Andrology最新文献

{"title":"Downregulation of spermatogenesis-associated transcripts in the spermatozoa of idiopathic infertile men.","authors":"Xinran Qi, Han Ji, Enrica Bianchi, Susan J Hall, Gabriella Avellino, William Berg, Priyanka Bearelly, Mark Sigman, Zhijin Wu, Daniel J Spade","doi":"10.1111/andr.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Approximately half of male factor infertility cases are idiopathic, indicating a need for new methods to supplement male fertility assessment.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to identify differences in the sperm transcriptomes of men with different clinical fertility status. We hypothesized that sperm mRNA profiling could distinguish men presenting for fertility assessment from proven fertile men.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We compared two groups of study participants: men who presented for infertility assessment (n = 53, \"infertility\"), and men without a history of infertility who had fathered a child and were presenting for vasectomy (n = 14, \"proven fertile\" control). Study participants provided a semen sample for semen analysis and sperm mRNA sequencing. Differentially abundant genes were identified, and a gene expression summary score was constructed to test the ability of RNA-seq data to differentiate between study populations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The semen parameter that best differentiated between study populations was motility (area under the ROC curve = 0.746). In RNA-seq analysis, 1885 total differentially abundant transcripts were identified (q < 0.05, fold difference ≥ 2), 1004 (53.3%) of which were downregulated in infertility study participants. The Gene Ontology term, spermatogenesis, was enriched, with 40 out of 44 differentially abundant genes downregulated in infertility study participants. A gene expression summary score consisting of 100 upregulated and 100 downregulated genes was able to differentiate between the two groups of study participants.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Sperm mRNAs differed between proven fertile and infertility study men. Known fertility-associated genes, including PRM1 and PRM2, and potentially novel fertility markers, including HOOK1 and SPATA6, were downregulated in infertility study samples. Future studies should test these results for reproducibility and test whether novel biomarker candidates can provide mechanistic information about etiologies of idiopathic male infertility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results support the hypothesis that sperm mRNA abundance differs by clinical fertility status.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143959959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography of the epididymis in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.","authors":"Christina K Bougia, Loukas G Astrakas, Vasileios Maliakas, Nikolaos Sofikitis, Maria I Argyropoulou, Athina C Tsili","doi":"10.1111/andr.70057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Scrotal magnetic resonance imaging, including diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography has emerged as a valuable, non-invasive method in the evaluation of non-obstructive azoospermia. The epididymis has a crucial role in male infertility.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the role of diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography of the epididymis in the work-up of non-obstructive azoospermia.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This prospective study included 22 men with non-obstructive azoospermia and 15 controls. Scrotal magnetic resonance imaging, including diffusion tensor imaging, was performed. The epididymal apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy were measured. Fiber tractography reconstructions were created. Non-parametric statistics compared apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy of the epididymis between: (1) non-obstructive azoospermia and normal men; (2) histologic phenotypes of non-obstructive azoospermia; (3) non-obstructive azoospermia men, with positive and negative sperm retrieval; and (4) non-obstructive azoospermia men, with idiopathic and non-genetic etiology. Visual assessment of the epididymal fiber tracts was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lower epididymal fractional anisotropy (p = 0.027) was observed in men with non-obstructive azoospermia in comparison to normal population. Fractional anisotropy decreased (p = 0.033) in cases with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia in comparison to men with non-genetic etiology. Fiber tractography showed abnormalities in epididymal fiber tracts in men with non-obstructive azoospermia, including decrease in number and/or thickness and disorganization. However, diffusion tensor imaging parameters were unable to differentiate the histologic types of non-obstructive azoospermia and to predict the results of sperm retrieval (p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>Our preliminary observations showed that diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography of the epididymis provide valuable, non-invasive biomarkers in the work-up of non-obstructive azoospermia, although the clinical significance of these findings is yet to be determined. However, diffusion tensor imaging data were not predictive for the presence of spermatozoa before microdissection testicular sperm extraction.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144061805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Night work during pregnancy and risk of cryptorchidism among male offspring: A Danish nationwide register-based cohort study.","authors":"Charlotte Bertelsen, Luise Mølenberg Begtrup, Paula E C Hammer, Jens Peter Ellekilde Bonde, Anne Helene Garde, Ina Olmer Specht, Johnni Hansen, Esben Flachs Meulengracht, Camilla Sandal Sejbæk","doi":"10.1111/andr.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>The aim was to investigate the association between night work during pregnancy and the risk of having a male offspring with cryptorchidism. Furthermore, we explored if the risk of cryptorchidism increased based on trimester-specific night work (gestational weeks 1-12 and 13-22) by sensitivity analyses.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This register-based cohort study was based on detailed objective working hour data for all employees in the five Danish regions (primarily hospital employees) between 2007 and 2015, retrieved from the Danish Working Hour Database (DWDH). Information on pregnancies and covariates was identified by linking DWDH with the Danish Medical Birth Register. Diagnoses of cryptorchidism were obtained from the Danish National Patient Register. We used logistic regression to investigate the association between different dimensions of night work during the first 32 pregnancy weeks and cryptorchidism. The adjusted models included maternal age, body mass index, socioeconomic position, and maternal smoking.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The final cohort consisted of 12,915 singleton pregnancies in 11,404 women (primarily nurses), who worked at least one night shift during the first 32 pregnancy weeks. None of the dimensions of night work was associated with an increased risk of having offspring with cryptorchidism compared to day workers. We found the same tendency in the trimester-specific analyses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We found no increased odds among women working night shifts in healthcare during pregnancy and giving birth to male offspring with cryptorchidism. Future studies investigating night work in occupations other than healthcare are needed to rule out a potential association.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143962384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A North American preconception cohort study of cannabis use and semen quality.","authors":"Marlon D Joseph, Dmitrii Krivorotko, Martha R Koenig, Amelia K Wesselink, Michael L Eisenberg, Greg J Sommer, Kenneth J Rothman, Sherri O Stuver, Elizabeth E Hatch, Lauren A Wise","doi":"10.1111/andr.70056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recreational and medicinal use of cannabis is increasing among North American reproductive-aged couples. Studies of cannabis use and semen quality are limited and have produced inconsistent findings.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We examined the association between male cannabis use and semen parameters.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We analyzed data from 1654 semen samples contributed by 921 male participants in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a North American preconception cohort study. Participants aged ≥21 years completed a baseline questionnaire on which they reported their cannabis use within the past 2 months. After enrollment, we invited participants to perform at-home semen testing. We used linear regression to estimate percent differences in mean semen parameter values (%D) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between cannabis use and semen volume (mL), total sperm count (TSC, million), sperm concentration (million/mL), motility (%), and total motile sperm count (TMSC, million), controlling for potential confounders. We used log-binomial regression to estimate risk ratios (RRs) for low semen quality based on 2021 World Health Organization cut-points.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 22.6% of participants reported current cannabis use and 3.3% reported daily use. Nearly 6% of participants had low semen volume (≤1.5 mL), 13% low sperm concentration (≤15 million/L), 8% low TSC (≤39 million), 25% low sperm motility (≤40%), and 11% low TMSC (≤16 million). Adjusted %Ds (95% CIs) comparing current cannabis use versus non-use were -3.2 (-9.1, 2.7) for semen volume, 3.5 (-10.3, 19.5) for sperm concentration, -0.6 (-14.3, 15.3) for TSC, 2.5 (-2.9, 8.0) for motility, and 3.0 (-13.4, 22.4) for TMSC. Cannabis use ≥1 times/week (vs. non-use) was associated with low semen volume (RR = 2.16, 95% CI = 0.93-5.04). Associations were imprecise and showed no monotonic association between frequency of cannabis use and the semen parameters evaluated.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this North American preconception cohort study, current cannabis use was not appreciably associated with semen quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143961344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacogenetics of follicle-stimulating hormone action in the male.","authors":"Andrea Graziani, Giuseppe Grande, Raffele Scafa, Riccardo Selice, Andrea Garolla, Maria Santa Rocca, Cinzia Vinanzi, Alberto Ferlin","doi":"10.1111/andr.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male factor infertility (MFI) is involved in half of the cases of couple infertility. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) therapy is considered efficient to improve semen parameters and pregnancy rate in patients with idiopathic MFI, following the lesson learned from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. However, while in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism FSH therapy, in combination with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is a well-established treatment, in patients with MFI the effects of the FSH therapy are variable and unpredictable. The FSH therapy in MFI should be a personalized treatment, tailored on the characteristics of the male patient and the couple. The pivotal aspect is the accurate identification of patients who might benefit from such treatment (responders) from those who might not (nonresponders). To date, selection of patients to be treated is based on history, physical examination, semen analysis, and hormonal assessment. However, these parameters cannot adequately identify a priori responder patients. Furthermore, tailored management should include pharmacological adaptation (dosage and duration of the therapy), as happens during ovarian hyperstimulation in assisted reproductive technologies. In a fully personalized therapy, pharmacogenetic factors must be considered. In this paper, we describe the evidence dealing with the pharmacogenetics of the FSH therapy in MFI, presenting the physiological and physiopathological basis and the pharmacogenetics studies dealing with effects of polymorphisms in the beta-subunit of FSH (FSHB) and the FSH receptor (FSHR) gene. According to the evidence so far available, genetic evaluation of FSHB and FSHR is recommended only for research purposes, since the data are not conclusive and even contrasting. Furthermore, the evidence so far is derived from quite small studies with different endpoints considered and relatively few cases. Better studies that consider the combined effect of several FSHB and FSHR gene polymorphisms, together with clinical, biochemical, seminal and testicular cytology, are necessary to develop an algorithm that might predict the response to the FSH treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143959963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gonadal function in males with WFS1 spectrum disorder (Wolfram syndrome)-A European cohort perspective.","authors":"Julia Rohayem, Olivia Cunningham, Denise Williams, Joachim Wistuba, Liam McCarthy, Timothy G Barrett, Renuka P Dias","doi":"10.1111/andr.70049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70049","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>WFS1 spectrum disorder, also known as Wolfram syndrome (WS) is an ultra-rare (<1:500,000; ORPHA: 3463) monogenic (OMIM #222300) progressive neuroendocrine and neurodegenerative disorder, characterised by early-onset insulin-dependent diabetes, optic atrophy, central diabetes insipidus and sensi-neuronal deafness. It is caused predominantly by bi-allelic mutations in the WFS1 gene and exceptionally in the WFS2-gene. There is very limited published data on gonadal function in young people with WS. Expansion of the phenotype has previously included suggestions of abnormalities in puberty in adolescents with (WS) but with little detail.^1-3 AIM: To assess testicular function and pubertal progression in a cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with classical WFS1 spectrum disorder (WS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective case notes review of national patient cohorts comprising 21 males with WS aged 16-30 years. All patients were treated in two tertiary European health care centres: in Birmingham, UK and Münster, Germany. Hormonal parameters reflecting hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function and treatment with sex hormones were assessed. In addition, the presence or absence of erectile dysfunction was explored. In a subset of men, semen data were analysed. In one young man, testicular biopsies were examined histologically using light and electron microscopy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Severely delayed or arrested puberty was observed in 57% of male adolescents with WS, necessitating testosterone replacement for completion of pubertal development. Subclinical (compensated) hypergonadotropic hypogonadism with still adequate testosterone serum concentration for age, but elevated LH/FSH was observed in 28.6% (n = 6). In two males, aged 19 and 16 years (9.5%), inadequately low LH/FSH and testosterone levels indicated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In the subset of males with normal puberty and normal endocrine testicular function (43% of male patients), the oldest, aged 30 years had normal sperm count in semen. Another young man had oligozoospermia at age 20, but azoospermia at age 25 years. Histology of his testicular tissues evidenced structural alterations of Leydig and Sertoli cells and tubular atrophy with various stages of tubular degeneration and meiotic arrest of spermatogenesis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Endocrine testicular function and reproductive capacity are impaired in males with WS potentially due to premature degeneration of the testes, with 57% of adolescents developing hypogonadism with pubertal arrest.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143956093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Season of birth and variations in male reproductive health: A population-based cohort study.","authors":"Anne Gaml-Sørensen, Nis Brix, Sandra Søgaard Tøttenborg, Karin Sørig Hougaard, Siri Eldevik Håberg, Mikko Myrskylä, Gunnar Toft, Jens Peter Ellekilde Bonde, Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen","doi":"10.1111/andr.70052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Season of birth has been associated with various later reproductive health outcomes in women, but little is known on the potential associations in men.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the association between season of birth and semen characteristics, testes volume and reproductive hormone levels in young men.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a follow-up study of 1058 young men, born 1998 to 2000, from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort, Denmark, 2017-2019. Information on season of birth was obtained from the Danish Civil Registration System, and information on male reproductive health outcomes was obtained at a clinical examination, where the men provided a semen and a blood sample and measured testes volume. Percentage differences in semen characteristics, testes volume and reproductive hormone levels were calculated according to season of birth (binary (main analysis): summer; winter and categorised by four calendar seasons and by calendar month (subanalyses)) using adjusted regression models and visualisalised according to month of birth.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Testosterone levels were lower (-3% (95% CI: -7%; 0%)) and oestradiol levels were higher (10% (95% CI: 2%; 20%)) in men born during the winter half-year than the summer half-year. The finding of higher oestradiol in men born during the winter was corroborated in analyses of calendar season and month of birth. Other reproductive health outcomes displayed some variation; however, estimates were generally close to null.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Although oestradiol levels seemed higher in men born during the winter half-year, this could be a chance finding. Since pregnancies usually span three seasons, this finding could therefore also reflect an association between early pregnancy during the summer and oestradiol levels.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed higher oestradiol levels in men born during the winter than during the summer half-year. For the remaining reproductive health outcomes, the observed fluctuations may reflect random variation.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143965383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D interactomes in basal and Fsk-stimulated mouse MA-10 Leydig cells.","authors":"Karine de Mattos, Marie-Pier Scott-Boyer, Arnaud Droit, Robert S Viger, Jacques J Tremblay","doi":"10.1111/andr.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Myocyte enhancer factor 2 transcription factors regulate essential transcriptional programs in various cell types. The activity of myocyte enhancer factor 2 factors is modulated through interactions with cofactors, chromatin remodelers, and other regulatory proteins, which are dependent on cell context and physiological state. In steroidogenic Leydig cells, MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D are key regulators of genes involved in steroid hormone synthesis, reproductive function, and oxidative stress defense. However, the specific network of myocyte enhancer factor 2-interacting proteins in Leydig cells remains unknown.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To identify the interactome of each MEF2 factor present in Leydig cells.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>TurboID proximity-mediated biotinylation combined with mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analyses were used to identify the protein‒protein interaction networks of MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D in MA-10 Leydig cells under basal and stimulated conditions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 109 potential myocyte enhancer factor 2-interacting proteins, including some previously known myocyte enhancer factor 2 partners. The interactome for each myocyte enhancer factor 2 factor is dynamic and exhibits unique and shared interaction networks between basal and stimulated conditions. Further analysis through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment categorized these interactions, revealing involvement in pathways related to cellular metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and steroidogenesis.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that myocyte enhancer factor 2 factors can participate in diverse transcriptional activities, capable of gene activation or repression, depending on different protein‒protein interactions. In addition, the differential interactome for each myocyte enhancer factor 2 factor suggests unique regulatory roles for each factor in modulating Leydig cell function. Overall, this study provides new mechanistic insights into myocyte enhancer factor 2 action in Leydig cells by identifying interacting partners that likely influence their functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143965330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore on ICSI outcomes using surgically retrieved spermatozoa: A comprehensive analysis.","authors":"Adva Aizer, Meirav Noach-Hirsh, Chen Shimon, Olga Dratviman-Storobinsky, Lilach Haham Marom, Ettie Maman, Raoul Orvieto","doi":"10.1111/andr.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an effective technique for addressing male infertility. However, fertilization challenges persist, particularly with spermatozoa obtained through testicular sperm procedures.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study evaluates the impact of artificial oocyte activation (AOA) on ICSI outcomes using surgically retrieved spermatozoa (motile, immotile, fresh, and frozen), including results from vitrified-warmed embryo transfers and investigating potential improvements in clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 73 testicular sperm extraction (TESE)-ICSI cycles involving 57 patients. Outcomes were compared between AOA and non-AOA groups using a sibling oocyte model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fertilization rates were similar between AOA and non-AOA groups (53.2% vs. 52.3%). However, AOA showed a non-significant increase in TQE rates (64.4% vs. 54.7%, p = 0.067). Cumulative live-birth rates were comparable between AOA (19.3%) and non-AOA (21.6%) groups (p = 0.77). Notably, AOA significantly enhanced TQE rates when used with fresh spermatozoa (65.9% vs. 49.4%, p = 0.026) and non-progressive/immotile spermatozoa (72.7% vs. 51.1%, p = 0.031), yet had minimal effect with motile spermatozoa. There were no significant differences in embryo development timings between the groups. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes were comparable in-between groups, supporting the safety of AOA in this setting.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>AOA appears to positively influence ICSI outcomes when using fresh and non-progressive/immotile spermatozoa. While the overall morphokinetics of embryo development were not affected, the improvement in TQE rates highlights AOA's potential in enhancing embryo quality. The consistent trends toward higher clinical pregnancy and live-birth rates further support its clinical utility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrates that AOA significantly improves TQE rates, without negatively impacting overall morphokinetics or obstetric and neonatal outcomes. While the results suggest AOA's potential for specific subsets of male factor infertility cases, further research is needed to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy before broader clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143967077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The absence of both RIBC1 and RIBC2 induces decreased sperm motility and litter size in male mice.","authors":"Kento Katsuma, Keisuke Shimada, Shingo Tonai, Daisuke Mashiko, Rie Iida-Norita, Yuki Kaneda, Haruhiko Miyata, Masahito Ikawa","doi":"10.1111/andr.70045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>RIBC1 (RIB43A domain with coiled-coils 1) and RIBC2 (RIB43A domain with coiled-coils 2) are homolog proteins of RIB43a which is localized to microtubules in the cilia and flagella of unicellular organisms. Cryo-electron microscopy and artificial intelligence studies showed that RIBC1 and RIBC2 are microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) localized in the inner lumen of the doublet microtubules (DMTs) in mouse sperm flagella. However, the function of RIBC1 and RIBC2 in mammalian reproduction and sperm flagella is still unknown.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To clarify the function of RIBC1 and RIBC2 in mouse spermatozoa.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We generated Ribc1 knockout (KO), Ribc2 KO, and Ribc1 and Ribc2 double-knockout (Ribc1/2 DKO) mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed their phenotypes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We revealed that the loss of either RIBC1 or RIBC2 alone did not affect male fertility, but the absence of both caused a decrease in pup numbers. Sperm motility analysis showed that Ribc1 KO spermatozoa had reduced velocity, but Ribc2 KO sperm velocities were comparable with WT mice. However, Ribc1/2 DKO sperm velocities were significantly lower than those from Ribc1 KO mice. No structural abnormalities in the axonemal structure at the transmission electron microscope (TEM) level and no abnormalities in the flagellar waveform pattern were observed in Ribc1/2 DKO spermatozoa.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>Both RIBC1 and RIBC2 are not significant for maintaining the axonemal structure in mouse spermatozoa, but both proteins function cooperatively in sperm motility. This result may indicate that minor structural changes due to RIBC protein absence are not detected at the TEM level, and RIBC2 function depends on RIBC1 in sperm motility. We think that reduced litter size in Ribc1/2 DKO mice is caused by reduced sperm motility due to minor structural abnormalities caused by the loss of two RIBC proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143971360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}