SARS-CoV-2 effect on male infertility and its possible pathophysiological mechanisms

First case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. As of now, May 2021, a total of 164,189,004 people were infected, and 3,401,990 deaths have occurred caused by SARS-CoV-2. As SARS-CoV-2 virus cell entry mainly depends on the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins, the presence of high expression levels of both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in testes highlights the possible vulnerability of men to the virus. Other RNA viruses frequently induce orchitis and result in male infertility. This review evaluates the decline in male fertility and a total of 48 original articles were included for the analysis. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive health and male fertility. There is a strong association between the high number of ACE2 receptors in the testes and the COVID-19 viral loads. SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively affects the male reproductive tract. Human biological tissues, including body fluids and excretions, tissues, and organs showed positive results tests for SARS-CoV-2. A disruption in the balance of male reproductive system hormones is also observed. Male gonads may be potentially vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting caution to follow-up and evaluate infected men that have plans to conceive. Further studies are required to determine if this impairment is temporary or permanent, elucidate SARS-CoV-2’s entrance strategies into the testis and how it can affect the semen quality and quantity. We recommend a post-infection follow-up, especially in male patients of reproductive age already having fertility issues.

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Association Between Male fertility and Vitamin D

Journal of Education, Health and Sport ◽

10.12775/jehs.2021.11.08.035 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 322-327

Author(s):

Ewa Piekarska ◽

Mateusz Pawlicki ◽

Anna Łopuszyńska ◽

Magdalena Kozioł ◽

Aleksandra Krasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Vitamin D Insufficiency ◽

Mean Value ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Reproductive Age

Introduction: Infertility affects millions of people of reproductive age worldwide. Male infertility may be caused by a number of different factors including problems in the ejection of semen, absence or low levels of sperm, or abnormal morphology and movement of the sperm. Environmental and lifestyle factors also have a meaningful impact on male reproductive system. Fertility care should include the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder. That is why numerous studies have explored the role of vitamin D in regulating the functioning of the reproductive system.Aim of study: Investigation of correlation between Vitamin D and male fertility.Results: Studies consistently show that Vitamin D deficiency has a negative influence on male fertility. Number of trials show that the mean value of Vitamin D serum levels tend to be significantly lower in infertile men compared to fertile men. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency has been noticed to be associated with poor semen quality (lower sperm concentrations, lower motility). It became evident that vitamin D exhibits positive correlation with the male fertility by maintaining the levels of sex hormones, down regulating oxidative stress and up regulating oxidative defence. Supplementation of Vitamin D may improve the quality and function of sperm by increasing its motility and concentration.Conclusions: Although Vitamin D supplementation cannot be considered for treatment of male infertility itself, physicians should take the vitamin serum levels under consideration while providing treatment for infertile male patients.

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Effect of Apatyakara Ghrita Followed by Koshtha Shuddhi with Haritakyadi Churna in the Management of Ksheena Shukra w.s.r. to Oligozoospermia: A Case Study

AYUSHDHARA ◽

10.47070/ayushdhara.v8i4.773 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 3377-3383

Author(s):

Devesh Jaiman ◽

HML Meena ◽

Bharat Kumar Padhar ◽

Harish Bhakuni

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Genetic Factors ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Common Finding ◽

Testicular Dysfunction ◽

Seminal Parameters ◽

Associated Symptoms

Oligozoospermia is a condition where sperm count is below 15 million/ml and a common finding which is related to male infertility. Some of the known responsible factors for male infertility are poor semen quality, genetic factors, testicular dysfunction and endocrine inter relationship etc. According to Ayurvedic classics, Oligozoospermia can be correlated with Ksheena Shukra which is due to increased Vata and Pitta Dosha being more prevalent in Madhyama Vayas. According to WHO, in India, the overall prevalence of primary infertility ranges between 3.9% and 16.8%. Methods: In this study, a male patient aged 40 years was presented with a desire to get a child and other associated symptoms were Daurbalya (weakness), Mukha Shosha (dryness of the mouth), Sadana (loss of rigidity), Shrama (post act exhaustion), Alpachestata (early ejaculation), Maithune Ashakti (problematic or not satisfactory coitus), Rati Anabhimukhata (loss of sexual desire) etc. The patient was managed with Apatyakara Ghrita followed by Koshtha Shuddhi with Haritakyadi Churna. For the assessment of the effect of therapies on sexual parameters, the scoring pattern prepared by Mehra & Singh, 1995 and Seminal Parameters has been adopted. Results and Conclusion: Apatyakara Ghrita is found effective to increase sperm count from 12 million/ ml to 45 million/ml and motility from 20% to 75% and no adverse effect of the adopted management was seen during treatment and even after the 2 months of follow-up.

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Significance and Relevance of Spermatozoal RNAs to Male Fertility in Livestock

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.768196 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Bijayalaxmi Sahoo ◽

Ratan K. Choudhary ◽

Paramajeet Sharma ◽

Shanti Choudhary ◽

Mukesh Kumar Gupta

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Potential Role ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Circular Rnas ◽

Reproductive Efficiency ◽

Molecular Signatures ◽

Protein Coding ◽

Non Coding Rnas

Livestock production contributes to a significant part of the economy in developing countries. Although artificial insemination techniques brought substantial improvements in reproductive efficiency, male infertility remains a leading challenge in livestock. Current strategies for the diagnosis of male infertility largely depend on the evaluation of semen parameters and fail to diagnose idiopathic infertility in most cases. Recent evidences show that spermatozoa contains a suit of RNA population whose profile differs between fertile and infertile males. Studies have also demonstrated the crucial roles of spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) in spermatogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Thus, the spRNA profile may serve as unique molecular signatures of fertile sperm and may play pivotal roles in the diagnosis and treatment of male fertility. This manuscript provides an update on various spRNA populations, including protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, in livestock species and their potential role in semen quality, particularly sperm motility, freezability, and fertility. The contribution of seminal plasma to the spRNA population is also discussed. Furthermore, we discussed the significance of rare non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in spermatogenic events.

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Male Infertility, Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants

10.5772/intechopen.98204 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vegim Zhaku ◽

Ashok Agarwal ◽

Sheqibe Beadini ◽

Ralf Henkel ◽

Renata Finelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Free Radical Scavengers ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Ros Production ◽

Modus Operandi ◽

Male Reproductive Tract

Within the male reproductive system, oxidative stress (OS) has been identified as prevailing etiology of male infertility. The effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on male fertility depend on the dimensions, “modus operandi” of the ROS and the oxido-reduction potential (ORP) of the male reproductive tract. Hereupon, for an adequate response to OS, the cells of our body are endowed with a well-sophisticated system of defense in order to be protected. Various antioxidant enzymes and small molecular free radical scavengers, maintain the delicate balance between oxidants and reductants (antioxidants), crucial to cellular function and fertility. Therapeutic use of antioxidants is an optimal and coherent option in terms of mitigating OS and improving semen parameters. Therefore, recognizing and managing OS through either decreasing ROS levels or by increasing antioxidant force, appear to be a requesting approach in the management of male infertility. However, a clear defined attitude of the experts about the clinical efficacy of antioxidant therapy is still deprived. Prominently, antioxidant such as coenzyme Q10, vitamin C and E, lycopene, carnitine, zinc and selenium have been found useful in controlling the balance between ROS production and scavenging activities. In spite of that, healthy lifestyle, without smoke and alcohol, everyday exercise, reduction of psychological stress and quality well-designed meals, are habits that can overturn male infertility.

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Influence of Lifestyle and Environmental Factors on Semen Quality in Ghanaian Men

International Journal of Reproductive Medicine ◽

10.1155/2020/6908458 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Richard Michael Blay ◽

Abigail Duah Pinamang ◽

Augustine E. Sagoe ◽

Ewurama Dedea Ampadu Owusu ◽

Nii Koney-Kwaku Koney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Semen Analysis ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Adult Males ◽

Lifestyle Habits

Introduction. Male infertility is known to contribute about half of all infertility cases. In Ghana, the prevalence of male infertility is higher (15.8%) than in females (11.8%). Sperm quality is associated with the likelihood of pregnancy and known to be the cause of male fertility problems 90% of the time. Exposure to certain environmental factors reduces semen quality in men. The study examined the effects of environmental and lifestyle factors on semen quality in Ghanaian men. Materials and Methods. This was a cross-sectional study involving 80 apparent healthy adult males in their reproductive age. Participants were males referred to the laboratory (Immunology Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital) for semen analysis test and/or culture and sensitivity. Participants were made to fill out a questionnaire which entailed selected environmental factors (accidents or trauma, exposure to chemicals, radiation, and heat) and lifestyle habits (including alcohol consumption, smoking, and whether participants sat more or less than 4 hours per day). Semen samples were then collected by masturbation into sterile containers and analysed in accordance with WHO guidance for semen analysis within 60 minutes after ejaculation and collection. Results. About 69% of participants had semen pH within the normal range compared to 15% whose pH were lower than 7.2. There was a significantly high number of immotile sperm cells ( p value = 0.017) in participants who sat for more than 4 hours as compared to those that sat for less than 4 hours in a day. Active sperm motility and viability showed significant increase ( p value = 0.002 and 0.009, respectively) in participants who kept their cell phones in their side pockets. Smoking produced a twofold decrease in sperm count as smokers had a significantly lower sperm count ( 12.28 ± 10.95 × 10 6 /ml) compared to the smoke-free ( 23.85 ± 22.14 × 10 6 /ml). For exposure to STDs, no significant differences were recorded among study groups concerning semen quality. Conclusion. Sperm quality in Ghanaian men is associated with lifestyle habits. Smoking and sitting for long hours influenced sperm motility and count, respectively. Knowledge of the factors that influence sperm quality in this geographical region can contribute to informed decisions on effective management of infertility in Ghanaian men.

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Mesenchymal Stem-Cell Derived Exosome Therapy as a Potential Future Approach for Treatment of Male Infertility Caused by Chlamydia Infection

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.785622 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Mahin Izadi ◽

Laleh Dehghan Marvast ◽

Mohammad Ebrahim Rezvani ◽

Marzieh Zohrabi ◽

Ali Aliabadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cell ◽

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Chlamydia Infection ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Novel Treatments ◽

Microbial Infections

Some microbial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have adverse effects on the reproductive tract, sperm function, and male fertility. Given that STIs are often asymptomatic and cause major complications such as urogenital inflammation, fibrosis, and scarring, optimal treatments should be performed to prevent the noxious effect of STIs on male fertility. Among STIs, Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common asymptomatic preventable bacterial STI. C. trachomatis can affect both sperm and the male reproductive tract. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes have been considered as a new therapeutic medicine due to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and regenerative effects without consequences through the stem cell transplantation based therapies. Inflammation of the genital tract and sperm dysfunction are the consequences of the microbial infections, especially Chlamydia trachomatis. Exosome therapy as a noninvasive approach has shown promising results on the ability to regenerate the damaged sperm and treating asthenozoospermia. Recent experimental methods may be helpful in the novel treatments of male infertility. Thus, it is demonstrated that exosomes play an important role in preventing the consequences of infection, and thereby preventing inflammation, reducing cell damage, inhibiting fibrogenesis, and reducing scar formation. This review aimed to overview the studies about the potential therapeutic roles of MSCs-derived exosomes on sperm abnormalities and male infertility caused by STIs.

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Incidental para-ureteral aggressive angiomyxoma: a rare case report and literature review

BMC Urology ◽

10.1186/s12894-020-00755-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ming Liu ◽

Ting-Shuai Zhai ◽

Xiao-Feng Zhao ◽

Li-Jin Feng ◽

Xin-Sheng Lyu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Rare Case ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Aggressive Angiomyxoma ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Left Ureter ◽

First Case ◽

Rare Case Report

Abstract Background Aggressive angiomyxoma (AA) is a rare tumor that typically occurs in the pelvis and perineum, most commonly in women of reproductive age. However, no para-ureteral AA has been reported according to the literature. Case presentation We herein describe the first case of para-ureteral AA. A 62-year-old male presented to our institute in March 2017 with a para-ureteral mass that was 15 mm in diameter incidentally. No symptom was observed and laboratory analysis was unremarkable. Magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging showed a non-enhancing mass abutting the left ureter without causing obstruction. Laparoscopic resection of the mass was performed without injury to the ureter. Pathologic and immunohistochemical results were consistent with AA. Till now, no recurrence was noticed. Conclusions We reported a rare case of para-ureteral AA, along with a literature review. Early diagnosis, proper surgical plan and long-term close follow-up is recommended for its high risk of recurrence and malignant potential.

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Mitochondrial Functionality in Male Fertility: From Spermatogenesis to Fertilization

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10010098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 98

Author(s):

Yoo-Jin Park ◽

Myung-Geol Pang

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Female Reproductive Tract ◽

Ros Generation ◽

Male Reproductive Tract ◽

Proteomic Data ◽

Epididymal Maturation ◽

Sperm Dna

Mitochondria are structurally and functionally distinct organelles that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), to provide energy to spermatozoa. They can also produce reactive oxidation species (ROS). While a moderate concentration of ROS is critical for tyrosine phosphorylation in cholesterol efflux, sperm–egg interaction, and fertilization, excessive ROS generation is associated with male infertility. Moreover, mitochondria participate in diverse processes ranging from spermatogenesis to fertilization to regulate male fertility. This review aimed to summarize the roles of mitochondria in male fertility depending on the sperm developmental stage (from male reproductive tract to female reproductive tract). Moreover, mitochondria are also involved in testosterone production, regulation of proton secretion into the lumen to maintain an acidic condition in the epididymis, and sperm DNA condensation during epididymal maturation. We also established the new signaling pathway using previous proteomic data associated with male fertility, to understand the overall role of mitochondria in male fertility. The pathway revealed that male infertility is associated with a loss of mitochondrial proteins in spermatozoa, which induces low sperm motility, reduces OXPHOS activity, and results in male infertility.

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Tachykinins and Kisspeptins in the Regulation of Human Male Fertility

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9010113 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 113 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Víctor Blasco ◽

Francisco M. Pinto ◽

Cristina González-Ravina ◽

Esther Santamaría-López ◽

Luz Candenas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Animal Species ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Diagnosis And Treatment ◽

Male Factor ◽

Human Male ◽

Human Fertility ◽

The World

Infertility is a global disease affecting one out of six couples of reproductive age in the world, with a male factor involved in half the cases. There is still much to know about the regulation of human male fertility and thus we decided to focus on two peptide families that seem to play a key role in this function: tachykinins and kisspeptins. With this aim, we conducted an exhaustive review in order to describe the role of tachykinins and kisspeptins in human fertility and their possible implications in infertility etiopathogenesis. Many advances have been made to elucidate the roles of these two families in infertility, and multiple animal species have been studied, including humans. All of this knowledge could lead to new advances in male infertility diagnosis and treatment, but further research is needed to clarify all the implications of tachykinins and kisspeptins in fertility.

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Impact of environmental factors on human semen quality and male fertility: a narrative review

Environmental Sciences Europe ◽

10.1186/s12302-021-00585-w ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Naina Kumar ◽

Amit Kant Singh

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Male Fertility ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Concentration ◽

Main Body ◽

Sperm Dna Fragmentation ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Modifiable Factors

Abstract Background Worldwide rising trend in infertility has been observed in the past few years with male infertility arising as a major problem. One main reason for the rise in male infertility cases is declining semen quality. It was found that any factor that affects semen quality can affect male fertility. There are several modifiable factors affecting semen quality including air pollution, use of pesticides and harmful chemicals, exposure to excessive heat, and can lead to decreased male fertility. Main body The present review focuses on some of these environmental factors that affect semen quality and hence, can cause male infertility. The literature from 2000 till June 2021 was searched from various English peer-reviewed journals and WHO fact sheets using the USA National Library of Medicine (PubMed) database, the regional portal of Virtual Health Library, and Scientific Electronic Library Online. The search terms used were: “Air pollution and male fertility”, “Chemicals and male infertility”, “Heat exposure and infertility”, “heavy metals and male fertility”. Conclusion Adverse environmental factors have a significant impact on semen quality, leading to decreased sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, viability, and increased abnormal sperm morphology, sperm DNA fragmentation, ultimately causing male infertility. However, all these factors are modifiable and reversible, and hence, by mere changing of lifestyle, many of these risk factors can be avoided.

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