Abstract
The latest vaccination campaign has actualized the potential impact of antigenic stimuli on reproductive functions. To address this, we mimicked vaccination’s effects by administering keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH ) to CD1 male mice and used their sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Two-cell embryos after IVF with spermatozoa from control (C) or KLH-treated (Im) male mice were transferred to surrogate mothers mated with vasectomized control (C) or KLH-treated (Im) male mice, resulting in four experimental groups: C–C, Im–C, C–Im, and Im–Im. The pre-implantation losses were significantly lower in the Im–C group than in the C–Im group. At the same time, the resorption rates reduced markedly in the C–Im compared to the Im–C group. Embryo and placenta weights were significantly higher in the Im–Im group. Although the GM-CSF levels were lower in the amniotic fluid of the gestating surrogate mothers in the Im–Im group, they were strongly correlated with embryo mass. The number–size trade-off was only significant in the Im–Im group. This suggests a positive, cooperative effect of spermatozoa and seminal fluid from immune-primed males on embryo growth and the optimal distribution of surrogate mother maternal resources despite the negative impact of males’ antigenic challenge on the IVF success rate.
Highlights
Published: 30 September 2021Adverse environmental factors affect the reproductive success of males and their offspring’s physiological and behavioral characteristics [1,2,3,4]
Pro-inflammatory cytokines were expected to affect sperm quality, their concentrations only increased in the first few days of the immune response and
The observed decrease in spermatozoa concentration in mice on day seven after the injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was combined with their low fertility in vitro
Summary
Adverse environmental factors affect the reproductive success of males and their offspring’s physiological and behavioral characteristics [1,2,3,4]. Among these are strange antigens from pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, food, etc., to which the mammalian habitat is exposed. Since the immune response to any antigen includes the activation of innate and adaptive immunity, it could be assumed that any pathogenic and non-pathogenic antigens that cause inflammation and trigger antibody production may affect male fertility and offspring health. Little is yet known about the transgenerational consequences of the antigen stimulation addressed to paternal adaptive immunity
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