Abstract
Despite the prevalence of male factor infertility, most cases are defined as idiopathic, thus limiting treatment options and driving increased rates of recourse to assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Regrettably, our current armory of ARTs does not constitute therapeutic treatments for male infertility, thus highlighting an urgent need for novel intervention strategies. In our attempts to fill this void, we have come to appreciate that the production of pathological levels of oxygen radicals within the male germline are a defining etiology of many idiopathic infertility cases. Indeed, an imbalance of reactive oxygen species can precipitate a cascade of deleterious sequelae, beginning with the peroxidation of membrane lipids and culminating in cellular dysfunction and death. Here, we shine light on the importance of lipid homeostasis, and the impact of lipid stress in the demise of the male germ cell. We also seek to highlight the utility of emerging lipidomic technologies to enhance our understanding of the diverse roles that lipids play in sperm function, and to identify biomarkers capable of tracking infertility in patient cohorts. Such information should improve our fundamental understanding of the mechanistic causes of male infertility and find application in the development of efficacious treatment options.
Highlights
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization as the inability for a couple to conceive naturally following 12 months of unprotected intercourse
Here, we have sought to highlight the diversity of important physiological roles that lipids fulfil in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis
These include fueling the bioenergetics of germ cell metabolism and the dynamic remodeling of germ cell architecture during their functional maturation
Summary
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization as the inability for a couple to conceive naturally following 12 months of unprotected intercourse. The causative links established in this body of work have in turn fueled growing interest in the use of antioxidant supplementation to improve sperm function and alleviate the burden of infertility (as reviewed by [13,14,15]) Despite their therapeutic promise, trials of antioxidant interventions have been plagued by confounders, such as considerable variation in the implemented treatment regimens and a lack of targeted patient cohort selection, meaning that these strategies have been met with limited success (as reviewed [8]). This knowledge is being exploited to develop lipid-targeted therapies and membrane fortification strategies to protect cells against oxidative attack Given this myriad of interest in lipid research, this narrative review serves to highlight important new roles for lipids in established models of disease, discuss the dynamic contribution of lipids to male germ cell development and function, and propose novel strategies to exploit analytical lipid technologies, such as redox lipidomics, to enhance our mechanistic understanding of male infertility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
