scholarly journals A Review on Environmental Contaminants-Related Fertility Threat in Male Fishes: Effects and Possible Mechanisms of Action Learned from Wildlife and Laboratory Studies

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2817
Author(s):  
Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi ◽  
Sepideh Barzegar-Fallah ◽  
Parastoo Rahdar ◽  
Mohammad Mahdi Ahmadi ◽  
Mina Yavari ◽  
...  

Increasing global rates of diminished fertility in males has been suggested to be associated with exposure to environmental contaminants (ECs). The aquatic environments are the final repository of ECs. As the reproductive system is conserved in vertebrates, studies on the effects of ECs on fertility endpoints in fishes provide us with valuable information to establish biomarkers in risk assessment of ECs, and to understand the ECs-related fertility threat. The aim of the present review was to evaluate associations between ECs and fertility determinants to better understand ECs-related male fertility threat in male fishes. Wildlife studies show that the reproductive system has been affected in fishes sampled from the polluted aquatic environment. The laboratory studies show the potency of ECs including natural and synthetic hormones, alkylphenols, bisphenols, plasticizers, pesticides, pharmaceutical, alkylating, and organotin agents to affect fertility determinants, resulting in diminished fertility at environmentally relevant concentrations. Both wildlife and laboratory studies reveal that ECs adverse effects on male fertility are associated with a decrease in sperm production, damage to sperm morphology, alternations in sperm genome, and decrease in sperm motility kinetics. The efficiency of ECs to affect sperm quality and male fertility highly depends on the concentration of the contaminants and the duration of exposure. Our review highlights that the number of contaminants examined over fertility tests are much lower than the number of contaminants detected in our environment. The ECs effects on fertility are largely unknown when fishes are exposed to the contaminants at early developmental stages. The review suggests the urgent need to examine ECs effects on male fertility when a fish is exposed at different developmental stages in a single or combination protocol. The ECs effects on the sperm genome are largely unknown to understand ECs-related inheritance of reproductive disorders transmitted to the progeny. To elucidate modes of action of ECs on sperm motility, it is needed to study functional morphology of the motility apparatus and to investigate ECs-disrupted motility signaling.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Tongtong Zhang ◽  
Xiaohan Ren ◽  
Xinglin Chen ◽  
ShangQian Wang ◽  
...  

Pyrethroids may be related to male reproductive system damage. However, the results of many previous studies are contradictory and uncertain. Therefore, a systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to assess the relationship between pyrethroid exposure and male reproductive system damage. A total of 72 articles were identified, among which 57 were selected for meta-analysis, and 15 were selected for qualitative analysis. Pyrethroid exposure affected sperm count (SMD= -2.0424; 95% CI, -2.4699 to -1.6149), sperm motility (SMD=-3.606; 95% CI, -4.5172 to -2.6948), sperm morphology (SMD=2.686; 95% CI, 1.9744 to 3.3976), testis weight (SMD=-1.1591; 95% CI, -1.6145 to -0.7038), epididymal weight (SMD=-1.1576; 95% CI, -1.7455 to -0.5697), and serum testosterone level (SMD=-1.9194; 95% CI, -2.4589 to -1.3798) in the studies of rats. We found that gestational and lactational exposure to pyrethroids can reduce sperm count (SMD=1.8469; 95% CI, -2.9010 to -0.7927), sperm motility (SMD=-2.7151; 95% CI, -3.9574 to -1.4728), testis weight (SMD=-1.4361; 95% CI, -1.8873 to -0.9848), and epididymal weight (SMD=-0.6639; 95% CI, -0.9544 to -0.3733) of F1 offspring. Exposure to pyrethroids can increase malondialdehyde (SMD=3.3451; 95% CI 1.9914 to 4.6988) oxide in testes and can reduce the activities of glutathione (SMD=-2.075; 95% CI -3.0651 to -1.0848), superoxide dismutase (SMD=-2.4856; 95% CI -3.9612 to -1.0100), and catalase (SMD=-2.7564; 95% CI -3.9788 to -1.5340). Pyrethroid exposure and oxidative stress could damage male sperm quality. Gestational and lactational pyrethroid exposure affects the reproductive system of F1 offspring.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Ma ◽  
Suhe Dong ◽  
Hongtao Lu ◽  
Zhongmin Chen ◽  
Huijie Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract ObjectiveThis study aimed to reveal the protective effect of hydrogen storage nanomaterial MgH2 on radiation-induced male fertility impairment.MethodsThe characterization of MgH2 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and particle size analyzer. The safety of MgH2 were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. The radioprotective effect of MgH2 on the reproductive system were analyzed in mice, including sperm quality, genetic effect, spermatogenesis, and hormone secretion. ESR, flow cytometry and western blotting assay were used to reveal the underlying mechanisms.ResultsMgH2 had an irregular spherical morphology and a particle size of approximately 463.2 nm, and the content of Mg reached 71.46%. MgH2 was safe and nontoxic in mice and cells. After irradiation, MgH2 treatment significantly protected testicular structure, increased sperm density, improved sperm motility, reduced deformity rates, and reduced the genetic toxicity. Particularly, the sperm motility were consistent with those in MH mice and human semen samples. Furthermore, MgH2 treatment could maintain hormone secretion and testicular spermatogenesis, especially the generation of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and round sperm cells. In vitro, MgH2 eliminated the [·OH], suppressed the irradiation-induced increase in ROS production, and effectively alleviated the increase in MDA contents. Moreover, MgH2 significantly ameliorated apoptosis in testes and cells and reversed the G2/M phase cell cycle arrest induced by irradiation. In addition, MgH2 inhibited the activation of radiation-induced inflammation and pyroptosis.ConclusionMgH2 improved irradiation-induced male fertility impairment by eliminating hydroxyl free radicals.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ja’far Luthfi

<p>Sanrego (<em>Lunasia amara</em>), has been used in the folk medicine to increase and/or to treat male fertility. However there is no scientific evidence to confirm the positive effect of the plant on an improvement of male fertility. The objective of this research was to study the effects of the plant (on adult Sprague-Dawley male rats) at the doses of 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg on the sperm count, motility, and testicular histology. Administration were given by force-feeding between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm daily for a period of 42 days followed by sperm quality analysis and testicular histology evaluation. The sperm analysis showed that the sanrego increased the sperm count and sperm motility. The testicular histology also revealed positive effect of the plant on spermatogenesis.   Overall the present study showed the sanrego is potential plant to increase male fertility.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
E.V. Shikh ◽  
◽  
A.A. Makhova ◽  
E.D. Khaytovich ◽  
◽  
...  

Nutrition is one of the main environmental factors affecting the reproductive system. The modern diet is characterized by higher consumption of high-calorie foods, saturated fats, trans fats, refined grains and added sugar. Despite the heterogeneity of the populations studied, in general, the data confirm a steady downward trend in male sperm quality in most Western countries, including an increase in the prevalence of conditions such as complete asthenozoospermia (lack of motility) and isolated asthenozoospermia (low sperm motility due to varicocele, infections or genetic factors). Clear patterns between nutrition and fertility have been identified. Studies have shown a significant positive effect of additional exogenous micronutrient intake on total sperm count (ω-3 and CoQ10); sperm concentration (selenium, zinc, ω-3 and CoQ10); sperm motility (selenium, zinc, ω-3, CoQ10 and carnitine); morphology (selenium, ω-3, CoQ10 and carnitine). Additional exogenous intake of micronutrients that affect sperm can be used as an effective and safe factor in modulating male fertility. Key words: coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, male fertility, selenium, sperm, zinc


Author(s):  
J. P. Revel

Movement of individual cells or of cell sheets and complex patterns of folding play a prominent role in the early developmental stages of the embryo. Our understanding of these processes is based on three- dimensional reconstructions laboriously prepared from serial sections, and from autoradiographic and other studies. Many concepts have also evolved from extrapolation of investigations of cell movement carried out in vitro. The scanning electron microscope now allows us to examine some of these events in situ. It is possible to prepare dissections of embryos and even of tissues of adult animals which reveal existing relationships between various structures more readily than used to be possible vithout an SEM.


2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (45) ◽  
pp. 1787-1792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Horváth ◽  
Endre Czeizel

Introduction: There is a decline in male fertility thus new treatments are needed. Aims: To test the efficacy of a new dietary supplement developed in the USA and registered as a curing drug in Hungary (OGYI). Methods: In a clinical trial 100 men with low sperm quality (spermium count 5–20 M/ml, good motility 10–40%, and adverse shape 30–50%) were examined. Results: Sperm parameters were measured before and after a 3-month treatment and after another 3-month without treatment. This dietary supplement statistically and clinically significantly improved sperm count and motility. In 74 cases this dietary supplement demonstrated a beneficial effect on sperm quality (more than 10% increase in sperm count, or quality of motility, or shape); in 16 cases the improvement exceeded 30%. No adverse effect could be accounted for this treatment. Conclusions: This new dietary supplement may contribute to the treatment of male infertility. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 1787–1792.


2017 ◽  
Vol 186 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-112
Author(s):  
Lukáš Laibl ◽  
Oldřich Fatka

This contribution briefly summarizes the history of research, modes of preservation and stratigraphic distribution of 51 trilobite and five agnostid taxa from the Barrandian area, for which the early developmental stages have been described.


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