An Update on the Relationship of SARS-CoV-2 and Male Reproduction.

Juncen Guo,Wenming Xu,Kai Sheng,Sixian Wu,Hanxiao Chen

doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.788321

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, up to now, infection cases have been continuously rising to over 200 million around the world. Male bias in morbidity and mortality has emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to cause the impairment of multiple organs that highly express the viral receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), including lung, kidney, and testis. Adverse effects on the male reproductive system, such as infertility and sexual dysfunction, have been associated with COVID-19. This causes a rising concern among couples intending to have a conception or who need assisted reproduction. To date, a body of studies explored the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproduction from different aspects. This review aims to provide a panoramic view to understand the effect of the virus on male reproduction and a new perspective of further research for reproductive clinicians and scientists.

Highlights

At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, was found in patients with severe pneumonia and has become a worldwide pandemic with a rapidly growing number of infection cases up to now
In the present review, we demonstrate the molecular mechanism of the viral tropism, post-infected pathological features, and potentially detrimental effects in the male reproductive system in the COVID-19 and Male Reproduction
Stanley et al used the scRNA-seq method to find that the proportion of co-expression of angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine protease2 (TMPRSS2) in testicular cells is less than 0.05% [21], which indicated that human testis is not susceptible to viral attack

Summary

INTRODUCTION

At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, was found in patients with severe pneumonia and has become a worldwide pandemic with a rapidly growing number of infection cases up to now. SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 belong to the same coronavirus subfamily named the beta coronaviruses [1, 2]. Several research groups have revealed that SARS-CoV-1 patients have post-infection reproductive system complications [4, 5]. In the present review, we demonstrate the molecular mechanism of the viral tropism, post-infected pathological features, and potentially detrimental effects in the male reproductive system in the. The review aims to draw appropriate conclusions about the impact of COVID-19 on male reproduction and put forward some new ideas for further research

THE MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF THE INFECTION IN THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

CONCLUSION

Findings

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS