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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and... Apr 2020Infertility is a major health problem across the world. One of the main reasons for male infertility are defects in sperm. Semen analysis is the most common test...
Infertility is a major health problem across the world. One of the main reasons for male infertility are defects in sperm. Semen analysis is the most common test utilized to evaluate male fertility and since it suffers from multiple drawbacks, reproduction scientists have tried to find new molecular markers for detecting sperm defects. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecules in cells which take part in regulating gene expression. Various studies have confirmed miRNAs to have a role in defining multiple sperm characteristics, including sperm count, motility, and morphology. In this paper, we have systematically reviewed the role of miRNAs in infertile men with sperm defects including azoospermia, oligospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia. Also, we have assembled various bioinformatics tools to come up with a pipeline for predicting novel miRNAs which could possibly participate in sperm count, motility, and morphology. Also, related KEGG and GO terms for predicted miRNAs have been included in order to highlight their role in sperm function. Our study emphasizes the potential role of miRNAs in male infertility and provides a general overview for future studies aiming to find robust molecular markers for this condition.
Topics: Asthenozoospermia; Azoospermia; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; MicroRNAs; Oligospermia; Semen Analysis; Sperm Motility; Teratozoospermia
PubMed: 32189180
DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01674-9 -
BMC Public Health Jan 2019Nowadays, the total number of couples visiting an infertility clinic is on the rise. Tobacco smoking is considered one of the major factors leading to male infertility.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Nowadays, the total number of couples visiting an infertility clinic is on the rise. Tobacco smoking is considered one of the major factors leading to male infertility. In this study, we aimed to systematically investigate the impact of tobacco smoking on semen quality in infertile male participants.
METHODS
Online databases (Cochrane Central database of Randomized Controlled Trials and the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE respectively) were searched for relevant English publications that satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this analysis. The clinical endpoints which were assessed included semen parameters (oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and azoospermia), morphological defects of spermatozoa and the hormones involved in reproduction. RevMan 5.3 software was used to analyze the data whereby mean difference (MD) and risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were generated to represent the results.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies with a total number of 10,823 infertile male participants (5257 smokers and 5566 non-smokers) were included. Results of this analysis showed oligozoospermia to be significantly higher in smokers (RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05-1.59; P = 0.02). Morphological defect of spermatozoa (MD: 2.44, 95% CI: 0.99-3.89; P = 0.001) was also significantly higher in smokers whereby significant head (MD: 1.76, 95% CI: 0.32-3.20; P = 0.02), neck (MD: 1.97, 95% CI: 0.75-3.18; P = 0.002) and tail (MD: 1.29, 95% CI: 0.35-2.22; P = 0.007) defects were observed. However, smoking did not affected the pH (MD: 0.04, 95% CI: [- 0.03-0.11]; P = 0.30) and motility (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.97-2.09; P = 0.07) of spermatozoa. Additionally, tobacco smoking did not cause any dis-balance in hormones which were involved in reproduction.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, with reference to the clinical endpoints which were studied in this analysis, tobacco smoking was associated with a lower sperm count and an increase in the number of morphological defects of spermatozoa. However, the pH and motility of spermatozoa as well as the production of hormones which were involved in reproduction were not affected in this population of infertile males.
Topics: Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Semen Analysis; Tobacco Smoking
PubMed: 30621647
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-6319-3 -
Andrology Mar 2015The objectives of this study were to investigate the implications of human papillomavirus (HPV) sperm infection on male fertility, impairment of sperm parameters, and... (Review)
Review
The objectives of this study were to investigate the implications of human papillomavirus (HPV) sperm infection on male fertility, impairment of sperm parameters, and possible alteration of sperm nuclear status and to identify a possible effective management of infertile men with HPV sperm infection. We employed a systematic review and clinical management proposal at the Centers for Reproductive and Health care for treating infertile male patients with HPV infection. Literature search was carried out in electronic databases in the last two decades. We focused our attention on: (i) HPV sperm prevalence (ii) HPV-related alteration of sperm parameters; (iii) molecular mechanisms of HPV semen infection and infertility. The main outcome measures were HPV prevalence in infertile male patients and semen parameters. The prevalence of HPV sperm infection ranges between 2 and 31% in men from general population and between 10 and 35.7% in men affected by unexplained infertility. The presence of HPV in semen is associated with an impairment of sperm motility and the presence of anti-sperm antibodies. The molecular mechanisms underlying impairment of sperm motility apparatus need further evaluations. A greater attention should be applied to assess HPV sperm infection, particularly in men undergoing assisted reproduction techniques cycle for male infertility or sperm banking. It would be useful to perform HPV test and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis for HPV in semen from these patients both at first admission, to define the possible presence and localization of semen infection, and after 6 months, to assess the possible virus clearance retrieval on normal sperm parameters.
Topics: Alphapapillomavirus; DNA, Viral; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Semen
PubMed: 25270519
DOI: 10.1111/andr.284