Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Elisabetta Baldi, Meurig T. Gallagher, Stepan Krasnyak, Jackson Kirkman-Brown
Summary: The sixth edition of the World Health Organization manual explores extended examination methods that offer key diagnostics for investigating male reproductive system function. These methods go beyond basic semen analysis and can specifically guide the clinical characterization of fertile or infertile men. Multiparametric scoring for sperm morphological defects, sperm DNA fragmentation, and computer-assisted analysis of sperm or semen are among the most widely used and debated techniques.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qinrui Liu, Hu Wang, Hualin Wang, Na Li, Ruyi He, Zhiguo Liu
Summary: This study found that disruption of the Per1/Per2 genes can decrease the reproductive capacity of elderly male mice. The mechanism involves the reduction of testosterone synthesis and sperm motility through the PKA-StAR pathway, leading to decreased fertility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Haruhiko Miyata, Seiya Oura, Akane Morohoshi, Keisuke Shimada, Daisuke Mashiko, Yuki Oyama, Yuki Kaneda, Takafumi Matsumura, Ferheen Abbasi, Masahito Ikawa
Summary: SPATA33 interacts with sperm calcineurin via a PQIIIT sequence, and its knockout mice exhibit reduced sperm motility and impaired male fertility, which phenocopies Ppp3cc and Ppp3r2 knockout mice. Further analysis reveals that SPATA33 localizes calcineurin to the mitochondria and regulates sperm motility.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Andre Furugen Cesar de Andrade, Kayode Balogun, Zoltan Machaty, Robert Victor Knox
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing a commercial freezing media with BHT, GSH, or their combination on in-vitro measures of boar sperm after cryopreservation. The results showed that adding GSH improved motility but decreased in vitro fertilization rate. Conversely, adding BHT enhanced the in vitro fertilizing ability of the frozen-thawed sperm cells.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Naomi Nakagata, Satohiro Nakao, Nobuyuki Mikoda, Katsuma Yamaga, Toru Takeo
Summary: This study used an inverted microscope to observe the process of fertilization and subsequent development of frozen-thawed rat sperm in vitro. It was found that the sperm attached to the zona pellucida 2-3 hours after thawing, penetrated into the oocytes after 3-5 hours, and formed pronuclei in the cytoplasm 5-9 hours after insemination. The frozen-thawed sperm from SD, Wistar, LE, and F344 strains showed higher fertility rates, while the sperm from the BN strain exhibited lower motility and fertility rates.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rui Chen, Tingbin Ma, Shiyue Du, Junyu Luo, Huan Zhang, Xuan Xu, Zhijian Cao, Zhangqi Yuan, Hao Sun, Mugen Liu, Bo Xiong, Qinghua Shi, Jing Yu Liu
Summary: The testis-specific gene 4930590J08Rik plays a crucial role in male reproduction, as evidenced by its unique expression pattern and the phenotypes observed in knockout mice. This gene disruption leads to impairment in spermatogenesis, reduced sperm count, defective acrosome reactions, and decreased sperm motility. The transcriptome analysis of testes from knockout mice revealed metabolic dysregulation, specifically oxidative phosphorylation deficiency and increased reliance on anaerobic glycolysis. These findings provide novel insights into idiopathic male infertility and present 4930590J08Rik knockout mice as a valuable model for further investigations.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordi Ribas-Maynou, Isabel Barranco, Maria Sorolla-Segura, Marc Llavanera, Ariadna Delgado-Bermudez, Marc Yeste
Summary: Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is an important tool for overcoming infertility, and sperm selection plays a crucial role in the success of ART treatment. Advanced sperm selection methods have been developed to improve ART outcomes and sperm quality/functionality parameters. This systematic review examined the impact of advanced sperm selection methods compared to traditional methods in infertile couples and found that advanced methods led to improved ART outcomes and beneficial effects on sperm quality/functionality parameters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sara Carracedo, Lamia Briand-Amirat, Marta Dordas-Perpinya, Yolanda Ramos Escuredo, Romain Delcombel, Nicolas Sergeant, Maryse Delehedde
Summary: Spermatozoa, highly differentiated cells, rely on the expression, localization, organization, and functionality of their molecular components for successful fertilization. Proteomics has emerged as a valuable approach for identifying specific protein markers related to sperm competency. The proAKAP4 marker, a sperm-specific protein, is crucial for sperm motility and fertility, and its concentration measurement has become a simple and reliable tool for assessing semen quality and predicting male fertility.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Md Mazharul Islam, Takashi Umehara, Natsumi Tsujita, Masanori Koyago, Masayuki Shimada
Summary: This study demonstrates that exogenous cholesterol treatment can enhance the quality of frozen-thawed bull sperm by restoring the cholesterol balance in sperm plasma and organelle membranes. The addition of exogenous cholesterol protects the plasma membrane and maintains mitochondrial function, thereby improving sperm motility and fertility. Therefore, the application of cholesterol after thawing is a promising option for improving the fertility of frozen-thawed sperm.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Won-Ki Pang, Ji-Hyun Son, Do-Yeal Ryu, Md Saidur Rahman, Yoo-Jin Park, Myung-Geol Pang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of differential mRNA expression of selected genes on fertilisation parameters in a porcine model. The results revealed a significant correlation between HSPD1 expression and male fertility, suggesting HSPD1 as a potential biomarker for superior boar selection in artificial insemination, ultimately boosting field fertility.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Joao C. Ribeiro, Raquel L. L. Bernardino, Ana Goncalves, Alberto Barros, Giuseppe Calamita, Marco G. G. Alves, Pedro F. F. Oliveira
Summary: Osmoregulation is essential for sperm function, and aquaglyceroporins play a crucial role in glycerol permeability, which is important for sperm motility. AQP7 is especially significant in glycerol transport, and its impairment may lead to reduced sperm motility in asthenozoospermic individuals.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Suzane Peres Campanholi, Sebastiao Garcia Neto, Andrea Cristina Basso, Joao Diego de Agostini Losano, Adriano Felipe Perez Siqueira, Marcilio Nichi, Mayra Elena Ortiz D'Avila Assumpcao, Luara Afonso de Freitas, Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz, Antonio Sergio Ferraudo, Fabio Morato Monteiro, Lindsay Unno Gimenes
Summary: In this study, three subpopulations of sperm were identified in cryopreserved Senepol semen, but only two subpopulations (SBP1 and SBP2) were found to be associated with IVEP. These findings suggest that the model based on SBP1 and SBP2 may help estimate embryo production in Senepol bulls more accurately.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuai Wang, Hongjie Qiao, Pengxiang Wang, Yuan Wang, Danian Qin
Summary: Zdhhc19 knockout mice did not show disruption in spermatogenesis but exhibited male infertility with defects in sperm morphology and functions, highlighting the essential role of Zdhhc19 in sperm production and fertility in mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Liu Qingzhen, Hu Yuping, Zhang Lidong, Zhang Junfeng
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inhalational anaesthetics on the male reproductive system in neonatal rats. The results showed that exposure to 3% sevoflurane significantly reduced sperm count and motility in rats, resulting in a decrease in the number of foetal rats. Additionally, sevoflurane exposure caused distorted arrangement of seminiferous tubules, detachment of spermatocytes, and increased apoptosis in testes. In conclusion, inhalation of sevoflurane has detrimental effects on the reproductive system in young rats, which is important for further clinical studies.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kogiku Shiba, Kazuo Inaba
Summary: Flagellar motility in sperm is activated and regulated by factors related to the eggs at fertilization. In this study, the researchers focused on the role of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) in the regulation of flagellar motility in Ciona sperm chemotaxis. The results showed that sAC plays a key role in sperm chemotaxis by regulating the clearance of intracellular calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) and modulating Ca2+-dependent flagellar waveform conversion.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Christopher L. R. Barratt, Christina Wang, Elisabetta Baldi, Igor Toskin, James Kiarie, Dolores J. Lamb
Summary: This article introduces the changes and improvements in laboratory methods for semen evaluation over the past 40 years, as well as the potential advancements in new technologies and diagnostic approaches that may alter routine semen analysis methods in the future. The article also discusses potential advances that could significantly impact the field of andrology in the future.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Franz S. Gruber, Zoe C. Johnston, Neil R. Norcross, Irene Georgiou, Caroline Wilson, Kevin D. Read, Ian H. Gilbert, Jason R. Swedlow, Sarah Martins da Silva, Christopher L. R. Barratt
Summary: This study utilized a high-throughput screening platform to identify compounds that can enhance sperm motility, providing a promising starting point for male fertility drug discovery.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Claudia Massarotti, Julia Uraji, Zoya Enakshi Ali, Munevver Serdarogullari, Sofia Makieva, George Liperis, Florian Kohlhepp, Juan J. Fraire-Zamora, Omar Farhan Ammar, Christopher Barratt, Sarah Martins da Silva, Mina Mincheva
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Eva Gumerova, Christopher J. De Jonge, Christopher L. R. Barratt
Summary: This study investigated the research funding for male reproductive health and infertility from UK and USA government funding agencies. The results showed no significant difference in funding grants between male-based and female-based research categories. This is the first study examining funding granted by main government research agencies for male reproductive health.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sania Latif, Sarah Martins Da Silva, Melanie Davies, Dimitrios Mavrelos, Xulin Foo, Philippa Sangster, Sheila Lane, Ephia Yasmin
Summary: Fertility preservation has gained momentum, but there is variation in provision across the United Kingdom. In England, funding for cryopreservation is available for cancer patients, but eligibility criteria and funding duration vary widely. Scotland has a national policy providing funding for cryopreservation for both benign and malignant conditions, including gender incongruence. Wales and Northern Ireland offer funding for cryopreservation for patients likely to become infertile, excluding ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
George Liperis, Kashish Sharma, Omar Farhan Ammar, Juan J. Fraire-Zamora, Sarah Martins da Silva, Andrew Thomson, Taylor Pini, Mina Mincheva
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lars Bjorndahl, Christopher L. R. Barratt, David Mortimer, Ashok Agarwal, Robert J. Aitken, Juan G. Alvarez, Natalie Aneck-Hahn, Stefan Arver, Elisabetta Baldi, Lluis Bassas, Florence Boitrelle, Riana Bornman, Douglas T. Carrell, Jose A. Castilla, Gerardo Cerezo Parra, Jerome H. Check, Patricia S. Cuasnicu, Sally Perreault Darney, Christiaan de Jager, Christopher J. De Jonge, Joel R. Drevet, Erma Z. Drobnis, Stefan S. Du Plessis, Michael L. Eisenberg, Sandro C. Esteves, Evangelini A. Evgeni, Alberto Ferlin, Nicolas Garrido, Aleksander Giwercman, Ilse G. F. Goovaerts, Trine B. Haugen, Ralf Henkel, Lars Henningsohn, Marie-Claude Hofmann, James M. Hotaling, Piotr Jedrzejczak, Pierre Jouannet, Niels Jorgensen, Jackson C. Kirkman Brown, Csilla Krausz, Maciej Kurpisz, Ulrik Kvist, Dolores J. Lamb, Hagai Levine, Kate L. Loveland, Robert McLachlan, Ali Mahran, Liana Maree, Sarah Martins da Silva, Michael T. Mbizvo, Andreas Meinhardt, Roelof Menkveld, Sharon T. Mortimer, Sergey Moskovtsev, Charles H. Muller, Maria Jose Munuce, Monica Muratori, Craig Niederberger, Cristian O'Flaherty, Rafael Oliva, Willem Ombelet, Allan A. Pacey, Michael A. Palladino, Ranjith Ramasamy, Liliana Ramos, Nathalie Rives, Eduardo Rs Roldan, Susan Rothmann, Denny Sakkas, Andrea Salonia, Maria Cristina Sanchez-Pozo, Rosanna Sapiro, Stefan Schlatt, Peter N. Schlegel, Hans-Christian Schuppe, Rupin Shah, Niels E. Skakkebaek, Katja Teerds, Igor Toskin, Herman Tournaye, Paul J. Turek, Gerhard van der Horst, Monica Vazquez-Levin, Christina Wang, Alex Wetzels, Theodosia Zeginiadou, Armand Zini
Summary: Biomedical science is making rapid progress in terms of transparency, openness, and reproducibility of scientific publications, particularly in studies based on human semen examination. Two recent documents, the 6th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, and the International Standard ISO 23162:2021, provide guidelines for authors to follow these laboratory methods and use a checklist to ensure the reliability of their studies when publishing in peer-reviewed journals.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Priyanka Prajapati, Shruti Kane, Rachel C. McBrinn, Morven S. Dean, Sarah J. Martins da Silva, Sean G. Brown
Summary: This study aimed to develop an assay for the robust induction and objective measurement of the complete acrosome reaction (AR). The results showed that progesterone and prostaglandin E1 alone do not significantly increase the percentage of live acrosome-reacted sperm.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Andrology
Christopher J. De Jonge, Steven A. Gellatly, Monica H. Vazquez-Levin, Christopher L. R. Barratt, Satu Rautakallio-Hokkanen
Summary: This study provides the first multinational population data on men's feelings about infertility, their motivations to seek help, and their awareness of support resources and information. The findings also highlight significant gaps in male reproductive health care and support for infertility.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Emma Rowlinson, Sarah Martins Da Silva, Nkoyenum Pamela Olisa, Lisa Campo-Engelstein
Summary: Many countries prohibit payment for gamete donation, but acquiring and utilizing donor sperm can still be expensive for fertility clinics. This study evaluates international fertility workers' views on charging patients for altruistically donated sperm.
JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS
(2023)
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
Andrology
Christina Wang, Maria Cristina Meriggiola, John K. Amory, Christopher L. R. Barratt, Hermann M. Behre, William J. Bremner, Alberto Ferlin, Stanton Honig, Zsolt Kopa, Kirk Lo, Eberhard Nieschlag, Stephanie T. Page, Jay Sandlow, Regine Sitruk-Ware, Ronald S. Swerdloff, Frederick C. W. Wu, Dimitrios G. Goulis
Summary: Despite the availability of various contraceptive methods for women, the unintended pregnancy rate remains high. Only 20% of global contraceptive use is male-directed. Introducing efficient and safe male-directed methods is essential to address social changes and gender equality.
Review
Reproductive Biology
G. Hughes, S. Martins da Silva
Summary: Sperm cryopreservation is commonly used for short-term sperm storage in men with severely impaired spermatogenesis, especially before fertility treatment. This review discusses various aspects of freezing sperm, including methods overview, appropriate use of cryoprotectants, practical considerations, as well as oxidative stress and mechanisms of cell cryodamage.
REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Michael P. Rimmer, Ruth A. Howie, Richard A. Anderson, Christopher L. R. Barratt, Kurt T. Barnhart, Yusuf Beebeejaun, Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla, Siladitya Bhattacharya, Lars Bjorndahl, Pietro Bortoletto, Robert E. Brannigan, Astrid E. P. Cantineau, Ettore Caroppo, Barbara L. Collura, Kevin Coward, Michael L. Eisenberg, Christian De Geyter, Dimitrios G. Goulis, Ralf R. Henkel, Vu N. A. Ho, Alayman F. Hussein, Carin Huyser, Jozef H. Kadijk, Mohan S. Kamath, Shadi Khashaba, Yoshitomo Kobori, Julia Kopeika, Tansu Kucuk, Saturnino Lujan, Thabo Christopher Matsaseng, Raj S. Mathur, Kevin McEleny, Rod T. Mitchell, Ben W. Mol, Alfred M. Murage, Ernest H. Y. Ng, Allan Pacey, Antti H. Perheentupa, Stefan Du Plessis, Nathalie Rives, Ippokratis Sarris, Peter N. Schlegel, Majid Shabbir, Maciej Smiechowski, Venkatesh Subramanian, Sesh K. Sunkara, Basil C. Tarlarzis, Frank Tuttelmann, Andy Vail, Madelon van Wely, Monica H. Vazquez-Levin, Lan N. Vuong, Alex Y. Wang, Rui Wang, Armand Zini, Cindy M. Farquhar, Craig Niederberger, James M. N. Duffy
Summary: The study aims to develop a core outcome set for future male infertility research, as existing evidence from randomized trials may be difficult to interpret due to issues such as variation in outcome measures. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in the development process using consensus science methods, and a final core outcome set will be identified through a consensus development meeting.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION OPEN
(2022)