Abstract
During the last decade, several studies have shown that mitochondrial parameters, such as integrity, respiratory activity, membrane potential and ROS production are intimately linked with sperm quality. Given the limitations of conventional semen analyses in terms of predicting male fertility, an increasing number of studies are focusing on the characterization of sperm mitochondria in order to more accurately assess sperm functionality. Moreover, mitochondria from several organs, such as the liver, have been described as a powerful screening tool for drug safety, being an easy in vitro model to assess the toxicity of distinct families of compounds. Given that mitochondrial functionality is intimately related to sperm homeostasis, it has become important to understand how compounds, ranging from dietary supplements, environmental pollutants, dependency-inducing drugs to pharmacological agents (such as erectile dysfunction-targeted drugs and male contraceptives) affect sperm mitochondrial function. In this review, we discuss studies describing the effects of various chemical agents on spermatozoa, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial function. From the extensive literature analyzed, we conclude that in some cases the role of sperm mitochondria as putative predictors of sperm functionality is very obvious, while in others further studies are needed to clarify this issue.
Keywords: Mitochondria, sperm, male fertility, lifestyle-associated compounds, male contraceptives, sensor.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Mitochondrial Functionality and Chemical Compound Action on Sperm Function
Volume: 23 Issue: 31
Author(s): S. Amaral, R. S. Tavares, M. Baptista, M. I. Sousa, A. Silva, S. Escada-Rebelo, C. P. Paiva and J. Ramalho-Santos
Affiliation:
Keywords: Mitochondria, sperm, male fertility, lifestyle-associated compounds, male contraceptives, sensor.
Abstract: During the last decade, several studies have shown that mitochondrial parameters, such as integrity, respiratory activity, membrane potential and ROS production are intimately linked with sperm quality. Given the limitations of conventional semen analyses in terms of predicting male fertility, an increasing number of studies are focusing on the characterization of sperm mitochondria in order to more accurately assess sperm functionality. Moreover, mitochondria from several organs, such as the liver, have been described as a powerful screening tool for drug safety, being an easy in vitro model to assess the toxicity of distinct families of compounds. Given that mitochondrial functionality is intimately related to sperm homeostasis, it has become important to understand how compounds, ranging from dietary supplements, environmental pollutants, dependency-inducing drugs to pharmacological agents (such as erectile dysfunction-targeted drugs and male contraceptives) affect sperm mitochondrial function. In this review, we discuss studies describing the effects of various chemical agents on spermatozoa, with particular emphasis on mitochondrial function. From the extensive literature analyzed, we conclude that in some cases the role of sperm mitochondria as putative predictors of sperm functionality is very obvious, while in others further studies are needed to clarify this issue.
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Cite this article as:
Amaral S., S. Tavares R., Baptista M., Sousa I. M., Silva A., Escada-Rebelo S., Paiva P. C. and Ramalho-Santos J., Mitochondrial Functionality and Chemical Compound Action on Sperm Function, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2016; 23 (31) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160425113518
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160425113518 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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