Role of reactive oxygen species in male infertility: An updated review of literature

Abstract

ObjectivesTo review the literature and provide an updated summary on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in male infertility.MethodsA review of PubMed, Cochrane review, and Web of Science databases for full-text English-language articles published between 1943 and 2017 was performed, focusing on the aetiology of ROS, physiological role of ROS on spermatic function, pathological role of ROS in infertility, evaluation of ROS, and role of antioxidants in oxidative stress.ResultsROS play a role in spermatic function and fertilisation. The literature describes both a physiological and a pathological role of ROS in fertility. A delicate balance between ROS necessary for physiological activity and antioxidants to protect from cellular oxidative injury is essential for fertility.ConclusionAlthough elevated levels of ROS are implicated as a cause of infertility, there is no consensus on selecting patients to test for ROS, which test to perform, or if treatment for ROS can have a positive impact on infertility rates and pregnancy.

Caffeine improves sperm quality, modulates steroidogenic enzyme activities, restore testosterone levels and prevent oxidative damage in testicular and epididymal tissues of scopolamine-induced rat model of amnesia

“…[44] Enzymatic antioxidants prevent infertility via scavenging of superoxide anions, protection against lipid peroxidation and DNA damage as well as increased sperm motility. [43] In this study, the administration of scopolamine caused a reduction in GST activity. Caffeine and donepezil increased GST activity in scopolamine-induced rats.…”

“…High levels of ROS and MDA in sperm cells promotes mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA fragmentation as well as high caspase activities and cell death. [43] Treatment with caffeine and donepezil attenuated radical-induced testicular and epididymal tissue damage as revealed by the decrease in ROS and MDA levels in these tissues. The mechanism by which caffeine and donepezil protects rats' testis and epididymis against oxidative damage could be due to their capacity to mitigate scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction which reduces the generation of free radicals and attacks on lipid membrane.…”

“…The excessive production of ROS in rats treated with scopolamine may trigger high levels of MDA in testicular and epididymal tissues. High levels of ROS and MDA in sperm cells promotes mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA fragmentation as well as high caspase activities and cell death . Treatment with caffeine and donepezil attenuated radical‐induced testicular and epididymal tissue damage as revealed by the decrease in ROS and MDA levels in these tissues.…”

Loss of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) impairs sperm function and male reproductive advantage inC. elegans

“…Although C. elegans is a well-established organism for studying aging and reproduction, with several studies describing hermaphrodite reproductive senescence, many questions regarding the basis of male reproductive decline remain unanswered. Decades of work have shown that exposure to pollution, toxins, xenobiotics, and other ROS-inducing compounds can prematurely drive the loss of sperm function across species (Agarwal, Virk, Ong, & du Plessis; Cocuzza, Sikka, Athayde, & Agarwal; Wagner, Cheng, & Ko), but the impact that normal cellular metabolism plays on sperm function and the identification of specific molecules that can mediate sperm quality are not well-defined. In this study we characterized a new role for mitochondrial proline catabolism and FAD homeostasis in the maintenance of proper sperm function.…”

Induction of abnormal sperm heads in small mammals under chronic ionizing radiation

“…Registration of a large number of morphologically abnormal sperm heads indicates an increased mutation process in male germ cells, particularly an increased frequency of gene mutations and/or microdeletions in spermatogonia and first-range spermatocytes (Enciso et al, 2011). According to several studies, a sudden increase in the frequency of chromosome mutations is caused by disorders in the repair of DNA fragments and in the antioxidation system (Zakhidov et al, 2001;Evdokimov et al, 2006;Wagner et al, 2018).…”