Article
Genetics & Heredity
Elena Mele, Raffaella D'Auria, Marika Scafuro, Marianna Marino, Silvia Fasano, Andrea Viggiano, Riccardo Pierantoni, Antonietta Santoro, Rosaria Meccariello
Summary: The study investigated the expression of Kiss1 and Kiss1 receptor (Kiss1R) in rat spermatozoa and epididymis, revealing that they are present in both spermatozoa and the different regions of the epididymis. The findings suggest that the kisspeptin system may play an important role in the maturation and storage of spermatozoa in the epididymis.
Article
Biology
Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand, Antonino Bongiovanni, Areski Chorfa, Chantal Goubely, Nelly Pirot, Luc Pardanaud, Laurence Piboin-Fragner, Caroline Vachias, Stephanie Bravard, Rachel Guiton, Jean-Leon Thomas, Fabrice Saez, Ayhan Kocer, Meryem Tardivel, Joel R. Drevet, Joelle Henry-Berger
Summary: The epididymis plays a crucial role in male fertility and has both secretory and immune functions. However, the organization of blood and lymphatic networks in the epididymis is still largely unknown.
Article
Biology
Cristina A. Martinez, Jordi Roca, Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez, Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
Summary: This study investigated the presence and abundance of specific microRNA sequences in porcine spermatozoa and their relation to boar fertility. The study identified several miRNAs that were not previously reported in pigs and found differences in abundance of miRNAs known to affect fertility-related genes. These findings suggest that miRNAs could serve as fertility markers in artificial insemination programs.
Article
Andrology
Akanksha Singh, Debarshi Sarkar, Shio Kumar Singh
Summary: Treatment with fenugreek seed extract had adverse effects on male reproductive health and pregnancy outcome in mice, including degenerative changes in the testis, alterations in sperm parameters and fertility indices.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoo-Jin Park, Myung-Geol Pang
Summary: Mitochondria play crucial roles in male fertility by providing energy, regulating sperm development and acidity, and participating in testosterone production. Male infertility is mainly associated with the loss of mitochondrial proteins, leading to reduced sperm motility and infertility.
Review
Andrology
Lizbeth Juarez-Rojas, Fahiel Casillas, Alma Lopez, Miguel Betancourt, Mohammad Mehdi Ommati, Socorro Retana-Marquez
Summary: ROS play a crucial role in male reproductive function, but increased ROS generation can lead to oxidative stress, affecting DNA, lipids, and proteins structures and functions.
Article
Developmental Biology
Brett Nixon, Amanda L. Anderson, Elizabeth G. Bromfield, Jacinta H. Martin, Tessa Lord, Shenae L. Cafe, Shaun D. Roman, David A. Skerrett-Byrne, Andrew L. Eamens, Geoffry N. De Iuliis, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: This study investigated the morphology and histology of the male reproductive system of crocodiles, focusing on the role of the excurrent duct system in sperm production and modification. The findings suggest that the ducts are involved in seminal fluid production and/or modification, contributing to the nourishment, protection, and storage of crocodile sperm. The structural characteristics of the crocodile male excurrent duct system share closer similarities with birds than with other groups within the Reptilia class or Mammalia, reflecting their common Archosaurs ancestry.
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nikolaos Sofikitis, Aris Kaltsas, Fotios Dimitriadis, Jens Rassweiler, Nikolaos Grivas, Athanasios Zachariou, Apostolos Kaponis, Panagiota Tsounapi, Napoleon Paterakis, Andreas Karagiannis, Sotirios Skouros, Ioannis Giannakis, Ioannis Champilomatis, Minas Paschopoulos, Diamantis Daphnis, Ioannis Giakoumakis, Melinda R.Gabales, Jo Ben M. Chua, Pedro L. Lantin Lantin, Charalampos Mamoulakis, Atsushi Takenaka
Summary: PDE5 inhibitors have shown potential benefits in enhancing secretory functions of Leydig and Sertoli cells, regulating testicular tunica albuginea and epididymal contractility, and improving prostatic secretory function and sperm motility. Furthermore, PDE5 inhibitors also play a role in regulating sperm capacitation process. Additional placebo-controlled, randomized, blind studies are needed to further incorporate PDE5 inhibitors as an adjunct tool in treating semen disorders and male infertility.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Saulo Menegatti Zoca, Emmalee J. Northrop-Albrecht, Julie A. Walker, Robert A. Cushman, George A. Perry
Summary: Sperm stored in the epididymis have a longer lifespan, but their motility increases and lifespan decreases upon ejaculation. This study aimed to identify protein differences between epididymis and ejaculated samples that are associated with longevity. The analysis revealed that energy metabolism in the epididymis is more glycolytic and epididymal sperm have more antioxidants, which may contribute to maintaining sperm in a quiescent state.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia Poli, Sonia Hasan, Silvia Belia, Marta Cenciarini, Stephen J. Tucker, Paola Imbrici, Safa Shehab, Mauro Pessia, Stefano Brancorsini, Maria Cristina D'Adamo
Summary: The study revealed the presence of Kir5.1 in mouse spermatozoa, with knockout leading to infertility and smaller testes. Mutant mice also showed increased progressive motility in abnormal sperm with folded flagella compared to wild-type mice. The findings highlight the important role of Kir5.1 channel in testis development, sperm flagellar morphology, motility, and fertility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ming Wang, Yalong Yang, Dilay Cansever, Yiming Wang, Crystal Kantores, Sebastien Messiaen, Delphine Moison, Gabriel Livera, Svetoslav Chakarov, Tobias Weinberger, Christopher Stremmel, Monika Fijak, Britta Klein, Christiane Pleuger, Zhexiong Lian, Wentao Ma, Qingzhi Liu, Kathrin Klee, Kristian Handler, Thomas Ulas, Andreas Schlitzer, Joachim L. Schultze, Burkhard Becher, Melanie Greter, Zhaoyuan Liu, Florent Ginhoux, Slava Epelman, Christian Schulz, Andreas Meinhardt, Sudhanshu Bhushan
Summary: Macrophages in the testis and epididymis originate from different stages of cell development and can self-maintain independently of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in a steady state. However, during radiation-induced macrophage ablation or infection, bone marrow-derived cells are recruited to the testis and epididymis, leading to an inflammatory response.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Tianjiao Li, Yinghua Lv, Zhili Wu, Ming Guo, Ruifang Liu, Wenxian Zeng, Yi Zheng
Summary: Chromium and its compounds are widely used in industry and have a close association with people's lives. Excessive exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause oxidative damage to various organs, including the testes, which poses a serious threat to male reproductive fitness. Melatonin, as an endogenous antioxidant, holds promise for the treatment of reproductive disorders. In this study, the protective role of melatonin against Cr(VI)-induced testicular damage and its effects on sperm quality and fertility were assessed in a mouse model.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Avinash S. Gaikwad, Ashwin Nandagiri, David L. Potter, Reza Nosrati, Anne E. O'Connor, Sameer Jadhav, Julio Soria, Ranganathan Prabhakar, Moira K. O'Bryan
Summary: Study reveals that CRISP1, CRISP2, and CRISP4 each play independent roles in optimizing sperm tail waveform, and the expansion of the CRISP family represents an example of neofunctionalization.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Anthony D'Oro, Ilina Rosoklija, Elizabeth B. Yerkes, Bruce W. Lindgren, Karen Rychlik, Earl Y. Cheng
Summary: Patients with proximal hypospadias have an increased risk of acquired cryptorchidism, and operative notes reveal a high rate of epididymal nonfusion with ascended testes. Close monitoring of testis position is necessary for these patients.
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christopher Casciaro, Hirotaka Hamada, Alisa Kostaki, Stephen G. Matthews
Summary: Approximately 1%-3% of the adult population are treated with sGCs, and previous studies have shown that pre-conception adversities in males may affect offspring's neuroendocrine function and behavior through miRNA changes in sperm. This study aimed to investigate the region-specific effects of sGC exposure on sperm miRNA profile in the epididymis. Results showed that Dex-exposure led to decreased expression of one miRNA in the caput and 31 miRNAs in the cauda. This indicates that sGCs target the epididymis to modify sperm miRNA but do not affect miRNA content during spermiation in the testes.
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Brendan J. Houston, Antoni Riera-Escamilla, Margot J. Wyrwoll, Albert Salas-Huetos, Miguel J. Xavier, Liina Nagirnaja, Corinna Friedrich, Don F. Conrad, Kenneth Aston, Csilla Krausz, Frank Tuttelmann, Moira K. O'Bryan, Joris A. Veltman, Manon S. Oud
Summary: Research has shown a significant genetic component in male infertility, particularly monogenic causes. The field had been slow in adopting next-generation sequencing technologies and lacked clear statements on validated causes of human male infertility. Through clinical validity assessment, 120 genes were identified to be moderately, strongly or definitively linked to 104 infertility phenotypes.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION UPDATE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Brendan J. Houston, Anne E. O'Connor, Degang Wang, Georgia Goodchild, D. Jo Merriner, Haitong Luan, Don F. Conrad, Liina Nagirnaja, Kenneth Aston, Sabine Kliesch, Margot J. Wyrwoll, Corinna Friedrich, Frank Tuettelmann, Craig Harrison, Moira K. O'Bryan, Kelly Walton
Summary: This study reveals the impact of INHBB gene variants on testis composition in males, particularly those that limit activin B production. Although the variants result in significantly larger testes, they do not affect fertility.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sarah R. Catford, Jane Halliday, Sharon Lewis, Moira K. O'Bryan, David J. Handelsman, Roger J. Hart, John McBain, Luk Rombauts, David J. Amor, Richard Saffery, Robert I. McLachlan
Summary: This study compared the semen quality and reproductive hormones of men conceived through IVF/ICSI with those conceived without ART. The results showed that men conceived with IVF/ICSI had similar sperm output but had differences in sperm motility, morphology, and hormone levels compared to controls. Overall, the results are reassuring.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. S. Oud, R. M. Smits, H. E. Smith, F. K. Mastrorosa, G. S. Holt, B. J. Houston, P. F. de Vries, B. K. S. Alobaidi, L. E. Batty, H. Ismail, J. Greenwood, H. Sheth, A. Mikulasova, G. D. N. Astuti, C. Gilissen, K. McEleny, H. Turner, J. Coxhead, S. Cockell, D. D. M. Braat, K. Fleischer, K. W. M. D'Hauwers, E. Schaafsma, L. Nagirnaja, D. F. Conrad, C. Friedrich, S. Kliesch, K. I. Aston, A. Riera-Escamilla, C. Krausz, C. Gonzaga-Jauregui, M. Santibanez-Koref, D. J. Elliott, L. E. L. M. Vissers, F. Tuettelmann, M. K. O'Bryan, L. Ramos, M. J. Xavier, G. W. van der Heijden, J. A. Veltman
Summary: This study examines the role of de novo mutations in severe male infertility. Through trio-based exome sequencing, the researchers identified a significant enrichment of loss-of-function de novo mutations in infertile men. They also identified a new candidate gene, RBM5, which is associated with male infertility. This study provides evidence for the importance of de novo mutations in male infertility and identifies potential genetic causes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junyang Gai, Esma Dervisevic, Citsabehsan Devendran, Victor J. Cadarso, Moira K. O'Bryan, Reza Nosrati, Adrian Neild
Summary: Sperm motility is an important predictor of male fertility potential, and current methods to improve it are lacking. This study successfully increased sperm motility using high frequency ultrasound, without significant effects on sperm viability and DNA integrity.
Article
Developmental Biology
Samuel R. Cheers, Anne E. O'Connor, Travis K. Johnson, D. Jo Merriner, Moira K. O'Bryan, Jessica E. M. Dunleavy
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of spastin, a member of the meiotic AAA ATPase protein clade, in regulating microtubule dynamics during spermatogenesis. Spastin loss leads to a complete loss of functional germ cells, enlarged spermatid nuclei with aneuploidy, and severe abnormalities in manchette structure and acrosome biogenesis. These findings have potential relevance to individuals carrying spastin variants and to the medically assisted reproductive technology industry.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sarah N. Biggs, Joanne Kennedy, Sharon L. Lewis, Stephen Hearps, Moira K. O'Bryan, Robert McLachlan, Simon von Saldern, Georgina Chambers, Jane Halliday
Summary: Approximately 1 in 20 men are sub-fertile or infertile, but the causes of male infertility are not well understood. This study aims to recruit 1000 Australian male partners seeking help from fertility clinics to investigate the factors associated with male infertility. The findings will provide important information for clinicians and inform public policy on prevention and treatment strategies for infertile men.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Nicola D. Kolaitis, Bethany J. Finger, D. Jo Merriner, Joseph Nguyen, Brendan J. Houston, Moira K. O'Bryan, Jessica M. Stringer, Nadeen Zerafa, Ngoc Nguyen, Karla J. Hutt, Gerard A. Tarulli, Mark P. Green
Summary: This study found that chronic exposure to an environmentally relevant concentration of the herbicide atrazine affects male fertility in mice, particularly by altering the expression of steroidogenic genes in the testicles. Further research should be conducted to investigate the multigenerational effects of atrazine on male fertility.
Article
Developmental Biology
Jessica E. M. Dunleavy, Maddison Graffeo, Kathryn Wozniak, Anne E. O'Connor, D. Jo Merriner, Joseph Nguyen, Ralf B. Schittenhelm, Brendan J. Houston, Moira K. O'Bryan
Summary: This study reveals that multiple katanin A-subunit paralogs play important roles in various processes during mammalian spermatogenesis, including the construction of the meiotic spindle, cytokinesis, midbody abscission, and spermatid remodelling. The study also identifies specific roles of certain genes in sperm flagellum development and interaction networks with other proteins.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Sarah Kimmins, Richard A. Anderson, Christopher L. R. Barratt, Hermann M. Behre, Sarah R. Catford, Christopher J. De Jonge, Geraldine Delbes, Michael L. Eisenberg, Nicolas Garrido, Brendan J. Houston, Niels Jorgensen, Csilla Krausz, Ariane Lismer, Robert I. Mclachlan, Suks Minhas, Tim Moss, Allan Pacey, Laerke Priskorn, Stefan Schlatt, Jacquetta Trasler, Leonardo Trasande, Frank Tuettelmann, Monica Hebe Vazquez-Levin, Joris A. Veltman, Feng Zhang, Moira K. O'Bryan
Summary: Currently, there is a lack of understanding and awareness about the causes of male infertility and the importance of male reproductive health. This leads to standardized treatment strategies using medically assisted reproduction techniques, which overlook the potential co-morbidities and shift the burden to women. To improve male reproductive health, it is essential to establish centers for data and sample collection and study the effects of genetics, epigenetics, and environment on fertility and offspring health. Personalized treatment protocols should be developed and education about infertility should be increased.
NATURE REVIEWS UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Margot J. Wyrwoll, Godfried W. van der Heijden, Csilla Krausz, Kenneth I. Aston, Sabine Kliesch, Robert McLachlan, Liliana Ramos, Donald F. Conrad, Moira K. O'Bryan, Joris A. Veltman, Frank Tuettelmann
Summary: Discovering the genetic causes of non-syndromic male infertility and linking them with clinical data is crucial for better understanding the condition. The International Male Infertility Genomics Consortium has developed a standardized vocabulary based on the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) to facilitate communication and improve the classification of male infertility. This work will contribute to the systematic recording of patients' phenotypes and the discovery of novel genetic causes for non-syndromic male infertility.
NATURE REVIEWS UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Madeleine J. De Jong, Lesley A. Alton, Craig R. White, Moira K. O'Bryan, David G. Chapple, Bob B. M. Wong
Summary: Incubation temperature has lasting effects on growth, locomotor performance, and metabolic rate of skink offspring. Cool and hot incubation temperatures result in faster growth and larger maximum size, while hot incubation temperatures reduce locomotor performance. Effects on metabolic rate are present in sub-adults, with higher rates in cool-incubated lizards. Additionally, cool and hot incubation treatments result in shorter sperm midpieces and heads.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Farin Yazdan Parast, Avinash S. Gaikwad, Ranganathan Prabhakar, Moira K. O'Bryan, Reza Nosrati
Summary: Using microfluidics, this study investigates individual sperm flagellar dynamics under the influence of flow and viscosity. The findings suggest that viscosity has a more dominant influence on flagellar waveform, and the synergistic effect of flow and viscosity promotes energy-efficient beating behavior.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Vanessa Tsui, Ruqian Lyu, Stevan Novakovic, Jessica M. Stringer, Jessica E. M. Dunleavy, Elissah Granger, Tim Semple, Anna Leichter, Luciano G. Martelotto, D. Jo Merriner, Ruijie Liu, Lucy McNeill, Nadeen Zerafa, Eva R. Hoffmann, Moira K. O'Bryan, Karla Hutt, Andrew J. Deans, Jorg Heierhorst, Davis J. McCarthy, Wayne Crismani
Summary: Meiotic crossovers are necessary for accurate chromosome segregation and generating new allelic combinations. This study reveals the role of the tumor suppressor FANCM as an anti-crossover factor in mammals and shows that Fancm deficiency leads to an increase in crossover frequencies.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samuel Cheers, Miguel Xavier, Manon Oud, Petra de Vries, Bilal Alobaidi, Lois Batty, Liina Nagirnaja, Don Conrad, Kenneth Aston, Corinna Friedrich, Birgit Stallmeyer, Frank Tuettelmann, Godfried van der Heijden, Moira O'Bryan, Joris Veltman
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
