Asian journal of andrology最新文献

{"title":"Body mass index and semen quality in 11 154 men: evidence from a large-scale andrology dataset.","authors":"Yi-Fan Jiang, Jia Guo, Hao-Qiang Zhang, Qi-Han Chen, Lei Qian, Zhu-Qing Wang, Qiu-Ling Yue, Xiao-Zhi Zhao","doi":"10.4103/aja202647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202647","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity has been increasingly linked to impaired male reproductive function, yet the association between body mass index (BMI) and semen quality remains unclear, particularly in large Asian populations. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we analyzed 11 154 men aged 18-50 years who underwent semen analysis at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Nanjing, China), between January 2024 and January 2025. Semen parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization Laboratory Manual (6th edition), and sperm kinematics were measured via computer-aided sperm analysis. BMI was modeled both as a continuous variable and as a categorical variable, and associations of BMI with sperm parameters were evaluated using multivariable linear regression, sensitivity analyses, restricted cubic splines, and locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) curves. The mean BMI of the participants was 26.3 (standard deviation: 3.8) kg m-2. A higher BMI was associated with modest but consistent reductions in semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, and selected sperm kinematic parameters. No U- or J-shaped associations were observed. The results of the restricted cubic spline analyses suggested only modest nonlinearity in the relationships of BMI with sperm concentration and total sperm count, whereas the associations with semen volume and kinematic parameters were largely linear. The results of the sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary findings. In the subset analyses, obesity was associated with more severe sperm DNA fragmentation, whereas exploratory hormone analyses in men with obesity indicated that a higher BMI was associated with lower total testosterone levels, higher estradiol levels, and a lower total testosterone/estradiol (TT/E2) ratio, which were also related to a lower semen volume. Overall, a higher BMI was linearly and inversely associated with several semen parameters, although the effect sizes were modest.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149066803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel homozygous chromosomal deletion encompassing the ACTL9 gene is associated with cIVF polyspermy and male infertility.","authors":"Xin-Yu Liu, Ya Yang, Zi-Li Li, Min Li, Lei Jin, Zhou Li, Shu-Lin Yang, Li Wu, Jing Dai, Hui He","doi":"10.4103/aja202630","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202630","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Actin-like 9 (ACTL9) is a testis-specific actin-like protein located in the perinuclear theca of the sperm head and neck that plays a role in acrosome formation and sperm head shaping. Pathogenic mutations in ACTL9 have been reported to be associated with male infertility and fertilization failure after conventional in vitro fertilization (cIVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In this study, we identified a homozygous chromosomal microdeletion within the ACTL9 gene in an infertile male characterized by polyspermy in cIVF and nearly total fertilization failure in ICSI. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that spermatozoa from the affected individual exhibited a ruffled acrosome, and the inner acrosomal membrane was detached from the nuclear envelope. Immunofluorescence staining revealed the absence of phospholipase C zeta 1 (PLCZ1) protein in mutant spermatozoa, which explains the characteristic multipronuclei observed in cIVF. ICSI and artificial oocyte activation treatment successfully rescued the cIVF polyspermic phenotype and resulted in a live birth. These findings expand the spectrum of ACTL9 mutations and could facilitate the diagnosis of sperm-borne polyspermy.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149066775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in seminal plasma metabolites and the vital role of tyrosol in men with asthenozoospermia.","authors":"Dan-Na Chen, Ying-Ge Fu, Yan-Ting Wang, Xiao-Li Deng, Le-Feng Wang, Ke-Zhen Yao","doi":"10.4103/aja202626","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male factor infertility accounts for approximately 50% of all infertility cases. Metabolomics has recently been applied to the assessment of sperm quality and male fertility. However, studies on the biological functions and clinical effects of sperm metabolites in relation to asthenozoospermia (AZS) remain limited. In this study, we analyzed the metabolomic profiles of seminal plasma from 20 men with AZS and compared them with those from 20 men with normal semen parameters (healthy controls) using a standardized untargeted high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach. Metabolite levels differed significantly between the AZS and healthy control groups. A total of 177 potential biomarkers and multiple metabolic pathways were identified in men with AZS. Specifically, tyrosol levels were significantly reduced in the AZS group. Preincubation with tyrosol significantly increased the percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility in men with AZS. Moreover, tyrosol supplementation improved progressive motility, DNA integrity, and acrosomal integrity in cryopreserved sperm samples from these individuals, as reflected by post-thaw sperm parameters. In conclusion, this study reveals the distinctive metabolic characteristics of seminal plasma and the dysregulation of the metabolite tyrosol, which is associated with AZS. Tyrosol notably enhanced sperm performance, suggesting its potential integration into clinical strategies for AZS management and fertility preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148992998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Onvansertib-mediated PLK1 inhibition impairs spermatogenesis in the murine testis.","authors":"Xiao-Xuan Qi, Xin Feng, Wen-Rui Zhu, Tian-Yi Song, Hui-Ling Li, Qiang Liu, Chao-Yang Xu, Yan Yuan, Qing Cheng, Lai-Hua Li","doi":"10.4103/aja202635","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202635","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Onvansertib (ONV) is a selective inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and has promise in treating cancer. However, its potential effects on male reproductive function remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, male mice received clinically relevant doses of ONV by intragastric gavage for five consecutive days. Evaluations conducted on day 1, day 6, and day 35 after treatment revealed a marked increase in germ cell apoptosis accompanied by a significant reduction in epididymal sperm counts, whereas somatic cell architecture was preserved. Mechanistically, PLK1 inhibition by ONV led to a pronounced decrease in eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) phosphorylation. This disruption is likely linked to impaired meiotic centrosome maturation and aberrant spindle organization in germ cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ONV preferentially induces apoptosis in germ cells via PLK1 suppression, thereby compromising spermatogenic capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transmembrane protein 196-mediated regulation of CatSper channel through STAT3 phosphorylation influences sperm motility in mammals.","authors":"Kang-Le Liu, Wen-Feng Zhang, Hong-Qiang Chen, Dong-Jiao Chen, Shu-Qi Tang, Qing Chen, Lei Sun, Lin Ao, Jia Cao, Jin-Yi Liu, Jian-Ping Chen","doi":"10.4103/aja202610","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202610","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The progressive decline in sperm motility is a major contributor to male infertility. The cation channel of sperm (CatSper) complex is a sperm-specific calcium (Ca2+) channel that plays a crucial role in regulating sperm motility. However, the molecular mechanisms governing CatSper regulation remain incompletely understood. This study found that the expression level of transmembrane protein 196 (TMEM196) positively influences human sperm quality and Ca2+ concentration. TMEM196-null male mice showed reduced fertility, characterized by fewer offspring and decreased sperm Ca2+ concentration. Sperm quality analysis revealed that TMEM196 deficiency led to reduced sperm concentration, impaired hyperactivation, and decreased motility in male mice. Further investigations demonstrated that the reduction in sperm motility in TMEM196-null mice was associated with decreased sperm Ca2+ concentration and was independent of hormone levels. Considering the essential role of CatSper in regulating sperm Ca2+ homeostasis, we examined the expression of CatSper subunits and observed significantly reduced protein levels of CatSper1-4 in the testes of TMEM196-null mice. In vitro, overexpression of TMEM196 in GC2 cells enhanced Ca2+ signaling and upregulated CatSper-related protein expression. Mechanistically, TMEM196 promoted the transcription of CatSper-related genes by enhancing the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Collectively, these results identify TMEM196 as a novel regulator of the sperm-specific CatSper Ca2+ channel and demonstrate its critical role in modulating sperm motility.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148945554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and safety of simenafil in erectile dysfunction: a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.","authors":"Zhe Zhang, Tao Jiang, Yu-Tian Dai, Xian-Sheng Zhang, Yu-Hua Huang, Xiang-Sheng Zhang, Hui-Liang Zhou, Jia-Xiang Juan, Hua-Qing Duan, Hui Jiang","doi":"10.4103/aja202622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Simenafil, a newly developed oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, substantially improves erectile function; however, its efficacy has not been evaluated via RigiScan monitoring. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of simenafil in erectile dysfunction (ED) using audiovisual sexual stimulation. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, two-cohort, three-way crossover study was conducted in 84 men aged 18-65 years with mild-to-moderate ED of ≥6 months. Each patient received placebo, simenafil 5.0 mg, and simenafil 2.5 mg (Cohort A, n = 42) or 10.0 mg (Cohort B, n = 42) administered in random order at least 5 days apart. RigiScan was used to assess the time to achieve and duration of ≥60% penile rigidity. In Cohort A, relative to placebo, 2.5 mg simenafil (single-dose) led to a least square mean (LSM) increase in the duration of ≥60% penile rigidity of 3.1 min (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-5.7 min, P = 0.021) and 8.3 min (95% CI: 3.5-13.2 min, P = 0.001) at the tip and base, respectively; for the 5.0 mg, it was 3.7 min (95% CI: 1.0-6.4 min, P = 0.008) and 8.5 min (95% CI: 3.5-13.5 min, P = 0.001) at the tip and base, respectively. In Cohort B, the LSM duration of ≥60% rigidity of the penile base was significantly longer with 10.0 mg simenafil than with placebo by 5.9 min (95% CI: 0.8-10.9 min, P = 0.023). The 5.0 mg (tip and base) and 10.0 mg (tip) simenafil were not statistically significant compared with the placebo (all P > 0.05). The pharmacodynamic and safety profiles support simenafil as a suitable candidate for further investigation in ED.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148944879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhbg is dispensable for spermatogenesis but fine-tunes sperm motility trajectory during capacitation in mice.","authors":"Guang-Qing Tan, Lu-Jie Chen, Rui Yang, Yue Dong, Jin-Tao Zhang, Ming-Xi Liu, Xiao-Yu Yang","doi":"10.4103/aja202639","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aja202639","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rhesus (Rh) family B glycoprotein (RHBG) is a conserved ammonium transporter of the Rhesus family with established roles in systemic acid-base regulation. Although Rh family members are expressed in the male reproductive tract, the physiological role of RHBG in spermatogenesis and sperm function remains unclear. To investigate its role in male reproduction, Rhbg-/- mice were generated using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated gene editing, and male fertility and reproductive phenotypes were assessed by breeding assays, histological analyses of the testes and epididymides, sperm morphology evaluation, computer-assisted sperm analysis during capacitation, and transmission electron microscopy of flagellar ultrastructure. Rhbg-/- male mice showed largely preserved fertility and produced offspring numbers comparable to those of wild-type controls, although a modest reduction in litter size was observed. Consistently, testicular architecture, spermatogenesis, and epididymal morphology were normal, and transmission electron microscopy confirmed intact flagellar ultrastructure. Computer-assisted sperm analysis further showed normal progressive motility under both basal and capacitating conditions. However, under hyperactivation-associated conditions, Rhbg-/- sperm exhibited a mild reduction in total motility, accompanied by subtle decreases in straight-line velocity and straightness. In addition, a slight increase in tail-coiling abnormalities was observed, whereas overall sperm morphology remained largely normal. Together, these findings indicate that Rhbg is not essential for spermatogenesis or male fertility in mice, but its absence causes minor, context-dependent alterations in sperm trajectory efficiency during capacitation without affecting core motility or ultrastructural integrity. Thus, RHBG may contribute to the fine regulation of sperm motility behavior rather than acting as a major determinant of reproductive capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148893077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum with lifestyle factors and semen parameters: results from a cross-sectional study in 2668 males.","authors":"Xiu-Huan Dai, Xiao-Hua Jiang, Lu Zong, Yuan-Yuan Tao, Qi Jin, Wen-Juan Tang, Li-Min Wu, Bo Xu, Shun Bai","doi":"10.4103/aja202599","DOIUrl":"10.4103/aja202599","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lifestyle factors have been linked to decreased sperm quality and may influence the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection. This study aims to clarify the relationships among Ureaplasma urealyticum infection, lifestyle factors, and semen quality. In this retrospective study, 2668 male partners of infertile couples who underwent fertility evaluation at the Center for Reproduction and Genetics of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) between April 2020 and March 2023 were enrolled. Participants were assessed for semen parameters, clinical characteristics, and lifestyle factors. Of the 2668 participants, 659 (24.7%) participants were positive for Ureaplasma urealyticum . Body mass index (BMI), smoking, and sexual frequency (>2 times per week) were significantly higher in the Ureaplasma urealyticum -positive group than those in the Ureaplasma urealyticum-negative group. After adjustment for potential confounders, smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.49, P = 0.03) and sexual frequency (more than twice per week; OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.04-1.91, P = 0.03) remained associated with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection. Regarding semen parameters, ejaculate volume was significantly lower in the Ureaplasma urealyticum -positive group ( P = 0.002); however, the prevalence of abnormal semen quality did not differ between the two groups. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis revealed no significant associations between poor semen quality and Ureaplasma urealyticum infection. In conclusion, Ureaplasma urealyticum infection was associated with certain lifestyle factors but not with semen quality. Further research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate potential interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":"535-541"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623326/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146151310","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differences in adipose-derived stem cells from rats with various health statuses and their effects in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction.","authors":"Guo-Chao Liu, Lei Zheng, Le-Tian Wei, Zhi-Yu Liu, Hui Jiang, Tao Jiang","doi":"10.4103/aja202594","DOIUrl":"10.4103/aja202594","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is essential to use high-quality adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) for clinical applications. The functional characteristics of ADSCs differ in the presence of various health conditions. Specifically, recent studies of the therapeutic effects of ADSCs from individuals with diabetes and no erectile dysfunction (NED-ADSCs), ADSCs from those with diabetes and erectile dysfunction (ED-ADSCs), and normal ADSCs have generated conflicting results. Therefore, we aimed to provide evidence for the clinical utility of ADSCs. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was induced in rats by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 40 mg kg -1 ) following 4 weeks of high-fat diet feeding. After 12 weeks, erectile dysfunction was confirmed using the apomorphine (80 µg kg -1 ) test, and those with diabetes mellitus-related erectile dysfunction (DMED) were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Each group was administered 1 × 10 6 allogeneic ADSCs by injection into the corpus cavernosum; then, erectile function and penile histology were evaluated 28 days later. Of the three ADSCs types injected, normal ADSCs exhibited the strongest proliferation and differentiation capabilities. Following ADSCs treatment, there was an increase in smooth muscle cell number and a higher muscle-to-collagen fiber ratio. The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal nerve significantly increased. In addition, proteomic analysis revealed that heat shock protein expression was very low in the diabetic rats, but upregulated by stem cell therapy, which may represent a mechanism for the beneficial effects of ADSCs. Therefore, men with diabetes should consider the early preservation of ADSCs to help prevent the onset of erectile dysfunction (ED).</p>","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":"526-534"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623312/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146208475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of short-term, high-intensive, WHO laboratory standard-based training in sperm morphology assessment: evidence from a national program in China.","authors":"Fang Zhou, Ying Guo, Xiao-Wei Wang, Shi Qiu, Jian-Feng Xu, Hai-Bao Zhao, Yi-Qun Gu, Long-Long Fu, Wen-Hong Lu","doi":"10.4103/aja202615","DOIUrl":"10.4103/aja202615","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93889,"journal":{"name":"Asian journal of andrology","volume":" ","pages":"699-700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13623307/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147977816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}