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Fertility and Sterility Jun 2021This document provides the latest recommendations for the evaluation of potential sperm, oocyte, and embryo donors as well as their recipients, incorporating recent... (Review)
Review
This document provides the latest recommendations for the evaluation of potential sperm, oocyte, and embryo donors as well as their recipients, incorporating recent information about optimal screening and testing for sexually transmitted infections, genetic diseases, and psychological assessments. This revised document incorporates recent information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Food and Drug Administration, and American Association of Tissue Banks, which all programs offering gamete and embryo donation services must be thoroughly familiar with, and replaces the document titled "Recommendations for gamete and embryo donation: a committee opinion," last published in 2013.
Topics: Consensus; Counseling; Donor Selection; Embryo Disposition; Female; Genetic Testing; Health Status; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Oocyte Donation; Preconception Care; Pregnancy; Reproductive Medicine; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Semen; Tissue Donors
PubMed: 33838871
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.01.045 -
Fertility and Sterility Oct 2021To determine the association between vitamin D levels in the male partner and fertility outcomes in couples with mild male factor infertility. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between vitamin D levels in the male partner and fertility outcomes in couples with mild male factor infertility.
DESIGN
Secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled trial.
SETTING
Nine fertility centers in the United States.
PATIENT(S)
Men (n = 154) with sperm concentration between 5 and 15 million/mL, motility ≤40%, or normal morphology ≤4% were eligible. Female partners were ovulatory, ≤40 years old, and had documented tubal patency.
INTERVENTION(S)
Men provided semen and blood at baseline for semen analysis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels. They were randomly assigned to receive a vitamin formulation including vitamin D 2,000 IU daily or placebo for up to 6 months. Couples attempted to conceive naturally during the first 3 months and with clomiphene citrate with intrauterine insemination of the female partner in months 4 through 6.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Primary: sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation at baseline. Secondary: cumulative pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rates.
RESULT(S)
Semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were not statistically significantly different between men with vitamin D deficiency and men with 25(OH)D levels ≥20 ng/mL. In addition, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were similar. Male 25(OH)D level <20 ng/mL was associated with a higher rate of pregnancy loss (adjusted odds ratio 9.0; 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 61.3).
CONCLUSION(S)
Vitamin D deficiency in the male partner did not significantly impact semen parameters or treatment outcomes. Further study is warranted to better characterize the rate of miscarriage in couples with male vitamin D deficiency.
Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Adult; Biomarkers; Clomiphene; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fertility; Fertility Agents, Female; Humans; Infertility, Male; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; Live Birth; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Semen; Semen Analysis; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; United States; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
PubMed: 34289935
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.06.035 -
Nature Communications Mar 2022Centrosomal proteins are necessary components of the centrosome, a conserved eukaryotic organelle essential to the reproductive process. However, few centrosomal...
Centrosomal proteins are necessary components of the centrosome, a conserved eukaryotic organelle essential to the reproductive process. However, few centrosomal proteins have been genetically linked to fertility. Herein we identify a homozygous missense variant of CEP128 (c.665 G > A [p.R222Q]) in two infertile males. Remarkably, male homozygous knock-in mice harboring the orthologous CEP128 variant show anomalies in sperm morphology, count, and motility. Moreover, Cep128 knock-out mice manifest male infertility associated with disrupted sperm quality. We observe defective sperm flagella in both homozygous Cep128 KO and KI mice; the cilia development in other organs is normal-suggesting that CEP128 variants predominantly affected the ciliogenesis in the testes. Mechanistically, CEP128 is involved in male reproduction via regulating the expression of genes and/or the phosphorylation of TGF-β/BMP-signalling members during spermatogenesis. Altogether, our findings unveil a crucial role for CEP128 in male fertility and provide important insights into the functions of centrosomal proteins in reproductive biology.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Sperm Motility; Spermatogenesis; Spermatozoa; Testis
PubMed: 35296684
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29109-7 -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... Mar 2020Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been reported to be associated to female infertility. Indeed, BPA has been found to be more frequently detected in infertile women thus leading to... (Review)
Review
Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been reported to be associated to female infertility. Indeed, BPA has been found to be more frequently detected in infertile women thus leading to hypothesize a possible effect of BPA on natural conception and spontaneous fecundity. In addition, in procedures of medically assisted reproduction BPA exposure has been found to be negatively associated with peak serum estradiol levels during gonadotropin stimulation, number of retrieved oocytes, number of normally fertilized oocytes and implantation. BPA deleterious effects are more critical during perinatal exposure, causing dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in pups and adults, with a precocious maturation of the axis through a damage of GnRH pulsatility, gonadotropin signaling and sex steroid hormone production. Further, BPA exposure during early lifestage may have a transgenerational effect predisposing the subsequent generations to the risk of developing BPA related disease. Experimental studies suggested that prenatal, perinatal and postnatal exposure to BPA can impair several steps of ovarian development, induce ovarian morphology rearrangement and impair ovarian function, particularly folliculogenesis, as well as can impair uterus morphology and function, in female adult animal and offspring. Finally, studies carried out in animal models have been reported the occurrence of endometriosis-like lesions after BPA exposure. Moreover, BPA exposure has been described to encourage the genesis of PCOS-like abnormalities through the impairment of the secretion of sex hormones affecting ovarian morphology and functions, particularly folliculogenesis. The current manuscript summarizes the evidence regarding the association between BPA exposure and female infertility, reviewing both clinical and preclinical studies.
Topics: Animals; Benzhydryl Compounds; Endocrine Disruptors; Female; Fertility; Humans; Infertility, Female; Phenols; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Reproduction
PubMed: 32171313
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0558-8 -
Oxalate-induced apoptosis through ERS-ROS-NF-κB signalling pathway in renal tubular epithelial cell.Molecular Medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) Aug 2022Kidney stones are composed of approximately 70-80% calcium oxalate. However, the exact mechanism of formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones remains unclear. In this...
BACKGROUND
Kidney stones are composed of approximately 70-80% calcium oxalate. However, the exact mechanism of formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the NF-κB signalling pathway in the pathogenesis of oxalate-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury and its possible molecular mechanisms.
METHODS
We established a model to evaluate the formation of kidney stones by intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylic acid solution into mice and assessed cell morphology, apoptosis, and the expression levels of ERS, ROS, and NF-κB signalling pathway-related proteins in mouse renal tissues. Next, we treated HK-2 cells with potassium oxalate to construct a renal tubular epithelial cell injury model. We detected the changes in autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential and investigated the ultrastructure of the cells by transmission electron microscopy. Western blotting revealed the expression levels of apoptosis and autophagy proteins; mitochondrial structural and functional proteins; and ERS, ROS, and NF-κB (p65) proteins. Lastly, we studied the downregulation of NF-κB activity in HK-2 cells by lentivirus interference and confirmed the interaction between the NF-κB signalling and ERS/ROS pathways.
RESULTS
We observed swelling of renal tissues, increased apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, and activation of the ERS, ROS, and NF-κB signalling pathways in the oxalate group. We found that oxalate induced autophagy, apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage in HK-2 cells and activated the ERS/ROS/NF-κB pathways. Interestingly, when the NF-κB signalling pathway was inhibited, the ERS/ROS pathway was also inhibited.
CONCLUSION
Oxalate induces HK-2 cell injury through the interaction between the NF-κB signalling and ERS/ROS pathways.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Calcium Oxalate; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Epithelial Cells; Kidney Calculi; Mice; NF-kappa B; Oxalates; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 35922749
DOI: 10.1186/s10020-022-00494-5 -
Laboratory Animal Research 2020The cryopreservation of sperm and embryos is useful to efficiently archive valuable resources of genetically engineered mice. Till date, more than 60,000 strains of... (Review)
Review
The cryopreservation of sperm and embryos is useful to efficiently archive valuable resources of genetically engineered mice. Till date, more than 60,000 strains of genetically engineered mice have been archived in mouse banks worldwide. Researchers can request for the archived mouse strains for their research projects. The research infrastructure of mouse banks improves the availability of mouse resources, the productivity of research projects, and the reproducibility of animal experiments. Our research team manages the mouse bank at the Center for Animal Resources and Development in Kumamoto University and continuously develops new techniques in mouse reproductive technology to efficiently improve the system of mouse banking. In this review, we introduce the activities of mouse banks and the latest techniques used in mouse reproductive technology.
PubMed: 32963977
DOI: 10.1186/s42826-020-00066-w -
International Journal of Biological... 2023So far there has been no comprehensive review using systematic literature search strategies to show the application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in the... (Review)
Review
So far there has been no comprehensive review using systematic literature search strategies to show the application of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in the human testis of the whole life cycle (from embryos to aging males). Here, we summarized the application of scRNA-seq analyses on various human testicular biological samples. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), focusing on English researches published after 2009. Articles related to GEO data-series were also retrieved in PubMed or BioRxiv. 81 full-length studies were finally included in the review. ScRNA-seq has been widely used on different human testicular samples with various library strategies, and new cell subtypes such as State 0 spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) and stage_a/b/c Sertoli cells (SC) were identified. For the development of normal testes, scRNA-seq-based evidence showed dynamic transcriptional changes of both germ cells and somatic cells from embryos to adults. And dysregulated metabolic signaling or hedgehog signaling were revealed by scRNA-seq in aged SC or Leydig cells (LC), respectively. For infertile males, scRNA-seq studies revealed profound changes of testes, such as the increased proportion of immature SC/LC of Klinefelter syndrome, the somatic immaturity and altered germline autophagy of patients with non-obstructive azoospermia, and the repressed differentiation of SSC in trans-females receiving testosterone inhibition therapy. Besides, the re-analyzing of public scRNA-seq data made further discoveries such as the potential vulnerability of testicular SARS-CoV-2 infection, and both evolutionary conservatism and divergence among species. ScRNA-seq analyses would unveil mechanisms of testes' development and changes so as to help developing novel treatments for male infertility.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Aged; Testis; Spermatogenesis; COVID-19; Hedgehog Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; Infertility, Male; Sequence Analysis, RNA
PubMed: 37151874
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.82191 -
Cureus Nov 2022Sperm cryopreservation has been used as a sperm preservation solution for infertility issues faced by men undergoing cancer treatment for over 40 years. Recent... (Review)
Review
Sperm cryopreservation has been used as a sperm preservation solution for infertility issues faced by men undergoing cancer treatment for over 40 years. Recent developments in sperm cryopreservation and its wide variety of therapeutic uses are discussed in this article, which offers a succinct and up-to-date overview of the relevant literature. Recently, sperm cryopreservation has been employed for a wider variety of therapeutic purposes. As a result, sperm freezing is becoming available to a wider variety of patients, which requires more specialized personnel and increases overhead expenses. While sperm cryopreservation before cancer treatment is accessible in many countries, oncology doctors' referral rates and patient participation with cryopreservation services have been observed to be poor. In addition, there are still moral concerns with sperm banking, including whether or not donors' identities should be protected and whether or not a deceased person's sperm should be used after his or her death. This article discusses the recent developments in sperm cryopreservation technology and the moral questions that have arisen around this practice, with an eye toward how a deeper knowledge of these concerns can help more people get access to treatments that might help preserve their fertility. A sperm bank will notify clients about the screenings it does and the background information it gathers on individual donors to guarantee the safety and quality of the sperm they get. The viability and quantity of viable sperm in a thawed sample are often guaranteed by a sperm bank. They will look for very fertile males who can donate sperm that can withstand the freezing and thawing procedure. In many cases, sperm banks advertise their samples as having a certain number of viable sperm per milliliter, and they may provide many sample types for various applications (intracytoplasmic sperm injection and intrauterine insemination).
PubMed: 36523734
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31402 -
IScience Sep 2022Fifteen percent of couples of reproductive age suffer from infertility globally and the burden of infertility disproportionately impacts residents of developing... (Review)
Review
Fifteen percent of couples of reproductive age suffer from infertility globally and the burden of infertility disproportionately impacts residents of developing countries. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), including fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have been successful in overcoming various reasons for infertility including borderline and severe male factor infertility which consists of 20%-30% of all infertile cases. Approximately half of male infertility cases stem from suboptimal sperm parameters. Therefore, healthy/normal sperm enrichment and sorting remains crucial in advancing reproductive medicine. Microfluidic technologies have emerged as promising tools to develop in-home rapid fertility tests and point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools. Here, we review advancements in fabrication methods for paper-based microfluidic devices and their emerging fertility testing applications assessing sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm DNA analysis, and other sperm functionalities, and provide a glimpse into future directions for paper-based fertility microfluidic systems.
PubMed: 36105592
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104986 -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... May 2020Patients with severe oligospermia and nonobstructive azoospermia have very limited numbers of viable sperm in their epididymal and testicular samples. Thus,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Patients with severe oligospermia and nonobstructive azoospermia have very limited numbers of viable sperm in their epididymal and testicular samples. Thus, cryopreservation of their sperm is performed to avoid repeated sperm retrievals and to preserve their sperm from any side effects of any treatment regimens.
MAIN BODY
The development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection technology has extended the therapeutic capacity of assisted reproductive technology for men with azoospermia via the surgical or percutaneous isolation of sperm from the testis/epididymis. The conventional cryopreservation techniques are inadequate for preserving individually selected sperm. The technique for freezing single sperm was first developed in 1997 and has been explored from the perspective of frozen carriers, freezing programs, and cryoprotectant formulations. Among these methods, advances in frozen carriers have directly improved single-sperm freezing technology. In this review, we evaluate the different technologies for the cryopreservation of single sperm by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of different freezing methods, their clinical applications, and the outcomes for a range of frozen carriers.
CONCLUSION
Our review article describes the latest and current technologies implemented for the cryopreservation of single sperm that could potentially benefit patients with severe oligospermia and who rarely have any sperm in their ejaculate. This review provides a platform to understand the process and pitfalls of single-sperm cryopreservation to ensure further improvements in the cryopreservation technology in future studies.
Topics: Cryopreservation; Cryoprotective Agents; Humans; Male; Semen Preservation; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Sperm Retrieval; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 32398019
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-020-00607-x