisms implicated in testicular disorders and male infertility. These insights emphasize the pivotal roles of Sc-RNA-seq in advancing our knowledge regarding testicular transcriptional landscape and may serve as a potential resource to formulate future clinical interventions for male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod, Kerala, India
| | - Mohammad Sarif Mohiuddin
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, United States
| | - Vijaya Bhaskar Baki
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Mayank Choubey
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, United States
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23
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Ortiz-Vallecillo A, Santamaría-López E, García-Ruiz D, Martín-Lozano D, Candenas L, Pinto FM, Fernández-Sánchez M, González-Ravina C. Influence of BMI, Cigarette Smoking and Cryopreservation on Tyrosine Phosphorylation during Sperm Capacitation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7582. [PMID: 39062825 PMCID: PMC11276716 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Capacitation involves tyrosine phosphorylation (TP) as a key marker. Lifestyle-related factors, such as obesity and smoking, are recognized for their adverse effects on semen quality and male fertility, yet the underlying mechanisms, including their potential impact on TP, remain unclear. Moreover, the effect of sperm cryopreservation on TP at the human sperm population level is unexplored. Flow cytometry analysis of global TP was performed on pre-capacitated, post-capacitated and 1- and 3-hours' incubated fresh and frozen-thawed samples from sperm donors (n = 40). Neither being overweight nor smoking (or both) significantly affected the percentage of sperm showing TP. However, elevated BMI and smoking intensity correlated with heightened basal TP levels (r = 0.226, p = 0.003) and heightened increase in TP after 3 h of incubation (r = 0.185, p = 0.017), respectively. Cryopreservation resulted in increased global TP levels after capacitation but not immediately after thawing. Nonetheless, most donors' thawed samples showed increased TP levels before and after capacitation as well as after incubation. Additionally, phosphorylation patterns in fresh and frozen-thawed samples were similar, indicating consistent sample response to capacitation stimuli despite differences in TP levels. Overall, this study sheds light on the potential impacts of lifestyle factors and cryopreservation on the dynamics of global TP levels during capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ortiz-Vallecillo
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106-Torre A, Planta 1ª, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.O.-V.); (C.G.-R.)
| | | | - Diego García-Ruiz
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106-Torre A, Planta 1ª, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.O.-V.); (C.G.-R.)
| | - David Martín-Lozano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC, Calle Américo Vespucio, 49, 41092 Seville, Spain; (D.M.-L.); (L.C.); (F.M.P.)
| | - Luz Candenas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC, Calle Américo Vespucio, 49, 41092 Seville, Spain; (D.M.-L.); (L.C.); (F.M.P.)
| | - Francisco M. Pinto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC, Calle Américo Vespucio, 49, 41092 Seville, Spain; (D.M.-L.); (L.C.); (F.M.P.)
| | - Manuel Fernández-Sánchez
- VIDA RECOLETAS Seville, Calle Américo Vespucio, 19, 41092 Seville, Spain;
- Departamento de Cirugía, Universidad de Sevilla, Avenida Sánchez Pizjuán, S/N, 41009 Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, 1, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina González-Ravina
- IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106-Torre A, Planta 1ª, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.O.-V.); (C.G.-R.)
- Departamento de Biología Molecular e Ingeniería Bioquímica, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera, 1, 41013 Seville, Spain
- IVI-RMA Global Headquarters, Calle Américo Vespucio, 5, 41092 Seville, Spain
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24
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Yan B, Wang J, Zhou Y, Pei L, Zhang F, Gao B, Wang H. The application of mean number of DNA breakpoints in sperm cryopreservation. Cryobiology 2024; 116:104937. [PMID: 38942068 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104937] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Growing concerns over declining male semen quality and rising infertility have shifted attention to male fertility. Sperm cryopreservation emerges as a crucial tool in preserving male fertility, especially for patients who need proactive preservation, such as cancer patients before undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Although cryopreservation does not directly address infertility, effective preservation can support future fertility. However, the process may compromise sperm DNA integrity. Despite their impairment, damaged sperm often retain vitality and may still have the potential to fertilize an egg. Nonetheless, if damaged sperm fertilize an egg, excessive DNA damage could impede embryo implantation and development, despite the egg's repair capabilities. Consequently, precise detection of sperm DNA damage is crucial and urgent. To better address the issue of sperm DNA damage detection, we have introduced a novel fluorescence biosensor technology known as the TDT/SD Probe. This technology utilizes terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and strand displacement probes to accurately detect the number of sperm DNA breakage points during the cryopreservation process. Experimental results reveal that the number of sperm DNA breakpoints significantly increases after both sperm vitrification (8.17 × 105) and conventional slow freezing (10.80 × 105), compared to the DNA breakpoints of fresh semen samples (5.19 × 105). However, sperm vitrification has the least impact on sperm breakage points. This research provides innovative means for further optimizing sperm preservation techniques by offering a novel DNA damage detection method, enabling more precise assessment of sperm DNA damage during the freezing process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Yan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430000, China; Institute of Medical Sciences, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750001, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Institute of Medical Sciences, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750001, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Institute of Medical Sciences, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750001, China
| | - Liguo Pei
- Institute of Medical Sciences, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750001, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Reproductive Center, Yinchuan Women and Children Healthcare Hospital, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Bianbian Gao
- Institute of Medical Sciences, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750001, China.
| | - Hongyan Wang
- Division of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangdong, 510006, China.
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25
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Bryan ER, McRae J, Kumar V, Trim LK, Maidment TI, Tickner JAD, Sweeney EL, Williams ED, Whiley DM, Beagley KW. A novel murine model mimicking male genital Neisseria species infection using Neisseria musculi†. Biol Reprod 2024:ioae100. [PMID: 38972067 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
With ~78 million cases yearly, the sexually transmitted bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an urgent threat to global public health due to continued emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In the male reproductive tract, untreated infections may cause permanent damage, poor sperm quality, and subsequently subfertility. Currently, few animal models exist for N. gonorrhoeae infection, which has strict human tropism, and available models have limited translatability to human disease. The absence of appropriate models inhibits the development of vital new diagnostics and treatments. However, the discovery of Neisseria musculi, a mouse oral cavity bacterium, offers much promise. This bacterium has already been used to develop an oral Neisseria infection model, but the feasibility of establishing urogenital gonococcal models is unexplored. We inoculated mice via the intrapenile route with N. musculi. We assessed bacterial burden throughout the male reproductive tract, the systemic and tissue-specific immune response 2-weeks postinfection, and the effect of infection on sperm health. Neisseria musculi was found in penis (2/5) and vas deferens (3/5) tissues. Infection altered immune cell counts: CD19+ (spleen, lymph node, penis), F4/80+ (spleen, lymph node, epididymus), and Gr1+ (penis) compared with noninfected mice. This culminated in sperm from infected mice having poor viability, motility, and morphology. We hypothesize that in the absence of testis infection, infection and inflammation in other reproductive is sufficient to damage sperm quality. Many results herein are consistent with outcomes of gonorrhoea infection, indicating the potential of this model as a tool for enhancing the understanding of Neisseria infections of the human male reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Bryan
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Julia McRae
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Vishnu Kumar
- Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, 35385 Giessen, Germany
| | - Logan K Trim
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Toby I Maidment
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Jacob A D Tickner
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Emma L Sweeney
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science at Translational Research Institute, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - David M Whiley
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia
| | - Kenneth W Beagley
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
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Li M, Zhao Q, Wang S, Song Y, Zhai L, Zhao J. Differential Impairment Mechanism of Sperm Production via Induction of miR-34c-Activated Apoptosis and Spermatogenesis Pathway in Diet-Induced Obesity and Resistant Mice and GC-1 Spg Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7451. [PMID: 39000558 PMCID: PMC11242685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Male reproductive dysfunction is a clinical disease, with a large number of cases being idiopathic. Reproductive disorders have been found in obese (diet-induced obesity and diet-induced obesity-resistant) mice, but the mechanism behind the male reproductive dysfunction between them may be different. The purpose of this study was to explore the possible role and mechanism of miR-34c on sperm production in high-fat-diet-induced obesity-resistant (DIO-R) mice and GC-1 spg cells, which may differ from those in high-fat-diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks to establish the DIO and DIO-R mouse model. GC-1 spg cells were used to verify the mechanism of miR-34c on sperm production. During in vivo experiments, sperm production damage was found in both DIO and DIO-R male mice. Compared to the control mice, significantly decreased levels of testosterone, LH, activities of acrosome enzyme (ACE), HAse, and activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) were found in both DIO and DIO-R male mice (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the ratio of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in the DIO group was significantly decreased, and the expression level of cleaved caspase-3 was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Bcl-2 protein expression level in the testes of the DIO-R group significantly decreased (p < 0.05). However, the Bax expression level increased. Thus, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio significantly decreased (p < 0.01); however, the factor-related apoptosis (Fas), Fas ligand (FasLG), cleaved caspase-8, caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-3 protein expression levels significantly increased (p < 0.05). Compared with the DIO group, in DIO-R mice, the activities of ACE, ATF1, Bcl-2, and Bcl-2/Bax's spermatogenesis protein expression decreased, while the apoptosis-promoting protein expression significantly increased (p < 0.05). During the in vitro experiment, the late and early apoptotic ratio in the miR-34c over-expression group increased. MiR-34c over-expression enhanced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Fas/FasLG and Bax/Bcl-2 while inhibiting the expression of ATF1 and the sperm-associated protein in GC-1 spg cells. DIO and DIO-R could harm sperm production. DIO-R could impair sperm production by inducing the miR-34c-activated apoptosis and spermatogenesis pathway, which may be different from that of DIO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujiao Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Rd., Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (M.L.); (Q.Z.); (S.W.); (Y.S.)
| | - Qing Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Rd., Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (M.L.); (Q.Z.); (S.W.); (Y.S.)
| | - Siyu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Rd., Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (M.L.); (Q.Z.); (S.W.); (Y.S.)
| | - Yangyang Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Rd., Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (M.L.); (Q.Z.); (S.W.); (Y.S.)
| | - Lingling Zhai
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China;
| | - Jian Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, No. 103, Wenhua Rd., Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China; (M.L.); (Q.Z.); (S.W.); (Y.S.)
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27
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Simbar M, Ghasemi V, Taherian R, Kalhor M, Mohammadian F, Kiani Z. Prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile men: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1805. [PMID: 38971742 PMCID: PMC11227185 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19299-8] [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: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility in men causes problems in various aspects of their lives, including personal, family and social life. One of the most important of these problems is anxiety. Anxiety in infertile men can affect their health, quality of life, and response to treatment, highlighting the significance of anxiety in these men. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile men. METHODS To conduct this review study, two researchers independently searched international databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of sciences, Scopus, PsyINFO, and the Google scholar search engine in English without considering any time limit until January 2, 2024. Keywords such as "anxiety," "infertility," "prevalence," and "epidemiology" were used, taking into account the specific search method of each database. Using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), the quality of the articles was evaluated by two researchers independently. RESULTS In the systematic part of the study, 27 studies were included, and given the variety of measurement tools (8 different tools) used to investigate anxiety symptoms in infertile men, 24 studies were analyzed in five subgroups of tools. The pooled prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile men was 21.37% (95% CI: 15.73-27.02). The lowest and highest prevalence of anxiety in infertile men were related to the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), accounting for 7.08% (95% CI: 3.27-10.90) and 34.90% (95%CI: 28.90-40.90) values respectively. This prevalence was 19.80% (95%CI: 9.01-30.59) for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 30.06% (95%CI: 18.59-41.52) for the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), and 18.52% (95%CI: 7.76-29.29) for the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). CONCLUSION The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in infertile men requires special attention to healthcare planning. The healthcare system of different countries should evaluate the symptoms of anxiety in infertile men and take appropriate measures to reduce them according to the culture of the countries. It is recommended that all infertile couples be assessed for anxiety symptoms using a standardized tool during their initial evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Simbar
- Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vida Ghasemi
- Department of Public Health, Asadabad School of Medical Sciences, Asadabad, Iran
| | - Reza Taherian
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehri Kalhor
- Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fateme Mohammadian
- Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Kiani
- Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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28
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Zhu Q, Sun J, An C, Li X, Xu S, He Y, Zhang X, Liu L, Hu K, Liang M. Mechanism of LncRNA Gm2044 in germ cell development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1410914. [PMID: 39027044 PMCID: PMC11255455 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1410914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Germ cell development in mammals is a complex physiological process that involves the proliferation of primordial germ cells, meiosis, and the formation of male and female gametes. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of RNA with more than 200 nucleotides that does not code for proteins. A small number of lncRNAs have been shown to participate in spermatogenesis in the testes and in follicular development in the ovaries, but the role of the vast majority of lncRNAs and their molecular mechanisms still need further study. LncRNA Gm2044 was identified as a differentially expressed lncRNA in mouse spermatogenesis by microarray technology. In mouse testis, lncRNA Gm2044 can act as competing endogenous RNA to regulate SYCP1 expression in GC-2 cells derived from mouse spermatocyte cells, and it can also act as a host gene for miR-202 to regulate RBFOX2 protein expression. In female mouse ovaries, lncRNA Gm2044 regulates 17β-estradiol synthesis through the miRNA-138-5p-Nr5a1 pathway or by interacting with EEF2. In addition, studies suggest that lncRNA Gm2044 is also involved in the progression of reproductive system diseases such as male nonobstructive azoospermia. Here, we summarize the roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA Gm2044 in male and female gametogenesis and its potential role in some infertility disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinran Zhu
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Junpei Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Chuangchuang An
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Shumin Xu
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Yutong He
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Lei Liu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Ke Hu
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Meng Liang
- School of Life Science, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
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Li Q, Huang Y, Zhang S, Gong F, Lu G, Lin G, Dai J. Homozygous ACTL9 mutations cause irregular mitochondrial sheath arrangement and abnormal flagellum assembly in spermatozoa and male infertility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03171-0. [PMID: 38963606 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03171-0] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify novel variants in ACTL9 and new phenotypes responsible for male infertility. METHODS Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was used to test the motility of spermatozoa. The ultrastructure of flagella and the mitochondrial sheath were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunostaining was used to validate the localization and expression of ACTL9 and ACTL7A. An Actl9-mutated mouse model was used to validate the phenotypes by CASA and TEM. RESULTS We identified novel homozygous variants in ACTL9 in two independent Chinese families. Spermatozoa with ACTL9 mutations showed decreased CASA parameters and a higher proportion of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology, exhibiting coiled flagella and a thickened midpiece. The spermatozoa were characterized by chaotic or irregular '9+2' structures and irregular mitochondrial sheath arrangements in the flagellum. Actl9 knock-in mice also showed abnormal CASA parameters and irregular '9+2' structures in flagella. CONCLUSIONS Our study expands the mutation spectrum and phenotypic spectrum of ACTL9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yilian Huang
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Shen Zhang
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, 410078, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Fei Gong
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, 410078, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Guangxiu Lu
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, 410078, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Laboratory of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Changsha, 410078, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, 410078, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Jing Dai
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, 410078, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410078, China.
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30
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Galdon G, Zarandi NP, Deebel NA, Zhang S, Cornett O, Lyalin D, Pettenati MJ, Lue Y, Wang C, Swerdloff R, Shupe TD, Bishop C, Stogner K, Kogan SJ, Howards S, Atala A, Sadri-Ardekani H. In Vitro Generation of Haploid Germ Cells from Human XY and XXY Immature Testes in a 3D Organoid System. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:677. [PMID: 39061759 PMCID: PMC11274239 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11070677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing survival rates of children following cancer treatment have resulted in a significant population of adult survivors with the common side effect of infertility. Additionally, the availability of genetic testing has identified Klinefelter syndrome (classic 47,XXY) as the cause of future male infertility for a significant number of prepubertal patients. This study explores new spermatogonia stem cell (SSC)-based fertility therapies to meet the needs of these patients. Testicular cells were isolated from cryopreserved human testes tissue stored from XY and XXY prepubertal patients and propagated in a two-dimensional culture. Cells were then incorporated into a 3D human testicular organoid (HTO) system. During a 3-week culture period, HTOs maintained their structure, viability, and metabolic activity. Cell-specific PCR and flow cytometry markers identified undifferentiated spermatogonia, Sertoli, Leydig, and peritubular cells within the HTOs. Testosterone was produced by the HTOs both with and without hCG stimulation. Upregulation of postmeiotic germ cell markers was detected after 23 days in culture. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of chromosomes X, Y, and 18 identified haploid cells in the in vitro differentiated HTOs. Thus, 3D HTOs were successfully generated from isolated immature human testicular cells from both euploid (XY) and Klinefelter (XXY) patients, supporting androgen production and germ cell differentiation in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Galdon
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nima Pourhabibi Zarandi
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Harrisburg, PA 17101, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Deebel
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Sue Zhang
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Olivia Cornett
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Dmitry Lyalin
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Department of Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics Division, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Mark J. Pettenati
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - YanHe Lue
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA
| | - Christina Wang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA
| | - Ronald Swerdloff
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The Lundquist Institute, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90502, USA
| | - Thomas D. Shupe
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Colin Bishop
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Kimberly Stogner
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Stanley J. Kogan
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Stuart Howards
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
- Department of Urology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
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31
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Kwok A. Risk Assessment and Optimization for Pregnancy in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1414. [PMID: 39001304 PMCID: PMC11241172 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14131414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with rheumatic diseases frequently operate with incomplete or incorrect information while planning for and experiencing pregnancy, often due to variability in provider care and knowledge. Risk assessment at each stage of pregnancy-pre-conception, during pregnancy, and postpartum-is focused on reducing maternal and neonatal complications. This review aims to compile updated, evidence-based guidance on how to minimize risk factors contributing to adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Mitigation of known causes of infertility, appropriate testing and monitoring, achieving low disease activity on pregnancy-safe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) prior to conception, controlling hypertension (a frequent comorbidity among patients with certain rheumatic diseases), and the use of appropriate adjunctive medications (such as low-dose aspirin when preeclampsia risk is high) can optimize fertility and prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Kwok
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St., Austin, TX 78712, USA
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32
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Peng Y, He Q. Reproductive toxicity and related mechanisms of micro(nano)plastics in terrestrial mammals: Review of current evidence. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 279:116505. [PMID: 38810287 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116505] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) have been detected in various ecological environments and are widely used due to their stable properties, raising widespread concern about their potential human reproductive toxicity. Currently, infertility affects approximately 10-30% of couples of reproductive age globally. MNPs, as environmental pollutants, have been shown to exhibit reproductive toxicity through intrinsic mechanisms or as carriers of other hazardous substances. Numerous studies have established that MNPs of varying sizes and types can penetrate biological barriers, and enter tissues and even organelles of organisms through four main routes: dietary ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and medical interventions. However, historical research on the toxic effects of MNPs on reproduction mainly focused on lower and aquatic species. We conducted an inclusive review of studies involving terrestrial mammals, revealing that MNPs can induce reproductive toxicity via various mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, apoptosis, autophagy, disruption of intestinal flora, endocrine disruption, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and DNA damage. In terrestrial mammals, reproductive toxicity predominantly manifests as disruption in the blood-testis barrier (BTB), impaired spermatogenesis, sperm malformation, sperm DNA damage, reduced sperm fertilizing capacity, compromised oocyte maturation, impaired follicular growth, granulosa cell apoptosis, diminished ovarian reserve function, uterine and ovarian fibrosis, and endocrine disruption, among other effects. Furthermore, MNPs can traverse the maternal-fetal interface, potentially impacting offspring reproductive health. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanisms of MNPs with different sizes, polymer types, shapes, and carried toxins, as well as to explore effective protective interventions for mitigating reproductive damage, further in-depth animal studies, clinical trials, and large-scale epidemiological studies are urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Peng
- Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China.
| | - Qi He
- Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha 410008, China
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33
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Feng Y, Zhao S, Ju R, Li J, Pan C, Tang Q, Zou Z, Jing J, Xu Y, Ding H, Ma J, Li Z, Tang T, Shao Y, Chen L, Huang X, Wang X, Yao B. The therapeutic effect and metabolic mechanism analysis of Guilingji on idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia. J Tradit Complement Med 2024; 14:403-413. [PMID: 39035689 PMCID: PMC11259704 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Guilingji, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used to combat aging and male sexual dysfunction in China for centuries. To date, there has been little evidence-based clinical research on the use of Guilingji to treat idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and the therapeutic mechanism from a metabolic perspective needs to be investigated further. Methods This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical study of 240 patients with idiopathic OAT recruited from four hospitals between January 2020 and January 2022. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1꞉1 ratio to receive oral Guilingji capsules or placebo for 12 weeks. The total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) was considered the primary outcome, and the other sperm parameters, seminal plasma parameters and serum hormones were considered the secondary outcome. A nontargeted metabolomics analysis of serum from OAT patients before and after Guilingji administration was performed by HPLC-MS to identify key metabolites. Furthermore, we used a rat model to show spermatogenesis phenotypes to validate the effect of the key metabolites screened from the patients. Results At weeks 4, 8 and 12, TPMSC and other sperm parameters were significantly improved in the Guilingji group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). At week 4, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acrosomal enzyme activity of seminal plasma were significantly elevated in the Guilingji group compared with the placebo group, while reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase-X (LDHX) levels appeared to be significantly increased after 12 weeks continuous medication compared with Placebo group (P = 0.032). The metabolomics analysis of serum from OAT patients before and after Guilingji administration showed that the glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) concentration in patients' serum was significantly elevated after Guilingji treatment. Compared to the control, when Kidney-Yang deficiency model rats were treated with Guilingji or its key intermediate metabolite G6P, their sperm concentration and spermatozoic activity were improved similarly, and their structural damage of rat's testicular and epididymal tissues were recovered. Conclusion This study provided valuable clinical evidence for the utility of Guilingji as a treatment for OAT. These findings thus demonstrate that G6P is involved in the therapeutic mechanism of Guilingji in OAT treatment based on clinical and rat intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuming Feng
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanmeizi Zhao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Ju
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chengshuang Pan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qinglai Tang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhichuan Zou
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Jing
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hualong Ding
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinzhao Ma
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhou Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Tang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yong Shao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuefeng Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Bing Yao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, Jiangsu, China
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Xiao H, Tang SX, Yao RJ, Ding YL, Yang P, Chen Q, Huang HL, Chen X, Zhou HL. Testicular volume is a noninvasive predictor of sperm retrieval failure in idiopathic nonobstructive azoospermia. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:421-425. [PMID: 38353461 PMCID: PMC11280197 DOI: 10.4103/aja202379] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We investigated the prognostic importance of noninvasive factors in predicting sperm retrieval failure in idiopathic nonobstructive azoospermia (iNOA). We studied 193 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent microsurgical testicular sperm extraction. The Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U tests for clinical parameters and seminiferous tubule distribution were used for between-group comparisons. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of retrieval failure. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for each variable was evaluated, and the net clinical benefit was calculated using a clinical decision curve. Patients with iNOA had a lower sperm retrieval rate than those with known causes. Moreover, testicular volume was an independent factor affecting sperm extraction outcomes (odds ratio = 0.79, P < 0.05). The testicular volume cut-off value was 6.5 ml (area under the curve: 0.694). The patients with iNOA were categorized into two groups on the basis of the distribution of seminiferous tubules observed. The sperm retrieval rate and testicular volume were significantly different between the groups with a uniform or heterogeneous tubule distribution. There was also a significant association between a uniform tubule distribution and testicular volume. In conclusion, a testicular volume of more than 6.5 ml effectively predicts microsurgical testicular sperm extraction failure due to a uniform tubule distribution in patients with iNOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xiao
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Song-Xi Tang
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Rui-Jie Yao
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Yi-Lang Ding
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Hai-Lin Huang
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
| | - Hui-Liang Zhou
- Department of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
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Karavani G, Kattan MS, Lau S, Lo KC, Grober ED, Mehra VM, Akroof B, Lajkosz K, Jarvi K. Idiopathic secondary azoospermia occurrence in men with oligospermia over time. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03179-6. [PMID: 38941005 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03179-6] [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: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the occurrence of idiopathic secondary azoospermia (ISA) in men with oligospermia over time and identify risk factors for ISA in this population. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a university-affiliated male infertility clinic. A total of 1056 oligospermic men (concentration < 15 million/ml (M/ml) and no azoospermia) with at least two SA done between 2000 and 2019 were included. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ISA by oligospermia severity. RESULTS In the entire cohort, 31 patients (2.9%) eventually became azoospermic with time. The ≤ 1 M/ml extremely severe oligospermia (ESO) group (283 patients) had significantly higher rates of ISA in each time period compared to the 1-5 M/ml severe oligospermia (SO) (310 patients) and 5-15 M/ml mild oligospermia (MO) (463 patients) groups (p < 0.05 for all comparisons), with rates of 21.1% in the ESO, 4.8% in the SO, and 0% in the MO group (p = 0.02) after 3-5 years, reaching 32% after 5 years in the ESO group compared to no cases in the other two groups (p = 0.006). Parameters shown to predict ISA were initial concentration < 1 M/ml (OR 22.12, p < 0.001) and time interval of > 3 and 5 years (OR 4.83 and 6.84, p = 0.009 and < 0.001, respectively), whereas testosterone levels were negatively associated with ISA (OR 0.88, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Men with ≤ 1 M/ml, especially those with low testosterone levels, have a dramatically increased chance of becoming azoospermic with time. Therefore, sperm banking should be recommended in these cases. Men with a sperm concentration above 1 M/ml have low chances of becoming azoospermic, even after 3 or more years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Karavani
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Mohamed S Kattan
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Susan Lau
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kirk C Lo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ethan D Grober
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vrati M Mehra
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bader Akroof
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine Lajkosz
- Department of Biostatistics, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keith Jarvi
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Chatziparasidou A, Kyrgiafini MA, Sarafidou T, Moutou KA, Mamuris Z. Genetic Insights into Azoospermia and Severe Oligozoospermia: Discovering Seven SNPs through GWAS and In Silico Analysis. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:6522-6532. [PMID: 39057031 PMCID: PMC11276099 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46070389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia represent the most extreme forms of male infertility. Despite their prevalence, the genetic foundations of these conditions are not well understood, with only a limited number of genetic factors identified so far. This study aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to both azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 280 Greek males with normal semen parameters and 85 Greek males diagnosed with either azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia. Following rigorous quality control measures, our analysis identified seven SNPs associated with azoospermia/severe oligozoospermia. An in silico functional annotation was subsequently used to further investigate their role. These SNPs, found in regions not previously associated with male reproductive disorders, suggest novel genetic pathways that may contribute to these forms of infertility and pave the way for future studies. Additionally, this study sheds light on the significant role of noncoding RNAs in the pathogenesis of male infertility, with three of the identified SNPs situated in long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs). Our findings highlight the intricate genetic landscape of azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia, underlining the necessity for more detailed studies to fully grasp the underlying mechanisms and their potential for informing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Chatziparasidou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
- Embryolab IVF Unit, St. 173-175 Ethnikis Antistaseos, Kalamaria, 55134 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria-Anna Kyrgiafini
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Theologia Sarafidou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Katerina A. Moutou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Zissis Mamuris
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
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37
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Zhou D, Wu H, Wang L, Wang X, Tang S, Zhou Y, Wang J, Wu B, Tang J, Zhou X, Tian S, Liu S, Lv M, He X, Jin L, Shi H, Zhang F, Cao Y, Liu C. Deficiency of MFSD6L, an acrosome membrane protein, causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00149-8. [PMID: 38909778 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.06.008] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is an important factor affecting male fertility and has been found to be associated with genetic factors. However, there are still a proportion of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia cases that cannot be explained by known pathogenic genetic variants. Here, we perform genetic analyses and identify bi-allelic loss-of-function variants of MFSD6L from an oligoasthenoteratozoospermia-affected family. Mfsd6l knock-out male mice also present male subfertility with reduced sperm concentration, motility, and deformed acrosomes. Further mechanistic analyses reveal that MFSD6L, as an acrosome membrane protein, plays an important role in the formation of acrosome by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1. Moreover, poor embryonic development is consistently observed after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment using spermatozoa from the MFSD6L-deficient man and male mice. Collectively, our findings reveal that MFSD6L is required for the anchoring of sperm acrosome and head shaping. The deficiency of MFSD6L affects male fertility and causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Lingbo Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Shuyan Tang
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yiling Zhou
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Jiaxiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, China; Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, China
| | - Bangguo Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jianan Tang
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xuehai Zhou
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Shixiong Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Metabolic Remodeling and Health, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Mingrong Lv
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Li Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Huijuan Shi
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Medical Genetics and Genomics, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China; Soong Ching Ling Institute of Maternity and Child Health, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Soong Ching Ling Institute of Maternity and Child Health, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
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Pavuluri H, Bakhtiary Z, Panner Selvam MK, Hellstrom WJG. Oxidative Stress-Associated Male Infertility: Current Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:1008. [PMID: 38929625 PMCID: PMC11205999 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60061008] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Infertility is a prevalent global issue affecting approximately 17.5% of adults, with sole male factor contributing to 20-30% of cases. Oxidative stress (OS) is a critical factor in male infertility, disrupting the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. This imbalance detrimentally affects sperm function and viability, ultimately impairing fertility. OS also triggers molecular changes in sperm, including DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and alterations in protein expression, further compromising sperm functionality and potential fertilization. Diagnostic tools discussed in this review offer insights into OS markers, antioxidant levels, and intracellular ROS concentrations. By accurately assessing these parameters, clinicians can diagnose male infertility more effectively and thus tailor treatment plans to individual patients. Additionally, this review explores various treatment options for males with OS-associated infertility, such as empirical drugs, antioxidants, nanoantioxidants, and lifestyle modifications. By addressing the root causes of male infertility and implementing targeted interventions, clinicians can optimize treatment outcomes and enhance the chances of conception for couples struggling with infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wayne J. G. Hellstrom
- Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (H.P.); (Z.B.); (M.K.P.S.)
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He Q, Zhang Y, Song M, Zhou Y, Lin D, Ma Y, Sun F, Li Q. Detection of AZF microdeletions and analysis of reproductive hormonal profiles in Hainan men undergoing assisted reproductive technology. BMC Urol 2024; 24:123. [PMID: 38867229 PMCID: PMC11167749 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-024-01503-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male infertility has become a global health problem, and genetic factors are one of the essential causes. Y chromosome microdeletion is the leading genetic factor cause of male infertility. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between male infertility and Y chromosome microdeletions in Hainan, the sole tropical island province of China. METHODS We analyzed the semen of 897 infertile men from Hainan in this study. Semen analysis was measured according to WHO criteria by professionals at the Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, where samples were collected. Y chromosome AZF microdeletions were confirmed by detecting six STS markers using multiple polymerase chain reactions on peripheral blood DNA. The levels of reproductive hormones, including FSH, LH, PRL, T, and E2, were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion in Hainan infertile men was 7.13%. The occurrence rate of Y chromosome microdeletion was 6.69% (34/508) in the oligozoospermia group and 7.71% (30/389) in the azoospermia group. The deletion of various types in the AZF subregion was observed in the group with azoospermia, whereas no AZFb deletion was detected in the oligozoospermia group. Among all patients with microdeletions, the deletion rate of the AZFc region was the higher at 68.75% (44 out of 64), followed by a deletion rate of 6.25% (4 out of 64) for the AZFa region and a deletion rate of 4.69% (3 out of 64) for the AZFb region. The deletion rate of the AZFa region was significantly higher in patients with azoospermia than in patients with oligozoospermia (0.51% vs. 0.39%, p < 0.001). In comparison, the deletion rate of the AZFc region was significantly higher in patients with oligozoospermia (3.08% vs. 6.30%, p < 0.001). Additionally, the AZFb + c subregion association deletion was observed in the highest proportion among all patients (0.89%, 8/897), followed by AZFa + b + c deletion (0.56%, 5/897), and exclusively occurred in patients with azoospermia. Hormone analysis revealed FSH (21.63 ± 2.01 U/L vs. 10.15 ± 0.96 U/L, p = 0.001), LH (8.96 ± 0.90 U/L vs. 4.58 ± 0.42 U/L, p < 0.001) and PRL (263.45 ± 21.84 mIU/L vs. 170.76 ± 17.10 mIU/L, p = 0.002) were significantly increased in azoospermia patients with microdeletions. Still, P and E2 levels were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of AZF microdeletion can reach 7.13% in infertile men in Hainan province, and the deletion of the AZFc subregion is the highest. Although the Y chromosome microdeletion rate is distinct in different regions or populations, the regions mentioned above of the Y chromosome may serve an indispensable role in regulating spermatogenesis. The analysis of Y chromosome microdeletion plays a crucial role in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qina He
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
| | - Yongle Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
| | - Mengyi Song
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
| | - Dan Lin
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China
| | - Yanlin Ma
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, 510515, China.
| | - Qi Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Reproductive Medicine and Genetic Research, Hainan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Thalassemia, the Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
- Haikou Key Laboratory for Preservation of Human Genetic Resource, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
- Hainan Modern Women and Children's Hospital, Reproductive Medicine, Haikou, Hainan, 571101, China.
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Dai P, Zou M, Cai Z, Zeng X, Zhang X, Liang M. pH Homeodynamics and Male Fertility: A Coordinated Regulation of Acid-Based Balance during Sperm Journey to Fertilization. Biomolecules 2024; 14:685. [PMID: 38927088 PMCID: PMC11201807 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
pH homeostasis is crucial for spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, sperm physiological function, and fertilization in mammals. HCO3- and H+ are the most significant factors involved in regulating pH homeostasis in the male reproductive system. Multiple pH-regulating transporters and ion channels localize in the testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa, such as HCO3- transporters (solute carrier family 4 and solute carrier family 26 transporters), carbonic anhydrases, and H+-transport channels and enzymes (e.g., Na+-H+ exchangers, monocarboxylate transporters, H+-ATPases, and voltage-gated proton channels). Hormone-mediated signals impose an influence on the production of some HCO3- or H+ transporters, such as NBCe1, SLC4A2, MCT4, etc. Additionally, ion channels including sperm-specific cationic channels for Ca2+ (CatSper) and K+ (SLO3) are directly or indirectly regulated by pH, exerting specific actions on spermatozoa. The slightly alkaline testicular pH is conducive to spermatogenesis, whereas the epididymis's low HCO3- concentration and acidic lumen are favorable for sperm maturation and storage. Spermatozoa pH increases substantially after being fused with seminal fluid to enhance motility. In the female reproductive tract, sperm are subjected to increasing concentrations of HCO3- in the uterine and fallopian tube, causing a rise in the intracellular pH (pHi) of spermatozoa, leading to hyperpolarization of sperm plasma membranes, capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction, and ultimately fertilization. The physiological regulation initiated by SLC26A3, SLC26A8, NHA1, sNHE, and CFTR localized in sperm is proven for certain to be involved in male fertility. This review intends to present the key factors and characteristics of pHi regulation in the testes, efferent duct, epididymis, seminal fluid, and female reproductive tract, as well as the associated mechanisms during the sperm journey to fertilization, proposing insights into outstanding subjects and future research trends.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Xiaoning Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (X.Z.)
| | - Min Liang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.Z.); (Z.C.); (X.Z.)
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Ahmad N, Yang ML, Zeb A, Zhou JT, Zubair M, Abbas T, Jiang XH, Zhang YW, Zhang H, Shah W, Shi QH. A novel missense mutation of CCDC34 causes male infertility with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in a consanguineous Pakistani family. Asian J Androl 2024:00129336-990000000-00197. [PMID: 38856307 DOI: 10.4103/aja202432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Male infertility is a worldwide health issue, affecting 8%-12% of the global population. Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) represents a severe type of male infertility, characterized by reduced sperm count and motility and an increased frequency of sperm with aberrant morphology. Using whole-exome sequencing, this study identified a novel missense mutation (c.848C>A, p.A283E) in the coiled-coil domain-containing 34 gene (CCDC34) in a consanguineous Pakistani family. This rare mutation was predicted to be deleterious and to affect the protein stability. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of spermatozoa from the patient with OAT revealed multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella and transmission electron microscopy indicated axonemal ultrastructural defects with a lack of outer dynein arms. These findings indicated that CCDC34 plays a role in maintaining the axonemal ultrastructure and the assembly or stability of the outer dynein arms, thus expanding the phenotypic spectrum of CCDC34 missense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisar Ahmad
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
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42
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Hosseini M, Khalafiyan A, Zare M, Karimzadeh H, Bahrami B, Hammami B, Kazemi M. Sperm epigenetics and male infertility: unraveling the molecular puzzle. Hum Genomics 2024; 18:57. [PMID: 38835100 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-024-00626-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of infertility among couples is estimated to range from 8 to 12%. A paradigm shift has occurred in understanding of infertility, challenging the notion that it predominantly affects women. It is now acknowledged that a significant proportion, if not the majority, of infertility cases can be attributed to male-related factors. Various elements contribute to male reproductive impairments, including aberrant sperm production caused by pituitary malfunction, testicular malignancies, aplastic germ cells, varicocele, and environmental factors. MAIN BODY The epigenetic profile of mammalian sperm is distinctive and specialized. Various epigenetic factors regulate genes across different levels in sperm, thereby affecting its function. Changes in sperm epigenetics, potentially influenced by factors such as environmental exposures, could contribute to the development of male infertility. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this review investigates the latest studies pertaining to the mechanisms of epigenetic changes that occur in sperm cells and their association with male reproductive issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Hosseini
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Anis Khalafiyan
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammadreza Zare
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haniye Karimzadeh
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Basireh Bahrami
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Behnaz Hammami
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazemi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
- Reproductive Sciences and Sexual Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Justin Margret J, Jayasankaran C, Amritkumar P, Azaiez H, Srisailapathy CRS. Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Combined Deafness and Male Infertility Phenotypes through High-Throughput Sequencing in a Unique Cohort from South India. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2024; 5:2300206. [PMID: 38884051 PMCID: PMC11170077 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.202300206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The co-occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss and male infertility has been reported in several instances, suggesting potential shared genetic underpinnings. One such example is the contiguous gene deletion of CATSPER2 and STRC genes, previously associated with deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) in males. Fifteen males with both hearing loss and infertility from southern India after exclusion for the DIS contiguous gene deletion and the FOXI1 gene mutations are subjected to exome sequencing. This resolves the genetic etiology in four probands for both the phenotypes; In the remaining 11 probands, two each conclusively accounted for deafness and male infertility etiologies. Genetic heterogeneity is well reflected in both phenotypes. Four recessive (TRIOBP, SLC26A4, GJB2, COL4A3) and one dominant (SOX10) for the deafness; six recessive genes (LRGUK, DNAH9, ARMC4, DNAH2, RSPH6A, and ACE) for male infertility can be conclusively ascribed. LRGUK and RSPH6A genes are implicated earlier only in mice models, while the ARMC4 gene is implicated in chronic destructive airway diseases due to primary ciliary dyskinesia. This study would be the first to document the role of these genes in the male infertility phenotype in humans. The result suggests that deafness and infertility are independent events and do not segregate together among the probands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Justin Margret
- Department of Genetics Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences University of Madras Taramani Campus Chennai 600 113 India
- Department of Pediatrics Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport LA 71103 USA
| | - Chandru Jayasankaran
- Department of Genetics Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences University of Madras Taramani Campus Chennai 600 113 India
- Department of Personalized Health Care Roche Products India Pvt., Ltd. Bengaluru Karnataka 560 025 India
| | - Pavithra Amritkumar
- Department of Genetics Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences University of Madras Taramani Campus Chennai 600 113 India
- Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER) Chennai 600 078 India
| | - Hela Azaiez
- Department of Otolaryngology Carver College of Medicine University of Iowa Iowa City Iowa 52242 USA
| | - C R Srikumari Srisailapathy
- Department of Genetics Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences University of Madras Taramani Campus Chennai 600 113 India
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Dias CMF, Vitorino GBT, Furlan SMP, dos Reis RM, Silva ACJDSRE, Mendes MC, Ferriani RA, Navarro PA. Intrauterine insemination: prognostic factors. JBRA Assist Reprod 2024; 28:254-262. [PMID: 38546118 PMCID: PMC11152422 DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20240017] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of possible maternal and paternal prognostic factors and ovarian stimulation protocols on clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. METHODS Retrospective observational study of 341 IUI cycles performed from January 2016 to November 2020 at the Assisted Reproduction Service of the Clinics Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and their potential prognostic factors were evaluated. Wilcoxon's non-parametric test was used to compare quantitative variables, and the chi-square test to compare qualitative variables, adopting a significance level of p<0.05. A logistic regression model was performed to verify which exploratory variables are predictive factors for pregnancy outcome. RESULTS The ovulation induction protocol using gonadotropins plus letrozole (p=0.0097; OR 4.3286, CI 1.3040 - 14.3684) and post-capacitation progressive sperm ≥ 5million/mL (p=0.0253) showed a statistically significant correlation with the live birth rate. Female and male age, etiology of infertility, obesity, multifollicular growth, endometrial thickness ≥ 7 mm, and time between human chorionic gonadotropin administration and IUI performance were not associated with the primary outcomes. In the group of patients with ideal characteristics (women aged< 40 years, BMI < 30 kg/m2, antral follicle count ≥ 5, partner aged< 45 years, and post-capacitation semen with progressive spermatozoa ≥ 5 million/mL), the rate of clinical pregnancy was 14.8%, while that of live birth, 9.9%. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the ovulation induction protocol with gonadotropins plus letrozole and post-capacitation progressive sperm ≥ 5 million/mL were the only variables that significantly correlated with intrauterine insemination success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Maria Franco Dias
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Gabriel Borges Tavares Vitorino
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Suelen Maria Parizotto Furlan
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Rosana Maria dos Reis
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health, CNPq,
Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Japur de Sá Rosa e Silva
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health, CNPq,
Brazil
| | - Maria Célia Mendes
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
| | - Rui Alberto Ferriani
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health, CNPq,
Brazil
| | - Paula Andrea Navarro
- Sector of Human Reproduction, Department of Gynecology and
Obstetrics - Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo,
Brazil
- National Institute of Hormones and Women’s Health, CNPq,
Brazil
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Cannarella R, Crafa A, Curto R, Condorelli RA, La Vignera S, Calogero AE. Obesity and male fertility disorders. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 97:101273. [PMID: 38593513 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101273] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Often associated with obesity, male infertility represents a widespread condition that challenges the wellbeing of the couple. In this article, we provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of studies exploring the association between obesity and male reproductive function, to evaluate the frequency of this association, and establish the effects of increased body weight on conventional and biofunctional sperm parameters and infertility. In an attempt to find possible molecular markers of infertility in obese male patients, the numerous mechanisms responsible for infertility in overweight/obese patients are reviewed in depth. These include obesity-related functional hypogonadism, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation, adipokines, irisin, gut hormones, gut microbiome, and sperm transcriptome. According to meta-analytic evidence, excessive body weight negatively influences male reproductive health. This can occurr through a broad array of molecular mechanisms. Some of these are not yet fully understood and need to be further elucidated in the future. A better understanding of the effects of metabolic disorders on spermatogenesis and sperm fertilizing capacity is very useful for identifying new diagnostic markers and designing therapeutic strategies for better clinical management of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Cannarella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrea Crafa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Roberto Curto
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosita A Condorelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Sandro La Vignera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Aldo E Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
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Firouzabadi AM, Rezvani ME, Zare F, Azizian H, Fesahat F. Possible Impact of Human β-defensin 1 on sperm motility in infertile men with abnormal sperm parameters. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100887. [PMID: 38688100 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2024.100887] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Human β-defensins and interleukins may be auxiliary in sperm maturation. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the expression of Human β-defensins 1 and 2, interleukins (ILs)- 10 and -18 genes in sperm, as well as seminal plasma levels of these two cytokines in subfertile men with different types of sperm abnormalities compared to those with normozoospermic men. Participants were separated into two experimental groups: the control group (n = 25) and the group with sperm abnormalities (SA) (n = 45). SA participants were further subdivided into the following groups with n = 15 individuals each: Teratozoospermia (T), Asthenoteratozoospermia (AT), and Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) groups. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the mRNA levels of hBDs 1 and 2, IL-10, and IL-18 in sperm. The seminal plasma concentrations of IL-10 and IL-18 were measured by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The mRNA expression of hBD-1 and IL-10 showed a significant decrease in the OAT compared to the controls (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.02, respectively). The lowest seminal plasma concentration of IL-10 belonged to the OAT (P = 0.04). ROC curve analysis showed a sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff value of 82.35%, 86.67%, and 0.63 for hBD-1 levels, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was found between hBD-1 expression and sperm motility and IL-10 expression rate and normal sperm morphology.Therefore, hBD-1 could be considered as the alternative biomaterial to pre-treatments of infertile men with abnormal sperm parameters, specifically OAT men, which led to improving the assisted reproduction success rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Masoud Firouzabadi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Ebrahim Rezvani
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Yazd Neuroendocrine Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fateme Zare
- Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Hossein Azizian
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Yazd Neuroendocrine Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Fesahat
- Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
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Xia LZ, Liu LL, Yue JZ, Lu ZY, Deng RY, He X, Li CC, Hu B, Gao HT. Ameliorative effects of zinc and vitamin E against phthalates-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:3330-3340. [PMID: 38440903 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Phthalates (PEs) could cause reproductive harm to males. A mixture of three widely used PEs (MPEs) was used to investigate the ameliorative effects of zinc (Zn) and vitamin E (VE) against male reproductive toxicity. METHODS Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10). Rats in MPEs group were orally treated with 160 mg/kg/d MPEs, while rats in MPEs combined Zn and/or VE groups were treated with 160 mg/kg/d MPEs plus 25 mg/kg/d Zn and/or 25 mg/kg/d VE. After intervention for 70 days, it's was measured of male reproductive organs' weight, histopathological observation of sperms and testes, serum hormones, PIWI proteins and steroidogenic proteins. RESULTS Compared with control, anogenital distance, testes weight, epididymides weight, and sex hormones were significantly decreased, while the sperm malformation rate was markedly increased in MPEs group (p < .05); the testicular tissues were injured in MPEs group with disordered and decreased spermatids, and arrested spermatogenesis. PIWIL1, PIWIL2, StAR, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 were down-regulated in MPEs group (p < .05). However, the alterations of these parameters were restored in MPEs combined Zn and/or VE groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION Zn and/or VE improved steroid hormone metabolism, and inhibited MPEs' male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Zi Xia
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Lan Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Zhe Yue
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhen-Yu Lu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ru-Ya Deng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xi He
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Can-Can Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Burong Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hai-Tao Gao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Watershed Science and Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
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Cohen N, Ben-Meir A, Harlap T, Imbar T, Karavani G. Changes in Sperm Parameters with Time in Men with Normal and Abnormal Baseline Semen Analysis. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:1712-1718. [PMID: 38424405 PMCID: PMC11111536 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-024-01475-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The association between paternal age and sperm quality in the population level has been previously studied. Only limited data exists regarding the intra-personal variations in semen parameters among fertile and infertile men over time. We aimed to assess trends over time in semen parameters among men with normal and abnormal baseline sperm parameters and investigate potential risk factors for sperm quality deterioration. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university-affiliated medical center in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit. Patients with at least two semen analyses (SA) performed > 1 year apart, with the last SA done between 2017 and 2021, were included. The study consisted of two main analyses-comparison of intra-patient's sperm parameters changes in men with normal and abnormal baseline SA (BSA) and analysis of risk factors for developing abnormal semen parameters over time in men who had normal BSA parameters. This study included a total of 902 men assessed for infertility with normal and abnormal BSA. The average time interval between tests was 1015 days (range 366-7709 days). Among individuals with normal BSA, there was a mild decline in most parameters-concentration (- 6.53 M/ml), motility (- 7.74%), and total motile count (TMC) (- 21.80 M) (p < 0.05 for all parameters). In contrast, a slight improvement in most parameters, except for concentration, was noted in men with abnormal BSA-volume (+ 0.21 ml), motility (+ 8.72%), and TMC (+ 14.38 M) (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Focusing on men with normal BSA, 33.5% of individuals developed abnormality in one or more of their sperm parameters over time, within a mean time of 1013 ± 661 days. We also found that only time between tests emerged as an independent prognostic factor for the development of abnormal SA later. Interestingly, sperm deterioration in participants in their third, fourth, and fifth decades of life with normal initial semen analysis was similar. Our study provides evidence of a decline in semen quality over time in individuals with normal BSA, in contrast to men with abnormal BSA. Longer time intervals between tests independently increase the risk of sperm abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Cohen
- Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Assaf Ben-Meir
- Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzuf Harlap
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tal Imbar
- Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Gilad Karavani
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital and New Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Erthal-Michelato RP, Quadreli DH, Zaninelli TH, Verri WA, Fernandes GSA. Lower malathion concentrations reduce testosterone biosynthesis by Leydig TM3 cells in vitro by altering cellular redox profile and inducing oxidative damage. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 126:108595. [PMID: 38641014 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108595] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Malathion is an organophosphate pesticide used in agriculture and control of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. As previous reports have indicated the potential of malathion to compromise testosterone production in in vivo models, the objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the impairment of Leydig cell function, considering its critical role in male reproductive function. To this end, murine Leydig TM3 cells were exposed to concentrations of 1, 10, 100 or 1000 μM malathion for 24 h for evaluation of the compound on cell viability. Subsequently, concentrations of 1, 10, and 100 μM malathion were employed for a 24-h period to assess testosterone biosynthesis, levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, as well as the redox profile. Malathion exerted a concentration-dependent impact on cell viability. Notably, the lower concentrations of malathion (1 and 10 μM) were found to impair testosterone biosynthesis in TM3 cells. While there were changes in IL-1 and TNF-α levels at specific concentrations, no direct correlation with altered hormone production was established. Our investigation revealed that varied malathion concentrations induced oxidative stress by increase in superoxide anion and a compensatory rise in antioxidants. In conclusion, the observed changes in the oxidative profile of TM3 cells were linked to functional impairment, evidenced by reduced testosterone biosynthesis at lower malathion concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Pires Erthal-Michelato
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil; Department of General Pathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil.
| | - Débora Hipólito Quadreli
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Tiago Henrique Zaninelli
- Department of General Pathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Waldiceu Aparecido Verri
- Department of General Pathology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Glaura Scantamburlo Alves Fernandes
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina - UEL, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, PR 445, Londrina, Paraná 86057-970, Brazil
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Chen T, Zhang B, He G, Wang N, Cao M, Shen C, Chen X, Chen L, Liu K, Luo Y, huang Y, Yuan C, Zhou X, Li C. Gut-Derived Exosomes Mediate the Microbiota Dysbiosis-Induced Spermatogenesis Impairment by Targeting Meioc in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2310110. [PMID: 38526201 PMCID: PMC11165515 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202310110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Diseases like obesity and intestinal inflammation diseases are accompanied by dysbiosis of the gut microbiota (DSGM), which leads to various complications, including systemic metabolic disorders. DSGM reportedly impairs the fertility of male mice; however, the regulatory mechanism is unclear. Exosomes are molecular mediators of intercellular communication, but the regulation of spermatogenesis by non-reproductive tissue-originated exosomes remains unknown. The present study shows that DSGM altered the miRNA expression profile of mouse circulating exosomes and impaired spermatogenesis. Moreover, the single-cell sequencing results indicate that circulating exosomes from mice with DSGM impaired spermatogenesis, while circulating exosomes from wild mice improved spermatogenesis by promoting meiosis. Further study demonstrates that DSGM leads to abnormal upregulation of miR-211-5p in gut-derived circulating exosomes, which inhibited the expression of meiosis-specific with coiled-coil domain (Meioc) in the testes and impaired spermatogenesis by disturbing meiosis process. In summary, this study defines the important role of gut-derived exosomes in connecting the "gut-testis" axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Chen
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Boqi Zhang
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Guitian He
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Maosheng Cao
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Caomeihui Shen
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Xue Chen
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Kening Liu
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Yuxin Luo
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Yiqiu huang
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Chenfeng Yuan
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Xu Zhou
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
| | - Chunjin Li
- College of Animal SciencesJilin University5333 Xian RoadChangchunJilin130062China
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