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Kashir J, Mistry BV, Rajab MA, BuSaleh L, Abu-Dawud R, Ahmed HA, Alharbi S, Nomikos M, AlHassan S, Coskun S, Assiri AM. The mammalian sperm factor phospholipase C zeta is critical for early embryo division and pregnancy in humans and mice. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:1256-1274. [PMID: 38670547 PMCID: PMC11145019 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae078] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are sperm phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) profiles linked to the quality of embryogenesis and pregnancy? SUMMARY ANSWER Sperm PLCζ levels in both mouse and humans correlate with measures of ideal embryogenesis whereby minimal levels seem to be required to result in successful pregnancy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY While causative factors underlying male infertility are multivariable, cases are increasingly associated with the efficacy of oocyte activation, which in mammals occurs in response to specific profiles of calcium (Ca2+) oscillations driven by sperm-specific PLCζ. Although sperm PLCζ abrogation is extensively linked with human male infertility where oocyte activation is deficient, less is clear as to whether sperm PLCζ levels or localization underlies cases of defective embryogenesis and failed pregnancy following fertility treatment. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A cohort of 54 couples undergoing fertility treatment were recruited at the assisted reproductive technology laboratory at the King Faisal Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The recruitment criteria for males was a minimum sperm concentration of 5×106 sperm/ml, while all female patients had to have at least five oocytes. Sperm PLCζ analysis was performed in research laboratories, while semen assessments were performed, and time-lapse morphokinetic data were obtained, in the fertility clinic as part of routine treatment. The CRISPR/Cas9 system was concurrently used to induce indels and single-nucleotide mutations within the Plcζ gene to generate strains of Plcζ mutant mice. Sperm PLCζ was evaluated using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting with an antibody of confirmed consistent specificity against PLCζ. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We evaluated PLCζ profiles in sperm samples from 54 human couples undergoing fertility treatment in the context of time-lapse morphokinetic analysis of resultant embryos, correlating such profiles to pregnancy status. Concurrently, we generated two strains of mutant Plcζ mice using CRISPR/Cas9, and performed IVF with wild type (WT) oocytes and using WT or mutant Plcζ sperm to generate embryos. We also assessed PLCζ status in WT and mutant mice sperm in the context of time-lapse morphokinetic analysis and breeding outcomes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive relationship was observed between both PLCζ relative fluorescence and relative density with the times taken for both the second cell division (CC2) (r = 0.26 and r = 0.43, respectively) and the third cell division (S2) (r = 0.26). Examination of localization patterns also indicated significant correlations between the presence or absence of sperm PLCζ and CC2 (r = 0.27 and r = -0.27, respectively; P ≤ 0.025). Human sperm PLCζ levels were at their highest in the ideal times of CC2 (8-12 h) compared to time ranges outside the ideal timeframe (<8 and >12 h) where levels of human sperm PLCζ were lower. Following assignment of PLCζ level thresholds, quantification revealed a significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) rate of successful pregnancy in values larger than the assigned cut-off for both relative fluorescence (19% vs 40%, respectively) and relative density (8% vs 54%, respectively). Immunoblotting indicated a single band for PLCζ at 74 kDa in sperm from WT mice, while a single band was also observed in sperm from heterozygous of Plcζ mutant mouse sperm, but at a diminished intensity. Immunofluorescent analysis indicated the previously reported (Kashir et al., 2021) fluorescence patterns in WT sperm, while sperm from Plcζ mutant mice exhibited a significantly diminished and dispersed pattern at the acrosomal region of the sperm head. Breeding experiments indicated a significantly reduced litter size of mutant Plcζ male mice compared to WT mice, while IVF-generated embryos using sperm from mutant Plcζ mice exhibited high rates of polyspermy, and resulted in significantly reduced numbers of these embryos reaching developmental milestones. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The human population examined was relatively small, and should be expanded to examine a larger multi-centre cohort. Infertility conditions are often multivariable, and it was not possible to evaluate all these in human patients. However, our mutant Plcζ mouse experiments do suggest that PLCζ plays a significant role in early embryo development. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS We found that minimal levels of PLCζ within a specific range were required for optimal early embryogenesis, correlating with increased pregnancy. Levels of sperm PLCζ below specific thresholds were associated with ineffective embryogenesis and lower pregnancy rates, despite eliciting successful fertilization in both mice and humans. To our knowledge, this represents the first time that PLCζ levels in sperm have been correlated to prognostic measures of embryogenic efficacy and pregnancy rates in humans. Our data suggest for the first time that the clinical utilization of PLCζ may stand to benefit not just a specific population of male infertility where oocyte activation is completely deficient (wherein PLCζ is completely defective/abrogated), but also perhaps the larger population of couples seeking fertility treatment. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) J.K. is supported by a faculty start up grant awarded by Khalifa University (FSU-2023-015). This study was also supported by a Healthcare Research Fellowship Award (HF-14-16) from Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) to J.K., alongside a National Science, Technology, and Innovation plan (NSTIP) project grant (15-MED4186-20) awarded by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for J.K. and A.M.A. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bhavesh V Mistry
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed A Rajab
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lujain BuSaleh
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Abu-Dawud
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hala A Ahmed
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Alharbi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michail Nomikos
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Saad AlHassan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Serdar Coskun
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Assiri
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Sheibak N, Amjadi F, Shamloo A, Zarei F, Zandieh Z. Microfluidic sperm sorting selects a subpopulation of high-quality sperm with a higher potential for fertilization. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:902-911. [PMID: 38461455 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae045] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is a microfluidic sperm sorter (MSS) able to select higher quality sperm compared to conventional methods? SUMMARY ANSWER The MSS selects sperm with improved parameters, lower DNA fragmentation, and higher fertilizing potential. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY To date, the few studies that have compared microfluidics sperm selection with conventional methods have used heterogeneous study population and have lacked molecular investigations. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The efficiency of a newly designed MSS in isolating high-quality sperm was compared to the density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim-up (SU) methods, using 100 semen samples in two groups, during 2023-2024. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Semen specimens from 50 normozoospermic and 50 non-normozoospermic men were sorted using MSS, DGC, and SU methods to compare parameters related to the quality and fertilizing potential of sperm. The fertilizing potential of sperm was determined by measurement of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and post-acrosomal sheath WW domain-binding protein (PAWP) expression using flow cytometry, and the chromatin dispersion test was used to assess sperm DNA damage. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In both normozoospermic and non-normozoospermic groups, the MSS-selected sperm with the highest progressive motility, PLCζ positive expression and PLCζ and PAWP fluorescence intensity the lowest non-progressive motility, and minimal DNA fragmentation, compared to sperm selected by DGC and SU methods (P < 0.05). LIMITATION, REASONS FOR CAUTION The major limitations of our study were the low yield of sperm in the MSS chips and intentional exclusion of severe male factor infertility to yield a sufficient sperm count for molecular experiments; thus testing with severe oligozoospermic semen and samples with low count and motility is still required. In addition, due to ethical considerations, at present, it was impossible to use the sperm achieved from MSS in the clinic to assess the fertilization rate and further outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our research presents new evidence that microfluidic sperm sorting may result in the selection of high-quality sperm from raw semen. This novel technology might be a key to improving clinical outcomes of assisted reproduction in infertile patients. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study is funded by the Iran University of Medical Sciences and no competing interest exists. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Sheibak
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemehsadat Amjadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Zarei
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zandieh
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Parrella A, Medrano L, Aizpurua J, Gómez-Torres MJ. Phospholipase C Zeta in Human Spermatozoa: A Systematic Review on Current Development and Clinical Application. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1344. [PMID: 38279344 PMCID: PMC10815952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021344] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
During fertilization, the fusion of the spermatozoa with the oocytes causes the release of calcium from the oocyte endoplasmatic reticulum. This, in turn, triggers a series of calcium ion (Ca2+) oscillations, a process known as oocyte activation. The sperm-specific factor responsible for oocyte activation is phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). Men undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with their spermatozoa lacking PLCζ are incapable of generating Ca2+ oscillation, leading to fertilization failure. The immunofluorescence assay is the most used technique to assess the expression and localization of PLCζ and to diagnose patients with reduced/absent ability to activate the oocytes. In these patients, the use of assisted oocyte activation (AOA) technique can help to yield successful ICSI results and shorten the time of pregnancy. However, the production of a stable PLCζ recombinant protein represents a new powerful therapeutic approach to treating individuals with this condition. We aim to conduct a systematic review focusing on the expression, level, and localization of PLCζ, discussing the novel genetic mutation associated with its impairment. In addition, we highlight the benefits of AOA, looking at new and less invasive methods to diagnose and treat cases with PLCζ dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Parrella
- IVF Life, Reproductive Medicine, 03540 Alicante, Spain; (A.P.); (L.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Llanos Medrano
- IVF Life, Reproductive Medicine, 03540 Alicante, Spain; (A.P.); (L.M.); (J.A.)
| | - Jon Aizpurua
- IVF Life, Reproductive Medicine, 03540 Alicante, Spain; (A.P.); (L.M.); (J.A.)
- Cátedra Human Fertility, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
| | - María José Gómez-Torres
- Cátedra Human Fertility, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
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Gonzalez-Castro RA, Carnevale EM. Phospholipase C Zeta 1 (PLCZ1): The Function and Potential for Fertility Assessment and In Vitro Embryo Production in Cattle and Horses. Vet Sci 2023; 10:698. [PMID: 38133249 PMCID: PMC10747197 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120698] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Phospholipase C Zeta 1 (PLCZ1) is considered a major sperm-borne oocyte activation factor. After gamete fusion, PLCZ1 triggers calcium oscillations in the oocyte, resulting in oocyte activation. In assisted fertilization, oocyte activation failure is a major cause of low fertility. Most cases of oocyte activation failures in humans related to male infertility are associated with gene mutations and/or altered PLCZ1. Consequently, PLCZ1 evaluation could be an effective diagnostic marker and predictor of sperm fertilizing potential for in vivo and in vitro embryo production. The characterization of PLCZ1 has been principally investigated in men and mice, with less known about the PLCZ1 impact on assisted reproduction in other species, such as cattle and horses. In horses, sperm PLCZ1 varies among stallions, and sperm populations with high PLCZ1 are associated with cleavage after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In contrast, bull sperm is less able to initiate calcium oscillations and undergo nuclear remodeling, resulting in poor cleavage after ICSI. Advantageously, injections of PLCZ1 are able to rescue oocyte failure in mouse oocytes after ICSI, promoting full development and birth. However, further research is needed to optimize PLCZ1 diagnostic tests for consistent association with fertility and to determine whether PLCZ1 as an oocyte-activating treatment is a physiological, efficient, and safe method for improving assisted fertilization in cattle and horses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elaine M. Carnevale
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
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Beiraghdar M, Beiraghdar M, Khosravi S. The methylation status of GATA3 potentially predicts the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. HUM FERTIL 2023; 26:1279-1285. [PMID: 36625441 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2023.2164871] [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: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of methylation status of genes in sperm samples has been suggested for diagnosis of male infertility as well as prognosis of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes. In this study, we compared the methylation pattern of the GATA3 gene in infertile and fertile men as well as in infertile men with positive and negative ART outcome based on clinical pregnancy. Ejaculates were obtained from 42 infertile men with a negative ART outcome (group 1), 30 infertile men with a positive ART outcome (group 2), and 21 fertile men (control). Then, samples were subjected to genomic DNA isolation and subsequent TUNEL assay and methylation-specific PCR. The number of infertile men with at least one methylated allele of GATA3 was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.022). Also, the number of patients with at least one methylated allele was significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.013). Moreover, the TUNEL assay revealed that the amount of sperm DNA fragmentation is higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.008). The findings of our study demonstrated that the degree of GATA3 methylation can potentially differentiate between infertile and fertile men and more importantly can potentially predict the outcome of ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Beiraghdar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University of Center Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mozhdeh Beiraghdar
- Department of pathology, specialist of anatomical and clinical pathology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sharifeh Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
- Genetic Lab in Majesty of Maryam Infertility Center, Martyr Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
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Salehi Novin M, Mehdizadeh A, Artimani T, Bakhtiari M, Mehdizadeh M, Aflatoonian R, Zandieh Z. MACS-DGC sperm preparation method resulted in high-quality sperm, top-quality embryo, and higher blastocyst rate in male factor infertile couples with high DNA fragmented sperm. HUM FERTIL 2023; 26:1408-1416. [PMID: 37469268 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2023.2236297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Conventional sperm selection based on motility and morphology fails to provide detailed information on sperm functional and molecular status. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) protocol aims to optimize this process by selecting apoptotic sperm cells. Phospholipase C zeta-1 (PLCz1) is a physiological stimulus for oocyte activation and early embryonic development. The purpose of this study was to examine seminal parameters, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and PLCz1 expression levels in MACS-DGC sorted specimens (DFI > 30%) and assess early development in resulting embryos. Semen specimens from 60 patients diagnosed with male factor infertility were collected and processed by either density gradient centrifugation (DGC) or MACS-DGC protocols. Pre and post-preparation analysis was performed. PLCz1 expression was assessed using the RT-PCR method. Retrieved eggs from their partners were divided into two groups in which they were injected with different sorted sperm. The fertilization rate and embryonic development were evaluated. While sperm's progressive motility and morphology significantly improved, there was a substantial decline in DFI following MACS-DGC. Fertilization rates were almost the same between the groups, and the latter resulted in remarkably more top-quality embryos and more blastocysts. PLCz1 expression was considerably higher in the MACS-DGC group. By eliminating apoptotic cells, the MACS-DGC technique could sort highly PLCz1-expressed sperm, optimize sperm selection in individuals with elevated DFI, development of resulting embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tayebe Artimani
- Endometrium & Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Bakhtiari
- Department of Anatomy, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mehdizadeh
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Aflatoonian
- Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Centre, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zandieh
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Okubo T, Onda N, Hayashi T, Kobayashi T, Omi K, Segawa T. Performing a sperm DNA fragmentation test in addition to semen examination based on the WHO criteria can be a more accurate diagnosis of IVF outcomes. BMC Urol 2023; 23:78. [PMID: 37120514 PMCID: PMC10148994 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-023-01257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We analyzed the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and general semen test based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and compared the two tests using semen factors. In addition, we examined whether DFI is a reliable parameter associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. METHODS Sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) and general semen tests were conducted in accordance with the WHO 2010 guidelines, and correlations between the two tests were investigated. The WHO criteria were set as the cutoff values for each of the following factors: semen volume, concentration, total sperm count, motility, and normal morphology, and compared with the DFI results. RESULTS The subjects had a mean sperm DFI of 15.3% ± 12.6%, and the DFI increased with age. In contrast, motility and normal morphology decreased as the DFI increased. Patients who satisfied the WHO criteria in terms of concentration, total sperm count, and motility had a significantly lower DFI than those who did not satisfy the criteria. Therefore, evaluation with a general semen test based on the WHO criteria should be regarded as a qualitative evaluation of all factors other than semen volume and normal morphology. CONCLUSIONS High DFI (≥ 30%) caused a low blastocyst development rate following intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Male infertility due to DFI should be suspected when IVF results are poor despite normal semen findings based on the WHO criteria. The results of this study suggest that the SCD test may more accurately evaluate the correlation between IVF clinical outcomes and male infertility. Therefore, it is important to focus on DFI measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Okubo
- Shimbashi Yume Clinic, 2-5-1 Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan.
| | - Noriyuki Onda
- Shimbashi Yume Clinic, 2-5-1 Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan
| | - Teruaki Hayashi
- Shimbashi Yume Clinic, 2-5-1 Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kobayashi
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana Chuo-ku, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Kenji Omi
- Shimbashi Yume Clinic, 2-5-1 Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan
| | - Tomoya Segawa
- Shimbashi Yume Clinic, 2-5-1 Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan
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The Therapeutic and Diagnostic Potential of Phospholipase C Zeta, Oocyte Activation, and Calcium in Treating Human Infertility. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030441. [PMID: 36986540 PMCID: PMC10056371 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oocyte activation, a fundamental event during mammalian fertilisation, is initiated by concerted intracellular patterns of calcium (Ca2+) release, termed Ca2+ oscillations, predominantly driven by testis-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). Ca2+ exerts a pivotal role in not just regulating oocyte activation and driving fertilisation, but also in influencing the quality of embryogenesis. In humans, a failure of Ca2+ release, or defects in related mechanisms, have been reported to result in infertility. Furthermore, mutations in the PLCζ gene and abnormalities in sperm PLCζ protein and RNA, have been strongly associated with forms of male infertility where oocyte activation is deficient. Concurrently, specific patterns and profiles of PLCζ in human sperm have been linked to parameters of semen quality, suggesting the potential for PLCζ as a powerful target for both therapeutics and diagnostics of human fertility. However, further to PLCζ and given the strong role played by Ca2+ in fertilisation, targets down- and up-stream of this process may also present a significantly similar level of promise. Herein, we systematically summarise recent advancements and controversies in the field to update expanding clinical associations between Ca2+-release, PLCζ, oocyte activation and human fertility. We discuss how such associations may potentially underlie defective embryogenesis and recurrent implantation failure following fertility treatments, alongside potential diagnostic and therapeutic avenues presented by oocyte activation for the diagnosis and treatment of human infertility.
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Analyzing the Differential Impact of Semen Preparation Methods on the Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Techniques. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020467. [PMID: 36831003 PMCID: PMC9953211 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020467] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm separation plays a critical role in assisted reproductive technology. Based on migration, density gradient centrifugation and filtration, a properly selected sperm could help in increasing assisted reproductive outcomes in teratozoospermia (TZs). The current study aimed to assess the prognostic value of four sperm selection techniques: density gradient centrifugation (DGC), swim-up (SU), DGC-SU and DGC followed by magnetic-activated cell sorting (DGC-MACS). These were evaluated using spermatozoa functional parameters. A total of 385 infertile couples underwent the procedure of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with an isolated teratozoospermia in the male partner. Semen samples were prepared by using one of the mentioned sperm preparation techniques. The improvements in the percentage of normal mature spermatozoa, rate of fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy and the number of live births were assessed. The normal morphology, spermatozoa DNA fragmentation (SDF) and chromatin maturity checked by using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) with DGC-MACS preparation were better compared to the other three methods. Embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and implantation were better improved in the DGC-MACS than in the other tested techniques. The DGC-MACS technique helped in the selection of an increased percentage of normal viable and mature sperm with intact chromatin integrity in patients with teratozoospermia.
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Kashir J, Mistry BV, BuSaleh L, Nomikos M, Almuqayyil S, Abu-Dawud R, AlYacoub N, Hamdan H, AlHassan S, Lai FA, Assiri AM, Coskun S. Antigen Unmasking Is Required to Clinically Assess Levels and Localisation Patterns of Phospholipase C Zeta in Human Sperm. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:198. [PMID: 37259347 PMCID: PMC9962097 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mammalian oocyte activation is initiated by intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations, driven by the testis-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). Sperm PLCζ analysis represents a diagnostic measure of sperm fertilisation capacity. The application of antigen unmasking/retrieval (AUM) generally enhanced the visualisation efficacy of PLCζ in mammalian sperm, but differentially affected the PLCζ profiles in sperm from different human males. It is unclear whether AUM affects the diagnosis of PLCζ in human sperm. Herein, we examined whether the application of AUM affected the correlation of PLCζ profiles with sperm parameters and fertilisation capacity. PLCζ fluorescence levels and localisation patterns were examined within the sperm of males undergoing fertility treatment (55 patients aged 29-53) using immunofluorescence in the absence/presence of AUM. The changes in PLCζ profiles following AUM were examined in relation to sperm health and fertilisation outcome. AUM enhanced the observable levels and specific localisation patterns of PLCζ in relation to both optimal sperm parameters and fertilisation outcome, without which significant differences were not observed. The extent of the change in levels and localisation ratios of PLCζ was also affected to a larger degree in terms of the optimal parameters of sperm fertility and fertilisation capacity by AUM. Collectively, AUM was essential to accurately assesses PLCζ in human sperm in both scientific and clinical contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bhavesh V. Mistry
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lujain BuSaleh
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michail Nomikos
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Sarah Almuqayyil
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Abu-Dawud
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadya AlYacoub
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamdan Hamdan
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saad AlHassan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - F. Anthony Lai
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Abdullah M. Assiri
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Serdar Coskun
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Bibi R, Jahan S, Kafeel Qureshi S, Razak S, Afsar T, Almajwal A, Kafeel Qureshi M, Hammadeh ME, Amor H. Analysis of sperm chromatin packaging and reproductive biomarker to evaluate the consequence of advanced male age. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1092603. [PMID: 37124745 PMCID: PMC10140363 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1092603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the semen parameters, sperm chromatin integrity, antioxidant enzyme levels, and reproductive hormone levels of subfertile male subjects from Pakistan were assessed in relation to their age. Data on the demographic characteristics of the 750 study participants, including their general health, body mass index (BMI), and reproductive status, were collected from subfertile men from Pakistan. Semen and blood were collected to determine standard semen parameters, sperm chromatin dispersion (Halosperm-SCD), sperm chromatin integrity using toluidine blue (TB) staining, sperm chromatin maturity using chromomycin A3 (CMA3+) staining, and reproductive hormone (FSH, LH, prolactin and testosterone levels). The patients were divided into three groups according to their age: Group 1 included male subjects aged 30 years or less (n = 90), Group 2 included male subjects between the ages of 31 and 40 years (n = 330), and Group 3 included male subjects over 40 years of age (n = 330). Conventional semen parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) did not statistically (p > 0.05) differ with increasing male age or between different age groups. When compared to younger men (<30 years), sperm SCD (23.2 ± 0.88%) was significantly (p = 0.01) lower as compared to male patients aged >40 years (26.6 ± 0.6%). The concentration of LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were comparable between the groups (p > 0.05), while a significant (p = 0.04) increase in sperm chromatin immaturity CMA3+ (30 ± 0.71%) was observed in the old age group (>40 years) compared to the <30-year group (26.6 ± 1.03%). A positive association was observed between advanced male age and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) (r = 0.124, p = 0.001) and decondensation (CMA3+) (r = 0.1, p = 0.009). Despite potential limitations, this study has been carried out with extensive information on the potential risk of male age on sperm integrity. The present study demonstrated the impact of male age on male reproductive health, as these patients had a higher percentage of sperm chromatin damage (SCD) in their semen. Sperm DNA damage assessment will help in the evaluation and diagnosis of the underlying cause of poor fertility and can help clinicians in selecting the right treatment options. Male age is one of the factors that have an impact on the decline in male fertility. As a result, it is preferable for patients receiving assisted reproductive technology to be younger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riffat Bibi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Riffat Bibi, ; Suhail Razak,
| | - Sarwat Jahan
- Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Salma Kafeel Qureshi
- Department of Reproductive Health Sciences, Salma and Kafeel Medical Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Suhail Razak
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Riffat Bibi, ; Suhail Razak,
| | - Tayyaba Afsar
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Almajwal
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashal Kafeel Qureshi
- Department of Reproductive Health Sciences, Salma and Kafeel Medical Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Eid Hammadeh
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Saarland University Clinic, Homburg, Germany
| | - Houda Amor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Saarland University Clinic, Homburg, Germany
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12
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Do follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphisms in infertile men influence intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes? A prospective cohort study. ZYGOTE 2022; 30:809-818. [PMID: 36134751 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor regulate the quantity and quality of spermatozoa production. Several studies have analyzed the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon 10 of the FSH receptor (FSHR) on basic semen parameters without yet reaching a firm consensus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of p.Thr307Ala and p.Asn680Ser polymorphisms in exon 10 of the FSHR gene, in infertile men, on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. This study was conducted between March 2019 and February 2020 on infertile couples undergoing ICSI at Al Hadi Laboratory and Medical Center, Lebanon. Couples with severe infertility factors that may impair gametogenesis/embryogenesis (e.g. advanced maternal age, premature ovarian failure, underwent gonadotoxic treatments, etc.) were excluded from the study. Semen and blood samples were collected from infertile men on the day of oocyte collection. Infertile men (n = 173) were screened for FSHR variants using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Moreover, fertilization rates, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Higher sperm concentrations were found in the p.Thr307Ala group than the p.Thr307Thr (P < 0.01) and p.Ala307Ala (P < 0.05) groups. Furthermore, fertilization rate was significantly lower in the p.Ala307Ala genotype than in the p.Thr307Thr genotype (P < 0.05). We showed that FSHR variants in infertile men undergoing ICSI could affect sperm concentration, motility, and fertilization rates. Therefore, it will be important to confirm these results in further studies using a larger sample size.
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13
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Mirsanei JS, Sheibak N, Zandieh Z, Mehdizadeh M, Aflatoonian R, Tabatabaei M, Mousavi AS, Amjadi F. Microfluidic chips as a method for sperm selection improve fertilization rate in couples with fertilization failure. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2022; 306:901-910. [PMID: 35650258 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06618-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sperm quality plays a vital role in successful fertilization and pregnancy. Patients with fertilization failure (total failure or low-fertilization rate) despite having normal semen parameters are a challenging group whose sperm cannot fertilize the oocyte via the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique. Microfluidics is offered as a new method for proper sperm sorting. METHODS This study aimed to evaluate sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), expression of phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCZ1), and transition nuclear proteins 1 (TNP1) mRNAs in sperm selected by microfluidic sperm sorting (MSS) chip compared with conventional density gradient centrifugation technique in patients with fertilization failure following ICSI. Subsequence fertilization rate and embryo quality were assayed. RESULTS Normal morphology and total motility were significantly higher, and DFI was significantly lower in sperm selected by the MSS chip in fertilization failure and control groups. The RT-PCR results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of PLCZ1 and TNP1 genes in sperm of both groups selected by MSS chips compared to the DGC method. In addition, with the selected sperm by MSS chip, an increase in fertilization rate and improvement of embryo quality was obtained. CONCLUSION The present study findings show that sperm sorting by the microfluidic method improves fertilization rate in patients with poor fertilization outcomes following ICSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamileh Sadat Mirsanei
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nadia Sheibak
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zandieh
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mehdizadeh
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Aflatoonian
- Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryamsadat Tabatabaei
- Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Sadat Mousavi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemehsadat Amjadi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Shahid Akbarabadi Clinical Research Development Unit (ShACRDU), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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14
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Meng X, Melo P, Jones C, Ross C, Mounce G, Turner K, Child T, Coward K. Use of phospholipase C zeta analysis to identify candidates for artificial oocyte activation: a case series of clinical pregnancies and a proposed algorithm for patient management. Fertil Steril 2021; 114:163-174. [PMID: 32622408 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.02.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the applicability of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) analysis in assisting the clinical decision-making process when considering artificial oocyte activation (AOA) for infertile males in assisted reproductive technology. DESIGN Fifty-six males (43 infertile/13 fertile) were screened using our PLCζ assay. SETTING Fertility unit/university laboratory. PATIENT(S) Infertile males with abnormal sperm morphology or total fertilization failure, low fertilization rate (<50%), or repeated fertilization failure in assisted reproductive technology. INTERVENTION(S) We analyzed PLCζ levels in sperm from fertile and infertile males. Eligible patients subsequently underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)/artificial oocyte activation (AOA) with calcimycin (GM508). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) PLCζ localization and level and the proportion of sperm expressing PLCζ. Thresholds of PLCζ deficiency, fertilization rates, pregnancy rates, and live birth rates of AOA and non-AOA cycles. RESULT(S) Compared with 13 fertile controls, 34 of the 43 infertile males had significantly lower levels of PLCζ and/or a significantly lower proportion of sperm exhibiting PLCζ. Of these 34 patients, 15 showed a significant PLCζ reduction in both parameters, which we termed "PLCζ deficiency." Five PLCζ-deficient patients opted for AOA; all five achieved fertilization, and four achieved clinical pregnancies and live births. The fertilization rate improved significantly from 18.6% (ICSI) to 56.8% (ICSI/AOA). The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate with AOA were both 40% per initiated cycle. Youden index analysis revealed that the cutoffs below which infertile males were likely to benefit from AOA were 71% for the proportion of sperm expressing PLCζ and 15.57 arbitrary units for mean PLCζ level. CONCLUSION(S) PLCζ analysis is a useful diagnostic tool to determine patient eligibility for subsequent AOA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Meng
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Pedro Melo
- The Women's Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Celine Jones
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ginny Mounce
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Turner
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford Fertility, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Child
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford Fertility, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Coward
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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15
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Pantos K, Sfakianoudis K, Maziotis E, Rapani A, Karantzali E, Gounari-Papaioannou A, Vaxevanoglou T, Koutsilieris M, Simopoulou M. Abnormal fertilization in ICSI and its association with abnormal semen parameters: a retrospective observational study on 1855 cases. Asian J Androl 2021; 23:376-385. [PMID: 33510051 PMCID: PMC8269831 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_84_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) efficiently addresses male factor infertility. However, the occurrence of abnormal fertilization, mainly characterized by abnormal pronuclei (PN) patterns, merits investigation. To investigate abnormal fertilization patterns following ICSI and identify their respective associations with abnormal parameters in semen analysis (SA), a retrospective observational study including 1855 cycles was performed. Male infertility diagnosis relied on the 2010 WHO criteria. The population was divided into groups based on their SA results. The presence of 2PNs and extrusion of the second polar body (PB) indicated normal fertilization. A Kruskal–Wallis test along with a Wilcoxon post hoc evaluation and Bonferroni correction was employed for comparison among the groups. For the pregnancy rate, logistic regression was employed. No correlation was established between the SA abnormalities and the 1PN or 3PN formation rates. The highest and lowest 0PN rates were reported for the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic and normal groups, respectively. The lowest cleavage formation rates were identified in the oligoasthenozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic groups. The aforementioned groups along with the oligoteratozoospermic group similarly presented the lowest blastocyst formation rates. For the clinical pregnancy rate, no statistically significant difference was observed. In conclusion, the incidence of two or more abnormal SA parameters – with the common denominator being oligozoospermia – may jeopardize normal fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst rates. Once the developmental milestone of achieving blastocyst stage status was achieved, only oligoasthenozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia were associated with lower rates. Interestingly, following adjustment for the number of blastocysts, no statistically significant differences were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Pantos
- Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, 14-16 Papanikoli, Chalandri, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Sfakianoudis
- Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, 14-16 Papanikoli, Chalandri, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Evangelos Maziotis
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Anna Rapani
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Eleni Karantzali
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Artemis Gounari-Papaioannou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Terpsithea Vaxevanoglou
- Centre for Human Reproduction, Genesis Athens Clinic, 14-16 Papanikoli, Chalandri, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Michael Koutsilieris
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Mara Simopoulou
- Department of Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias, Athens 11527, Greece
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16
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Gonzalez-Castro RA, Amoroso-Sanches F, Stokes JE, Graham JK, Carnevale EM. Localisation of phospholipase Cζ1 (PLCZ1) and postacrosomal WW-binding protein (WBP2 N-terminal like) on equine spermatozoa and flow cytometry quantification of PLCZ1 and association with cleavage in vitro. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 31:1778-1792. [PMID: 31597592 DOI: 10.1071/rd19217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oocyte activation is initiated when a fertilising spermatozoon delivers sperm-borne oocyte-activating factor(s) into the oocyte cytoplasm. Candidates for oocyte activation include two proteins, phospholipase Cζ1 (PLCZ1) and postacrosomal WW-binding protein (PAWP; also known as WBP2 N-terminal like (WBP2NL)). We localised PLCZ1 and WBP2NL/PAWP in stallion spermatozoa and investigated the PLCZ1 content and sperm parameters as well as cleavage after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). PLCZ1 was identified as 71-kDa protein in the acrosomal and postacrosomal regions, midpiece and principal piece of the tail. Anti-WBP2NL antibody identified two WBP2NL bands (~28 and ~32kDa) in the postacrosomal region, midpiece and principal piece of the tail. PLCZ1 and WBP2NL expression was positively correlated (P=0.04) in sperm heads. Flow cytometry evaluation of PLCZ1 revealed large variations in fluorescence intensity and the percentage of positively labelled spermatozoa among stallions. PLCZ1 expression was significantly higher in viable than non-viable spermatozoa, and DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated with PLCZ1 expression and the percentage of positively labelled spermatozoa (P<0.05). The use of equine sperm populations considered to have high versus low PLCZ1 content resulted in significantly higher cleavage rates after ICSI of bovine and equine oocytes, supporting the importance of PLCZ1 for oocyte activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul A Gonzalez-Castro
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3101 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
| | - Fabio Amoroso-Sanches
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3101 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
| | - JoAnne E Stokes
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3101 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
| | - James K Graham
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3101 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
| | - Elaine M Carnevale
- Equine Reproduction Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 3101 Rampart Rd, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA; and Corresponding author.
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17
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Kashir J, Mistry BV, BuSaleh L, Abu-Dawas R, Nomikos M, Ajlan A, Abu-Dawud R, AlYacoub N, AlHassan S, Lai FA, Assiri AM, Coskun S. Phospholipase C zeta profiles are indicative of optimal sperm parameters and fertilisation success in patients undergoing fertility treatment. Andrology 2020; 8:1143-1159. [PMID: 32298520 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oocyte activation is driven by intracellular calcium (Ca2+ ) oscillations induced by sperm-specific PLCζ, abrogation of which causes oocyte activation deficiency in humans. Clinical PLCζ investigations have been limited to severe male infertility conditions, while PLCζ levels and localisation patterns have yet to be associated with general sperm viability. MATERIALS AND METHODS PLCζ profiles were examined within a general population of males attending a fertility clinic (65 patients; aged 29-53), examining PLCζ throughout various fractions of sperm viability. Male recruitment criteria required a minimum sperm count of 5 × 106 spermatozoa/mL, while all female patients included in this study yielded at least five oocytes for treatment. Sperm count, motility and semen volume were recorded according to standard WHO reference guidelines and correlated with PLCζ profiles examined via immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Appropriate fertility treatments were performed following routine clinical standard operating protocols, and fertilisation success determined by successful observation of second polar body extrusion. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Four distinct PLCζ patterns were observed at the equatorial, acrosomal + equatorial regions of the sperm head, alongside a dispersed pattern, and a population of spermatozoa without any PLCζ. Acrosomal + equatorial PLCζ correlated most to sperm health, while dispersed PLCζ correlated to decreased sperm viability. Total levels of PLCζ exhibited significant correlations with sperm parameters. PLCζ variance corresponded to reduced sperm health, potentially underlying cases of male sub-fertility and increasing male age. Finally, significantly higher levels of PLCζ were exhibited by cases of fertilisation success, alongside higher proportions of Ac + Eq, and lower levels of dispersed PLCζ. CONCLUSIONS PLCζ potentially represents a biomarker of sperm health, and fertilisation capacity in general cases of patients seeking fertility treatment, and not just cases of repeated fertilisation. Further focused investigations are required with larger cohorts to examine the full clinical potential of PLCζ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.,Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Bhavesh V Mistry
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Lujain BuSaleh
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Reema Abu-Dawas
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Michail Nomikos
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ahmed Ajlan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Abu-Dawud
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadya AlYacoub
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad AlHassan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - F Anthony Lai
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdullah M Assiri
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Serdar Coskun
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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18
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Kashir J. Increasing associations between defects in phospholipase C zeta and conditions of male infertility: not just ICSI failure? J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 37:1273-1293. [PMID: 32285298 PMCID: PMC7311621 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01748-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Oocyte activation is a fundamental event at mammalian fertilization. In mammals, this process is initiated by a series of characteristic calcium (Ca2+) oscillations, induced by a sperm-specific phospholipase C (PLC) termed PLCzeta (PLCζ). Dysfunction/reduction/deletion of PLCζ is associated with forms of male infertility where the sperm is unable to initiate Ca2+ oscillations and oocyte activation, specifically in cases of fertilization failure. This review article aims to systematically summarize recent advancements and controversies in the field to update expanding clinical associations between PLCζ and various male factor conditions. This article also discusses how such associations may potentially underlie defective embryogenesis and recurrent implantation failure following fertility treatments, alongside potential diagnostic and therapeutic PLCζ approaches, aiming to direct future research efforts to utilize such knowledge clinically. METHODS An extensive literature search was performed using literature databases (PubMed/MEDLINE/Web of Knowledge) focusing on phospholipase C zeta (PLCzeta; PLCζ), oocyte activation, and calcium oscillations, as well as specific male factor conditions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Defective PLCζ or PLCζ-induced Ca2+ release can be linked to multiple forms of male infertility including abnormal sperm parameters and morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidation, and abnormal embryogenesis/pregnancies. Such sperm exhibit absent/reduced levels, and abnormal localization patterns of PLCζ within the sperm head. CONCLUSIONS Defective PLCζ and abnormal patterns of Ca2+ release are increasingly suspected a significant causative factor underlying abnormalities or insufficiencies in Ca2+ oscillation-driven early embryogenic events. Such cases could potentially strongly benefit from relevant therapeutic and diagnostic applications of PLCζ, or even alternative mechanisms, following further focused research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. .,School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. .,Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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19
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Darmishonnejad Z, Zarei-Kheirabadi F, Tavalaee M, Zarei-Kheirabadi M, Zohrabi D, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Relationship between sperm telomere length and sperm quality in infertile men. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13546. [PMID: 32189393 DOI: 10.1111/and.13546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, noncoding and repetitive DNA sequences play a significant function in chromatin integrity. Telomere length is age-dependent in somatic cells, while it increases in sperm cell with age. Therefore, we aimed to assess sperm chromatin, leucocyte and sperm telomere length (LTL, STL) in spermatozoon of 38 infertile and 19 fertile men aged between 20 and 50 years. Protamine deficiency (chromomycin A3 test), DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay), lipid peroxidation (Bodipy probe) and telomere length (quantitative real-time PCR) were assessed. A significant decrease in mean of sperm concentration and motility and a significant increase in means of sperm abnormal morphology, DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation and protamine deficiency were observed in infertile compared with fertile men. In addition, the mean of LTL and STL were significantly shorter in infertile men compared with fertile individuals. We observed significant associations between telomere length with sperm concentration, DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation. We hypothesised that increased oxidative stress in spermatozoa of infertile men can result in abnormal packaging of chromatin, damage of DNA and shorter sperm telomere length. Together, these anomalies may account for fertility failure in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Darmishonnejad
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Zarei-Kheirabadi
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, NourDanesh Institute of Higher Education, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Zarei-Kheirabadi
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Dina Zohrabi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, NourDanesh Institute of Higher Education, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.,Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran
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20
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Darmishonnejad Z, Tavalaee M, Izadi T, Tanhaei S, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Evaluation of sperm telomere length in infertile men with failed/low fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Reprod Biomed Online 2019; 38:579-587. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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21
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Tahamtan S, Tavalaee M, Izadi T, Barikrow N, Zakeri Z, Lockshin RA, Abbasi H, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Reduced sperm telomere length in individuals with varicocele is associated with reduced genomic integrity. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4336. [PMID: 30867501 PMCID: PMC6416405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40707-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Varicocele, defined as enlarged varicose veins in the scrotum, is the most common identifiable cause of male infertility. There are significant correlations between oxidative stress and varicocele-related infertility due to testicular hyperthermia, which can result in low sperm function. In addition, recent excessive oxidative stress can affect sperm telomere length and integrity of sperm DNA. Therefore, we assessed sperm telomere length as a potential marker of paternal genome integrity and leukocyte telomere length as an internal control (real-time PCR), along with sperm chromatin status (TUNEL and chromomycin A3 assay), and lipid peroxidation (Bodipy probe) in 18 infertile men with grade II or III varicocele, and 20 fertile men. Means of sperm parameters, sperm and leukocyte telomere length were significantly lower, while means of sperm DNA fragmentation, protamine deficiency, and lipid peroxidation were significantly higher in infertile men with varicocele compared to fertile men. Therefore, shortened telomere length in sperm and leukocytes is likely associated with increased oxidative stress related to the state of varicocele, which also accounts for increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Thus, assessment of leukocyte telomere length could be taken as an indicator of antioxidant capacity in an individual, which also affects sperm function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Tahamtan
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences & Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, (IAUPS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Tayebeh Izadi
- Department of Cellular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nooshin Barikrow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences & Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, (IAUPS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Zakeri
- Department of Biology, Queens College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Richard A Lockshin
- Department of Biology, Queens College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Hosseini Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran. .,Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran.
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22
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Ghandehari-Alavijeh R, Tavalaee M, Zohrabi D, Foroozan-Broojeni S, Abbasi H, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Hypoxia pathway has more impact than inflammation pathway on etiology of infertile men with varicocele. Andrologia 2018; 51:e13189. [DOI: 10.1111/and.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rana Ghandehari-Alavijeh
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology; ACECR; Isfahan Iran
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science; NourDanesh Institute of Higher Education; Isfahan Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology; ACECR; Isfahan Iran
| | - Dina Zohrabi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science; NourDanesh Institute of Higher Education; Isfahan Iran
| | - Shaqayeq Foroozan-Broojeni
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology; ACECR; Isfahan Iran
| | | | - Mohammad H. Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology; ACECR; Isfahan Iran
- Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center; Isfahan Iran
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23
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Kashir J, Nomikos M, Lai FA. Phospholipase C zeta and calcium oscillations at fertilisation: The evidence, applications, and further questions. Adv Biol Regul 2017; 67:148-162. [PMID: 29108881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Oocyte activation is a fundamental event at mammalian fertilisation, initiated by a series of characteristic calcium (Ca2+) oscillations in mammals. This characteristic pattern of Ca2+ release is induced in a species-specific manner by a sperm-specific enzyme termed phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ). Reduction or absence of functional PLCζ within sperm underlies male factor infertility in humans, due to mutational inactivation or abrogation of PLCζ protein expression. Underlying such clinical implications, a significant body of evidence has now been accumulated that has characterised the unique biochemical and biophysical properties of this enzyme, further aiding the unique clinical opportunities presented. Herein, we present and discuss evidence accrued over the past decade and a half that serves to support the identity of PLCζ as the mammalian sperm factor. Furthermore, we also discuss the potential novel avenues that have yet to be examined regarding PLCζ mechanism of action in both the oocyte, and the sperm. Finally, we discuss the advances that have been made regarding the clinical therapeutic and diagnostic applications of PLCζ in potentially treating male infertility as a result of oocyte activation deficiency (OAD), and also possibly more general cases of male subfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Kashir
- College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; Alfaisal University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Department of Comparative Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Michail Nomikos
- College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - F Anthony Lai
- College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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