Association of Microcystin-LR and metals co-exposure with semen quality and sperm telomere length in humans.

Cryopreservation of sperm is a key strategy for preserving and transmitting the genetic traits of valuable or endangered breeds and is particularly applied in goats to improve sperm quality and performance. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing cryopreservation extenders with the intracellular compounds of Lactobacillus plantarum (ICL) on goat sperm quality. The intracellular compounds were added to the semen extender at concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100µL/mL, while the control group received only the basic extender without any supplementation. Following freezing and thawing, sperm quality parameters were assessed. Among the 10 intracellular compounds identified in L. plantarum, the highest proportions corresponded to 1-benzenesulfonyl-1H-pyrrole and benzenesulfonyl azide (CAS). Treatment with ICL20 significantly increased total motility compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Both ICL20 and ICL40 significantly improved progressive motility compared with the control and ICL100 groups. The mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, µm) was significantly higher in ICL20 and ICL40 compared with the control and ICL100. Moreover, ICL20 showed significantly higher beat/cross frequency (BCF, Hz) than the control, ICL80 and ICL100 groups. Treatments ICL20 and ICL40 also exhibited significantly greater viability compared with the control and ICL100. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly reduced in ICL20 and ICL40 compared with the control, ICL80 and ICL100. Sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) analysis revealed that ICL20 had a significantly higher halo-to-core ratio compared with all other treatments. Overall, the findings indicate that supplementation of goat semen extenders with ICL, particularly at concentrations of 20 and 40µL/mL, improves sperm quality during cryopreservation and thawing.

Influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on quality of Asian elephant semen - Current knowledge and new research directions.

Benzo[a]pyrene lowers the sperm quality in male rats by downregulating the expression of ZMYND15 and ZMYND10.

What is the effect of male type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on semen parameters, surgical sperm retrieval (SSR) rates and cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), when controlling for confounders? Single-centre retrospective cohort study (couples: n = 1462; T2DM: n = 293; non-diabetic: n = 1169) were selected from 44,630 initial cycles using 1:4 propensity score matching for male age, body mass index and female prognostic factors. The T2DM group had a significantly higher SSR rate (22.2% versus 4.9%, P < 0.001; adjusted OR 4.80, 95% CI 3.24 to 7.12). Semen volume was reduced (2.2 versus 3.0 ml, P < 0.001) and sperm concentration was higher (52.0 versus 43.8 million/ml, P = 0.003) in the T2DM group, but no significant differences were found in total sperm count, progressive motility, morphology, fertilization rate or available embryos. The CLBR was comparable between the T2DM and non-diabetic groups (45.4% versus 47.9%, P = 0.467; adjusted OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.11). Subgroup analysis of T2DM patients based on glycated haemoglobin levels (<7.0%, 7.0-8.4%, >8.4%) revealed that poorer glyacemic control was associated with longer diabetes duration, higher FSH levels and reduced semen volume, but it did not significantly affect the SSR rate, other semen parameters or CLBR. Although male T2DM is strongly associated with surgical sperm retrieval, it does not impair conventional semen quality or cumulative live birth rate in ART. Furthermore, within the T2DM population, varying degrees of glycaemic control do not significantly affect ART outcomes.

Men's exposure to ambient air pollution and in vitro fertilization outcomes among an infertility treatment population.

Neonicotinoid insecticides and male reproductive health: A comprehensive assessment of sperm DNA integrity and semen quality in human seminal plasma and serum

The soluble antigens of Neospora caninum affect the integrity and vital characteristics of bovine sperm, compromising in vitro fertilization and embryonic development.

Supplementation of Baicalin (BC) in extender improves structural and functional characteristics, total antioxidant capacity, and in vivo fertility of ram semen.

Comparative evaluation of sperm quality assessment methods in purebred spanish horses.

The Chinese medicine monomer Schisandrin C inhibits PRRSV infection by regulating the OGT-PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Cryopreservation of Asian elephant semen remains problematic with respect to maintenance of both adequate semen quality and fertility post-thaw. The present study compared the effects of the penetrating cryoprotectants glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the freezing extender, in conjunction with the surfactant Equex STM paste, on Asian elephant spermatozoa during freezing and thawing. Eight ejaculates from three mature bulls were used for this study. Semen was diluted with Tris egg yolk-based extender which contained either glycerol or DMSO, either with or without Equex, and frozen over liquid nitrogen in straws. Sperm motility, membrane, acrosome, and DNA parameters were assessed over 2 h incubation post-thaw to evaluate the cryoprotective capabilities of each freezing extender. Spermatozoa frozen with glycerol resulted in higher total (P < 0.001) and progressive (P < 0.05) motility compared to spermatozoa diluted with DMSO, regardless of Equex inclusion in the freezing extender. When in the presence of Equex, Asian elephant spermatozoa demonstrated higher proportions of viability (P < 0.001) and intact acrosomes (P < 0.001) post-thaw, regardless of the type of cryoprotectant. A large variance between individual bulls was noticed when assessing sperm DNA integrity, nevertheless freezing extender with glycerol plus Equex showed the highest proportion of spermatozoa with intact DNA after 2 h post-thaw (P < 0.05). Altogether, these results indicate a Tris egg yolk-based freezing extender containing cryoprotectants glycerol and Equex should be integrated into current Asian elephant semen cryopreservation protocols to yield the best sperm quality post-thaw and thus improve fertilising potential.

ShenRongGuBenHuanShao Pill ameliorates oligoasthenospermia by alleviating oxidative stress and DNA damage via activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Lycopene regulates the JNK/p38MAPK signalling pathway and alleviates reproductive oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by heat stress in male rats

Chronic exposure to F-53B disrupts sperm quality and steroidogenic regulation in male rats.

Label-free Raman spectroscopy combined with artificial intelligence for functional subtyping of human sperm and prediction of embryo development outcomes.

Environmental arsenic (As) exposure impairs spermatogenesis and testicular function, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, 6-week-old male mice and rat primary Sertoli cells were utilized to explore the mechanism of arsenic-induced spermatogenic impairment. Serum testosterone levels were measured, testicular histology and ultrastructure were assessed, and the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins, actin-related proteins, cytokines, and key components of the MAPK pathway were further investigated. Our results indicated that arsenic exposure reduced sperm quality, altered histological structure of the testis, and impaired TJs and actin cytoskeleton in the spermatogenic epithelia. Further analysis demonstrated that arsenic suppressed the expression of TJ proteins (CLAUDIN-11, ZO-1) in both testis tissues and primary Sertoli cells. The mRNA level and localization of the actin-related protein (ARP3) were also altered following arsenic exposure. Additionally, arsenic treatment markedly elevated testicular levels of the cytokines IFN-γ and TGF-β3. The gene expression and phosphorylation level of p38 Mapk were significantly increased in arsenic-exposed mice. These findings demonstrate that interference with Sertoli cell junctions is an important factor in arsenic-induced spermatogenic dysfunction. TJ barrier permeability and F-actin realignment, which might be mediated by TGF-β3/p38 MAPK pathway, collectively contribute to the disruption of cell junction structure.

Nanoplastics (< 1μm) are contaminants of emerging concern. Humans are daily exposed to these particles, and they have even been found in placental tissue, raising concern regarding gestational exposure. Thus, the present work aimed to investigate the effects of gestational exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NP) and postnatal development outcomes. Female C57BL/6 mice (n = 9) where mated with male BALB/c mice (n = 9). Dams were separated into two experimental groups: PS-NP (n = 4), which was treated by gavage with 0.15mg/d (7.5mg/kg/d) of PS-NP (500nm) diluted in distilled water (vehicle), and Control (n = 5), which was treated by gavage with distilled water between gestational days 5 and 19. The offspring were evaluated for developmental milestones between postnatal days (PND) 1 and 21. Males were euthanized on PND 42 and 70 to assess organ weights, testes and epididymides development, and sperm quality. In the PS-NP group, females had increased anogenital distance (AGD), while males showed a tendency toward reduced AGD and delayed cliff-avoidance reflex. On PND 42, males had significantly lower brain and kidney weights. Considering the small sample size, these preliminary findings highlight that even low doses of PS-NP during pregnancy may affect early development, raising concerns regarding human health and fertility.

Successful reproduction is a key factor for efficient breeding schemes and sustainable animal farming. Aquaculture breeding programs rely heavily on small fractions of selected breeders to yield large production stocks, given the high fecundity typically observed in these species. In Sweden, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a salmonid with notable commercial potential, with a selective breeding program operating for 10 generations under a growth-rate focused breeding goal. Despite significant gains, the nucleus faces challenges with low and fluctuating fertility impeding expansion efforts. In this study, we estimate genetic parameters for charr milt quality phenotypes measured with specialised cytometry and Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). At the same time, we assess the sex-specific architecture governing egg count and sperm concentration along body size. Finally, we propose a novel analytical framework for the analysis of realised fertilisation success rates by considering a multiplicative system of latent maternal and paternal contributions. Low to moderate heritability estimates and genetic correlations were obtained from multi-trait modelling for traits reflecting sperm quality along with high estimates for fork length. Genetic correlations among sperm kinematic parameters appeared strong, while the same traits showed weak positive and weak negative correlations with sperm concentration and fork length, respectively. Furthermore, a negative genetic correlation between sperm concentration and both male body size and egg count suggests a complex interplay of a possible trade-off and sexual antagonism. Our latent fertility analytical approach returned low to moderate heritability estimates depending on the modelling configuration. Overall, our study demonstrated the complexity characterising the heritable portions of reproductive traits in Arctic charr and tested alternative tools that have the potential for integration into selective breeding programs.

Obesity negatively impacts male sexual function and fertility through hormonal imbalances, endothelial dysfunction, and psychosocial factors. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) constitutes an effective intervention; however, procedure-stratified changes in male reproductive parameters after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) remain incompletely synthesized. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in November 2024. Sexual function, testosterone levels, and semen quality were included. Risk of bias was assessed using MINORS criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed separately for each surgical modality, with heterogeneity quantified via I2 statistics. Twenty-one studies comprising 848 patients were included. Meta-analysis of pre-post data demonstrated that both RYGB and SG were independently associated with improvements in sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone levels. In studies examining SG, significant improvements were observed in erectile function (SMD: 1.38, 95% CI: 0.66-2.10, p = 0.0002) and sperm concentration (SMD: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.56-1.26, p < 0.00001). Studies evaluating RYGB did not demonstrate statistically significant changes in erectile function (SMD: 0.62, 95% CI: -0.06 to 1.30, p = 0.07) or sperm concentration (SMD: -0.01, 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.42, p = 0.95). The meta-analytical findings suggest beneficial effects of both RYGB and SG on male hormonal parameters. Studies of SG demonstrated significant improvements in erectile function and sperm concentration. However, direct comparative analyses between the two procedures were not performed, precluding definitive conclusions regarding their relative efficacy. Future research necessitates head-to-head comparisons with standardized reproductive endpoints and extended follow-up periods.