scholarly journals Role of sperm apoptosis and oxidative stress in male infertility: A narrative review

Author(s):  
Asadollah Asadi ◽  
Rozita Ghahremani ◽  
Arash Abdolmaleki ◽  
Farzad Rajaei

Activation of caspase, externalization of phosphatidyl serine, change in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation are apoptosis markers found in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Also, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in the different types of male infertility. In this review, data sources including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct were searched for publications with no particular time restriction to get a holistic and comprehensive view of the research. Apoptosis regulates the male germ cells, correct function and development from the early embryonic stages of gonadal differentiation to fertilization. In addition to maintaining a reasonable ratio between the Sertoli and germ cells, apoptosis is one of the well-known quality control mechanisms in the testis. Also, high ROS levels cause a heightened and dysregulated apoptotic response. Apoptosis is one of the well-known mechanisms of quality control in the testis. Nevertheless, increased apoptosis may have adverse effects on sperm production. Recent studies have shown that ROS and the consequent oxidative stress play a crucial role in apoptosis. This review aims to assimilate and summarize recent findings on the apoptosis in male reproduction and fertility. Also, this review discusses the update on the role of ROS in normal sperm function to guide future research in this area. Key words: Fertility, Spermatogonia, Apoptosis, Reproduction, DNA fragmentation, DNA integrity, ROS.

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Leila Rashki Ghaleno ◽  
AliReza Alizadeh ◽  
Joël R. Drevet ◽  
Abdolhossein Shahverdi ◽  
Mojtaba Rezazadeh Valojerdi

One important reason for male infertility is oxidative stress and its destructive effects on sperm structures and functions. The particular composition of the sperm membrane, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the easy access of sperm DNA to oxidative damage due to sperm cell specific cytologic and metabolic features (no cytoplasm left and cells unable to mount stress responses) make it the cell type in metazoans most susceptible to oxidative damage. In particular, oxidative damage to the spermatozoa genome is an important issue and a cause of male infertility, usually associated with single- or double-strand paternal DNA breaks. Various methods of detecting sperm DNA fragmentation have become important diagnostic tools in the prognosis of male infertility and such assays are available in research laboratories and andrology clinics. However, to date, there is not a clear consensus in the community as to their respective prognostic value. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that the effects of oxidative stress on the sperm genome go well beyond DNA fragmentation alone. Oxidation of paternal DNA bases, particularly guanine and adenosine residues, the most sensitive residues to oxidative alteration, is the starting point for DNA damage in spermatozoa but is also a danger for the integrity of the embryo genetic material independently of sperm DNA fragmentation. Due to the lack of a spermatozoa DNA repair system and, if the egg is unable to correct the sperm oxidized bases, the risk of de novo mutation transmission to the embryo exists. These will be carried on to every cell of the future individual and its progeny. Thus, in addition to affecting the viability of the pregnancy itself, oxidation of the DNA bases in sperm could be associated with the development of conditions in young and future adults. Despite these important issues, sperm DNA base oxidation has not attracted much interest among clinicians due to the lack of simple, reliable, rapid and consensual methods of assessing this type of damage to the paternal genome. In addition to these technical issues, another reason explaining why the measurement of sperm DNA oxidation is not included in male fertility is likely to be due to the lack of strong evidence for its role in pregnancy outcome. It is, however, becoming clear that the assessment of DNA base oxidation could improve the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies and provide important information on embryonic developmental failures and pathologies encountered in the offspring. The objective of this work is to review relevant research that has been carried out in the field of sperm DNA base oxidation and its associated genetic and epigenetic consequences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 10043
Author(s):  
Sulagna Dutta ◽  
Pallav Sengupta ◽  
Petr Slama ◽  
Shubhadeep Roychoudhury

Inflammation is among the core causatives of male infertility. Despite male infertility being a serious global issue, “bits and pieces” of its complex etiopathology still remain missing. During inflammation, levels of proinflammatory mediators in the male reproductive tract are greater than usual. According to epidemiological research, in numerous cases of male infertility, patients suffer from acute or chronic inflammation of the genitourinary tract which typically occurs without symptoms. Inflammatory responses in the male genital system are inextricably linked to oxidative stress (OS). OS is detrimental to male fertility parameters as it causes oxidative damage to reproductive cells and intracellular components. Multifarious male infertility causative factors pave the way for impairing male reproductive functions via the common mechanisms of OS and inflammation, both of which are interlinked pathophysiological processes, and the occurrence of any one of them induces the other. Both processes may be simultaneously found in the pathogenesis of male infertility. Thus, the present article aims to explain the role of inflammation and OS in male infertility in detail, as well as to show the mechanistic pathways that link causative factors of male reproductive tract inflammation, OS induction, and oxidant-sensitive cellular cascades leading to male infertility.


Andrologia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. e13126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Agarwal ◽  
Mohit Rana ◽  
Emily Qiu ◽  
Hashem AlBunni ◽  
Albert D. Bui ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livio Casarini ◽  
Pascale Crépieux ◽  
Eric Reiter ◽  
Clara Lazzaretti ◽  
Elia Paradiso ◽  
...  

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) supports spermatogenesis acting via its receptor (FSHR), which activates trophic effects in gonadal Sertoli cells. These pathways are targeted by hormonal drugs used for clinical treatment of infertile men, mainly belonging to sub-groups defined as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism or idiopathic infertility. While, in the first case, fertility may be efficiently restored by specific treatments, such as pulsatile gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) or choriogonadotropin (hCG) alone or in combination with FSH, less is known about the efficacy of FSH in supporting the treatment of male idiopathic infertility. This review focuses on the role of FSH in the clinical approach to male reproduction, addressing the state-of-the-art from the little data available and discussing the pharmacological evidence. New compounds, such as allosteric ligands, dually active, chimeric gonadotropins and immunoglobulins, may represent interesting avenues for future personalized, pharmacological approaches to male infertility.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Muratori ◽  
Lara Tamburrino ◽  
Sara Marchiani ◽  
Marta Cambi ◽  
Biagio Olivito ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiane Valentini Francisqueti-Ferron ◽  
Artur Junio Togneri Ferron ◽  
Jéssica Leite Garcia ◽  
Carol Cristina Vágula de Almeida Silva ◽  
Mariane Róvero Costa ◽  
...  

The transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is one of the most important oxidative stress regulator in the human body. Once Nrf2 regulates the expression of a large number of cytoprotective genes, it plays a crucial role in the prevention of several diseases, including age-related disorders. However, the involvement of Nrf2 on these conditions is complex and needs to be clarified. Here, a brief compilation of the Nrf2 enrollment in the pathophysiology of the most common age-related diseases and bring insights for future research on the Nrf2 pathway is described. This review shows a controversial response of this transcriptional factor on the presented diseases. This reinforces the necessity of more studies to investigate modulation strategies for Nrf2, making it a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of age-related disorders.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Johnston ◽  
Paul R. Ebert

Oxidative stress is a toxic state caused by an imbalance between the production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS cause oxidative damage to cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. While the role of ROS in cellular damage is frequently all that is noted, ROS are also important in redox signalling. The “Redox Hypothesis" has been proposed to emphasize a dual role of ROS. This hypothesis suggests that the primary effect of changes to the redox state is modified cellular signalling rather than simply oxidative damage. In extreme cases, alteration of redox signalling can contribute to the toxicity of ROS, as well as to ageing and age-related diseases. The nematode speciesCaenorhabditis elegansprovides an excellent model for the study of oxidative stress and redox signalling in animals. We use protein sequences from central redox systems inHomo sapiens,Drosophila melanogaster, andSaccharomyces cerevisiaeto query Genbank for homologous proteins inC. elegans. We then use maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis to compare protein families betweenC. elegansand the other organisms to facilitate future research into the genetics of redox biology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.P. Pimenov ◽  
◽  
M.I. Andryukhin ◽  

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