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Fu L, Fang F, Guo Y, Ma J, Wang S, Gu Y, Yan X, Lu W, Liu Y. Combined Analysis of the Transcriptome, Proteome and Metabolome in Human Cryopreserved Sperm. World J Mens Health 2024; 42:610-619. [PMID: 38164029 PMCID: PMC11216965 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.230091] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the altered pathways and genes associated with freezing damage in human sperm during cryopreservation by multiomics analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen fresh human semen samples were collected for transcriptomic analysis, and another 5 fresh human semen samples were obtained for metabolomic analysis. For each semen sample, 1 mL was cryopreserved, and another 1 mL was left untreated for paired design. The results were then combined with previously published proteomic results to identify key genes/pathways. RESULTS Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm motility and mitochondrial structure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed altered mitochondrial function, including changes in tRNA-methyltransferase activity and adenosine tri-phosphate/adenosine di-phosphate transmembrane transporter activity. Metabolomic analysis showed that the citrate cycle in mitochondria was significantly altered. Combining transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses revealed 346 genes that were altered in at least two omics analyses. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that metabolic pathways were significantly altered and strongly associated with mitochondria. Five genes were altered in all three omics analyses: COL11A1, COL18A1, LPCAT3, NME1, and NNT. CONCLUSIONS Five genes were identified by multiomics analysis in human cryopreserved sperm. These genes might have specific functions in cryopreservation. Explorations of the functions of these genes will be helpful for sperm cryopreservation and sperm motility improvement or even for reproduction in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longlong Fu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, Human Sperm Bank, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ying Guo
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, Human Sperm Bank, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Hebei Provincial, Hebei Research Institute of Reproductive Health, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shusong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Hebei Provincial, Hebei Research Institute of Reproductive Health, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yiqun Gu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, Human Sperm Bank, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangming Yan
- Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenhong Lu
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, Human Sperm Bank, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Institute of Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Esmeryan KD, Chaushev TA. Cryopreservation of human semen by inherently-controlled icing probability: Or how the surface profile of superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings and the sperm volume affect the outcome of slow freezing? Cryobiology 2024; 115:104863. [PMID: 38395186 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104863] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The restoration of initial functionality of human spermatozoa subjected to cryopreservation is challenging, because the deleterious intracellular icing and the occurrence of osmotic shocks due to prolonged exposure to increased concentrations of intracellular solutes are oppositely dependent on the cooling rate. This longstanding problem could be overcome if using superhydrophobic soot coatings delaying the heat transfer rate, reducing the ice formation probability and triggering balanced and timely dehydration of the cells, but the effect of their surface profile and sperm volume on the success rate of slow freezing is unclear. Here, we show for the first time that the two-factor freezing injury is entirely avoidable by tailoring the solid-to-gas voids (pores) fraction in the soot, leading to increased nucleation free energy barrier, presumable incipiency of ice crystals with controllable shape and size and hence, fully (100 %) recovered post-thaw sperm motility. It is demonstrated that the reason for such a unique scientific result is the selection of soot coatings with appropriate morphochemical features, hypothetically (not directly proven yet) inducing equilibrium among the solution composition and ice crystals formation, retarding the undesirable compression of liquid-filled "slush ice" channels surrounding the cytoplasm and impeding the ice recrystallization. The novel insights introduced in this article open endless horizon for customizing and revolutionizing the technical protocols in cryobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karekin D Esmeryan
- Acoustoelectronics Laboratory, Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72, Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd., 1784, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Todor A Chaushev
- Specialized Surgical Hospital "Doctor Malinov", 46, Gotse Delchev Blvd., 1860, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Torra-Massana M, Miguel-Escalada I, Vassena R, Rodríguez A. Long-term storage of vitrified oocytes does not affect pregnancy and live birth rates: analysis of 5362 oocyte donation cycles. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:103228. [PMID: 37308341 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.04.019] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Does long-term storage of vitrified oocytes affect laboratory and reproductive outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection? DESIGN Retrospective cohort study including 41,783 vitrified-warmed oocytes from 5362 oocyte donation cycles between 2013 and 2021. Five categories of storage time were established to analyse its effect on clinical and reproductive outcomes (≤1 year [reference group], 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years and >4 years). RESULTS The mean number of warmed oocytes was 8.0 ± 2.5 oocytes. Oocyte storage time ranged from 3 days to 8.2 years (mean: 0.7 ± 0.9). Mean oocyte survival (90.2% ± 14.7% overall) did not significantly decrease with longer storage time after adjusting for confounders (88.9% for time >4 years, P = 0.963). A linear regression model did not show a significant effect of oocyte storage time on fertilization rate (about 70% in all time categories) (P > 0.05). Reproductive outcomes after the first embryo transfer were statistically comparable across storage times (P > 0.05 for all categories). Longer term oocyte storage (>4 years) did not affect the chances of clinical pregnancy (OR 0.700, 95% CI 0.423 to 1.158, P = 0.2214) or live birth (OR 0.716, 95% CI 0.425 to 1.208, P = 0.2670). CONCLUSIONS Oocyte survival, fertilization rate, pregnancy and live birth rates are not affected by the time spent by vitrified oocytes in vapour-phase nitrogen tanks.
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Marchiani S, Degl'Innocenti S, Dabizzi S, Tamburrino L, Fino MG, Traini G, Calamai C, Maggi M, Vignozzi L, Baldi E, Lotti F. Semen Cryopreservation for Men Banking for Oligozoospermia, Cancers, and Other Conditions: 24 Years' Experience of an Italian Bank. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4657. [PMID: 37510772 PMCID: PMC10380851 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm cryopreservation is recommended to preserve male fertility for cancer patients or other medical conditions at risk of sperm decline. Whether motility and viability recovery rates vary depending on the medical conditions requiring cryopreservation is poorly known. We report here on the 24-year experience of our semen bank. METHODS Motility and viability recovery rates were evaluated in 1973 collections from patients with various medical conditions and 67 collections from donors, and the results were related to basal semen quality. RESULTS Motility and viability recovery were highly related to basal semen quality and varied between cancer and non-cancer conditions, independently of the duration of cryopreservation and patient age. In samples with a sperm number below 2 × 106/mL, recovery rates approximated to zero. The highest recovery rates were found in donor collections. Cut-off values for the recovery of at least 1% motile spermatozoa were established based on initial semen quality. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the occurrence of any pathological or medical condition resulted in lower recovery rates with respect to donors, indicating that intrinsic sperm characteristics drive susceptibility to cryodamage. Established cut-off values for motility recovery can be useful for patient counseling as well as for ART laboratories to decide the type of procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Marchiani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Selene Degl'Innocenti
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Dabizzi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Lara Tamburrino
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Fino
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Traini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Costanza Calamai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Baldi
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Lotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Andrology, Women's Endocrinology and Gender Incongruence Unit, Center for Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy
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Ozimic S, Ban-Frangez H, Stimpfel M. Sperm Cryopreservation Today: Approaches, Efficiency, and Pitfalls. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4716-4734. [PMID: 37367049 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45060300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The cryopreservation of human spermatozoa has been an option for patients undergoing chemo or radiotherapies since the late 1950s. Presently, there are different techniques for the cryopreservation of spermatozoa. The most commonly used techniques are programmable slow freezing and freezing on liquid nitrogen vapors, while the use of vitrification is still not accepted as clinically relevant. Although there have been many improvements, the ideal technique for achieving better post-thaw sperm quality continues to be a mystery. A major obstacle during cryopreservation is the formation of intracellular ice crystals. Cryodamage generated by cryopreservation causes structural and molecular alterations in spermatozoa. Injuries can happen because of oxidative stress, temperature stress, and osmotic stress, which then result in changes in the plasma membrane fluidity, motility, viability, and DNA integrity of the spermatozoa. To prevent cryodamage as much as possible, cryoprotectants are added, and in some clinical trial cases, even antioxidants that may improve post-thaw sperm quality are added. This review discusses cryopreservation techniques, cryodamage on molecular and structural levels, and cryoprotectants. It provides a comparison of cryopreservation techniques and describes recent advances in those techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanja Ozimic
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Helena Ban-Frangez
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Stimpfel
- Department of Human Reproduction, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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