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Mu Y, Zhou X, Li L, Liu X, Wen X, Zhang L, Yan B, Zhang W, Dong K, Hu H, Liao Y, Ye Z, Deng A, Wang Y, Mao Z, Yang M, Xiao X. Automatic high-throughput and non-invasive selection of sperm at the biochemical level. MED 2024; 5:603-621.e7. [PMID: 38608708 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.008] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm selection, a key step in assisted reproductive technology (ART), has long been restrained at the preliminary physical level (morphology or motility); however, subsequent fertilization and embryogenesis are complicated biochemical processes. Such an enormous "gap" poses tough problems for couples dealing with infertility, especially patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia . METHODS We developed a biochemical-level, automatic-screening/separation, smart droplet-TO-hydrogel chip (BLASTO-chip) for sperm selection. The droplet can sense the pH change caused by sperm's respiration products and then transforms into a hydrogel to be selected out. FINDINGS The BLASTO-chip system can select biochemically active sperm with an accuracy of over 90%, and its selection efficiency can be flexibly tuned by nearly 10-fold. All the substances in the system were proven to be biosafe via evaluating mice fertilization and offspring health. Live sperm down to 1% could be enriched by over 76-fold to 76%. For clinical application to patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia, the BLASTO-chip could select live sperm from human semen samples containing 10% live but 100% immotile sperm. The rates of fertilization, cleavage, early embryos, and blastocysts were drastically elevated from 15% to 70.83%, 10% to 62.5%, 5% to 37.5%, and 0% to 16.67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The BLASTO-chip represents a real biochemical-level technology for sperm selection that is completely independent of sperm's motility. It can be a powerful tool in ART, especially for patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia. FUNDING This work was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Education of China, and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Hetao Cooperation Zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoqin Mu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology (FRI), Department of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology and Biotech and Health Centre (SRI), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Longjie Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Xiaowen Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care Affiliated to Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xu Wen
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Bei Yan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Kejun Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430023, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yangwei Liao
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhengxin Ye
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Aimin Deng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care Affiliated to Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology (FRI), Department of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology and Biotech and Health Centre (SRI), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zenghui Mao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care Affiliated to Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology (FRI), Department of Biomedical Sciences and Tung Biomedical Sciences Centre, Key Laboratory of Biochip Technology and Biotech and Health Centre (SRI), City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xianjin Xiao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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Bouloorchi Tabalvandani M, Saeidpour Z, Habibi Z, Javadizadeh S, Firoozabadi SA, Badieirostami M. Microfluidics as an emerging paradigm for assisted reproductive technology: A sperm separation perspective. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:23. [PMID: 38652182 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00705-2] [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] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Millions of people are subject to infertility worldwide and one in every six people, regardless of gender, experiences infertility at some period in their life, according to the World Health Organization. Assisted reproductive technologies are defined as a set of procedures that can address the infertility issue among couples, culminating in the alleviation of the condition. However, the costly conventional procedures of assisted reproduction and the inherent vagaries of the processes involved represent a setback for its successful implementation. Microfluidics, an emerging tool for processing low-volume samples, have recently started to play a role in infertility diagnosis and treatment. Given its host of benefits, including manipulating cells at the microscale, repeatability, automation, and superior biocompatibility, microfluidics have been adopted for various procedures in assisted reproduction, ranging from sperm sorting and analysis to more advanced processes such as IVF-on-a-chip. In this review, we try to adopt a more holistic approach and cover different uses of microfluidics for a variety of applications, specifically aimed at sperm separation and analysis. We present various sperm separation microfluidic techniques, categorized as natural and non-natural methods. A few of the recent developments in on-chip fertilization are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zahra Saeidpour
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Zahra Habibi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Saeed Javadizadeh
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Seyed Ahmadreza Firoozabadi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran.
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3
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Miller DJ. Sperm in the Mammalian Female Reproductive Tract: Surfing Through the Tract to Try to Beat the Odds. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2024; 12:301-319. [PMID: 37906840 PMCID: PMC11149062 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-040629] [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] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm are deposited in the vagina or the cervix/uterus at coitus or at artificial insemination, and the fertilizing sperm move through the female reproductive tract to the ampulla of the oviduct, the site of fertilization. But the destination of most sperm is not the oviduct. Most sperm are carried by retrograde fluid flow to the vagina, are phagocytosed, and/or do not pass barriers on the pathway to the oviduct. The sperm that reach the site of fertilization are the exceptions and winners of one of the most stringent selection processes in nature. This review discusses the challenges sperm encounter and how the few sperm that reach the site of fertilization overcome them. The sperm that reach the goal must navigate viscoelastic fluid, swim vigorously and cooperatively along the walls of the female tract, avoid the innate immune system, and respond to potential cues to direct their movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Miller
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA;
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4
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Dai P, Chen C, Yu J, Ma C, Zhang X. New insights into sperm physiology regulation: Enlightenment from G-protein-coupled receptors. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 38225815 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13593] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND G-protein-coupled receptors are critical in many physiological and pathological processes in various organs. Serving as the control panel for sensing extracellular stimuli, G-protein-coupled receptors recognise various ligands, including light, temperature, odours, pheromones, hormones, neurotransmitters, chemokines, etc. Most recently, G-protein-coupled receptors residing in spermatozoa have been found to be indispensable for sperm function. OBJECTIVE Here, we have summarised cutting-edge findings on the functional mechanisms of G-protein-coupled receptors that are known to be associated with sperm functions and the activation of their downstream effectors, providing new insights into the roles of G-protein-coupled receptors in sperm physiology. RESULTS Emerging studies hint that alterations in G-protein-coupled receptors could affect sperm function, implicating their role in fertility, but solid evidence needs to be continuing excavated with various means. Several members of the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily, including olfactory receptors, opsins, orphan G-protein-coupled receptors, CXC chemokine receptor 4, CC chemokine receptor 5 and CC chemokine receptor 6 as well as their downstream effector β-arrestins, etc., were suggested to be essential for sperm motility, capacitation, thermotaxis, chemotaxis, Ca2+ influx through CatSper channel and fertilisation capacity. CONCLUSION The present review provides a comprehensive overview of studies describing G-protein-coupled receptors and their potential action in sperm function. We also present a critical discussion of these issues, and a possible framework for future investigations on the diverse ligands, biological functions and cell signalling of G-protein-coupled receptors in spermatozoa. Here, the G-protein-coupled receptors and their related G proteins that specifically were identified in spermatozoa were summarised, and provided references valuable for further illumination, despite the evidence that is not overwhelming in most cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyuan Dai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Chen Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Jingyan Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Chaoye Ma
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Xiaoning Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
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Shukla SK, Gaudriault P, Corbera A. Lab-on-chip (LoC) application for quality sperm selection: An undelivered promise? OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 3:188. [PMID: 38645796 PMCID: PMC11031645 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.16671.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Quality sperm selection is essential to ensure the effectiveness of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, the methods employed for sperm selection in ART often yield suboptimal outcomes, contributing to lower success rates. In recent years, microfluidic devices have emerged as a promising avenue for investigating the natural swimming behavior of spermatozoa and developing innovative approaches for quality sperm selection. Despite their potential, the commercial translation of microfluidic-based technologies has remained limited. This comprehensive review aims to critically evaluate the inherent potential of lab-on-chip technology in unraveling sophisticated mechanisms encompassing rheotaxis, thermotaxis, and chemotaxis. By reviewing the current state-of-the-art associated with microfluidic engineering and the swimming of spermatozoa, the goal is to shed light on the multifaceted factors that have impeded the broader commercialization of these cutting-edge technologies and recommend a commercial that can surmount the prevailing constraints. Furthermore, this scholarly exploration seeks to enlighten and actively engage reproductive clinicians in the profound potential and implications of microfluidic methodologies within the context of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva K Shukla
- Research and Development Unit, Beez Biotech SAS, RENNES, Ille-et-Villain, 35000, France
| | - Pierre Gaudriault
- Research and Development Unit, Cherry Biotech SAS, Paris, 93100, France
| | - Antoni Corbera
- Research and Development Unit, Cherry Biotech SAS, Paris, 93100, France
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Springer MS, Emerling CA, Gatesy J. Three Blind Moles: Molecular Evolutionary Insights on the Tempo and Mode of Convergent Eye Degeneration in Notoryctes typhlops (Southern Marsupial Mole) and Two Chrysochlorids (Golden Moles). Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2018. [PMID: 38002961 PMCID: PMC10671557 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112018] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Golden moles (Chrysochloridae) and marsupial moles (Notoryctidae) are textbook examples of convergent evolution. Both taxa are highly adapted to subterranean lifestyles and have powerful limbs for digging through the soil/sand, ears that are adapted for low-frequency hearing, vestigial eyes that are covered by skin and fur, and the absence of optic nerve connections between the eyes and the brain. The eyes of marsupial moles also lack a lens as well as retinal rods and cones. Two hypotheses have been proposed to account for the greater degeneracy of the eyes of marsupial moles than golden moles. First, marsupial moles may have had more time to adapt to their underground habitat than other moles. Second, the eyes of marsupial moles may have been rapidly and recently vestigialized to (1) reduce the injurious effects of sand getting into the eyes and (2) accommodate the enlargement of lacrimal glands that keep the nasal cavity moist and prevent the entry of sand into the nasal passages during burrowing. Here, we employ molecular evolutionary methods on DNA sequences for 38 eye genes, most of which are eye-specific, to investigate the timing of relaxed selection (=neutral evolution) for different groups of eye-specific genes that serve as proxies for distinct functional components of the eye (rod phototransduction, cone phototransduction, lens/cornea). Our taxon sampling included 12 afrothere species, of which two are golden moles (Amblysomus hottentotus, Chrysochloris asiatica), and 28 marsupial species including two individuals of the southern marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops). Most of the sequences were mined from databases, but we also provide new genome data for A. hottentotus and one of the two N. typhlops individuals. Even though the eyes of golden moles are less degenerate than the eyes of marsupial moles, there are more inactivating mutations (e.g., frameshift indels, premature stop codons) in their cone phototransduction and lens/cornea genes than in orthologous genes of the marsupial mole. We estimate that cone phototransduction recovery genes were inactivated first in each group, followed by lens/cornea genes and then cone phototransduction activation genes. All three groups of genes were inactivated earlier in golden moles than in marsupial moles. For the latter, we estimate that lens/cornea genes were inactivated ~17.8 million years ago (MYA) when stem notoryctids were burrowing in the soft soils of Australian rainforests. Selection on phototransduction activation genes was relaxed much later (5.38 MYA), during the early stages of Australia's aridification that produced coastal sand plains and eventually sand dunes. Unlike cone phototransduction activation genes, rod phototransduction activation genes are intact in both golden moles and one of the two individuals of N. typhlops. A second marsupial mole individual has just a single inactivating mutation in one of the rod phototransduction activation genes (PDE6B). One explanation for this result is that some rod phototransduction activation genes are pleiotropic and are expressed in extraocular tissues, possibly in conjunction with sperm thermotaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Springer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | | | - John Gatesy
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA;
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De Toni L, Finocchi F, Jawich K, Ferlin A. Global warming and testis function: A challenging crosstalk in an equally challenging environmental scenario. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1104326. [PMID: 36726592 PMCID: PMC9885165 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1104326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental pollution, accounting for both chemical and physical factors, is a major matter of concern due to its health consequences in both humans and animals. The release of greenhouse gases with the consequent increase in environmental temperature is acknowledged to have a major impact on the health of both animals and humans, in current and future generations. A large amount of evidence reports detrimental effects of acute heat stress on testis function, particularly on the spermatogenetic and steroidogenetic process, in both animal and human models, wich is largely related to the testis placement within the scrotal sac and outside the abdomen, warranting an overall scrotal temperature of 2°C-4°C lower than the core body temperature. This review will provide a thorough evaluation of environmental temperature's effect on testicular function. In particular, basic concepts of body thermoregulation will be discussed together with available data about the association between testis damage and heat stress exposure. In addition, the possible association between global warming and the secular decline of testis function will be critically evaluated in light of the available epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca De Toni
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy,*Correspondence: Luca De Toni,
| | - Federica Finocchi
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Kenda Jawich
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria,Department of Biochemistry, International University for Science and Technology, Daraa, Syria
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Doostabadi MR, Mangoli E, Marvast LD, Dehghanpour F, Maleki B, Torkashvand H, Talebi AR. Microfluidic devices employing chemo- and thermotaxis for sperm selection can improve sperm parameters and function in patients with high DNA fragmentation. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14623. [PMID: 36379719 DOI: 10.1111/and.14623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional sperm processing uses centrifugation has a negative effect on sperm parameters and DNA integrity. We designed and fabricated a novel microfluid device based on chemotaxis and thermotaxis, and compared it with the swim-up method. Twenty normal samples with high DNA fragmentation were included. Each sample was divided into four groups: Group 1, control, Group 2: sperm selection by thermotaxis, Group 3: sperm selection by chemotaxis, and Group 4: sperm selection with thermotaxis and chemotaxis. We used cumulus cells in a microfluid device to create chemotaxis, and, two warm stages to form a temperature gradient for thermotaxis. The spermatozoa were assessed based on the concentration, motility, and fine morphology using Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acrosome reaction (AR), and sperm DNA fragmentation. Concentration (22.40 ± 5.39 vs. 66.50 ± 19.21; p < 0.001) and DNA fragmentation (12.30 ± 3.96% vs. 17.95 ± 2.89%; p < 0.001) after selection in the chemotaxis and thermotaxis microfluid device were significantly lower than control group. The progressive motility (93.75 ± 4.39% vs. 75.55 ± 5.86%, p < 0.001), normal morphology (15.45 ± 2.50% vs. 10.35 ± 3.36, p < 0.001), MMP (97.65 ± 1.81% vs. 94 ± 3.89%, p = 0.02), and AR status (79.20 ± 5.28% vs. 31.20 ± 5.24%, p < 0.001) in the chemotaxis and thermotaxis microfluid device were significantly increased compared to control group. According to these findings, spermatozoa that have penetrated the cumulus oophorus have better morphology and motility, as well as acrosome reactivity and DNA integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Doostabadi
- International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Royesh Infertility Center, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran
| | - Esmat Mangoli
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Laleh Dehghan Marvast
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Dehghanpour
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Behnam Maleki
- Infertility Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hossein Torkashvand
- Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Reza Talebi
- International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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