ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect and possible underlying mechanisms of high-fat diet-induced obesity on spermatogenesis in male rats.MethodsA total of 45 male rats were randomly divided into control (n = 15, normal diet) and obesity groups (n = 30, high-fat diet) and were fed for 16 weeks. Body weight and organ indexes were determined after sacrifice. Indicators of reproductive function, including sperm count, sperm motility, apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, and oxidative stress levels, were measured. Serum metabolic parameters and reproductive hormones were also assayed.ResultsCompared with the control group, epididymal sperm motility in the obese rats was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Morphological analysis of the obesity group showed vacuolar changes in seminiferous tubules, spermatogenic cell dysfunction, and increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in testicular tissue (P < 0.05). The calculated free testosterone (cFT) concentration in serum was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas the serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) level was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration decreased and the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration increased in testis tissues; however, neither changes were statistically significant (P > 0.05).ResultsNutritional obesity can damage spermatogenesis in male rats due to long-term effects on spermatogenesis.

BackgroundHuman sperm cryopreservation is a simple and effective approach for male fertility preservation.MethodsTo identify potential proteomic changes in this process, data-independent acquisition (DIA), a technology with high quantitative accuracy and highly reproducible proteomics, was used to quantitatively characterize the proteomics of human sperm cryopreservation.ResultsA total of 174 significantly differential proteins were identified between fresh and cryoperservated sperm: 98 proteins decreased and 76 proteins increased in the cryopreservation group. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that metabolic pathways play an important role in cryopreservation, including: propanoate metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism. Four different proteins involved in glycolysis were identified by Western blotting: GPI, LDHB, ADH5, and PGAM1.ConclusionsOur work will provide valuable information for future investigations and pathological studies involving sperm cryopreservation.

Background Fertility preservation is very important for male cancer patients, especially adolescents. Unfortunately, the use of fertility preservation is very low among Chinese male cancer patients. Additionally, the cumulative rate of frozen sperm use is also low. Material/Methods We performed a retrospective study by collecting available information at the Human Sperm Bank, National Research Institute for Family Planning from July 2006 to December 2017 to examine the data in China. Results A total 145 male cancer patients underwent sperm cryopreservation. The patients were 29.3±6.9 years old, and 6.2% (9 out of 145) of the patients were adolescents under the age of 18 years old. As of June 2018, only 9.7% (14 out of 145) of patients returned to use their cryopreserved sperm for assisted reproduction technology (ART). Of the 33 ART cycles, conceptions were achieved in 51.5% (17 out of 33), and the rate of patients who had a baby was 71.4% (10 out of 14). The data indicate men with testicular cancer or leukemia had lower total sperm counts and recovery rate of progressive sperm than did men with other types of cancer, while men with sarcoma had the lowest progressive sperm. Conclusions The physician should make an effort to promote fertility preservation for male cancer patients in China. And patients with testicular cancer and leukemia require additional attention.