Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on male reproduction

Tian, Yinbao; Zhou, Li-Quan

doi:10.1530/rep-20-0523

Cited by 65 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Altered levels of gonadotropins and testosterone in male COVID-19 subjects might be due to the dysregulation of hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis (Tian and Zhou 2021 ). Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2-mediated dysregulation of the HPT axis remains unclear (Pal and Banerjee 2020 ).…”

Section: Sars-cov-2 Effects On the Male Reproductive System: Pathologic Alterations And Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and male reproductive system: pathogenic features and possible mechanisms

Zadeh

Arab

2021

J Mol Histol

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Multiorgan dysfunction is the main characteristic of severe COVID-19 patients and the involvement of male reproductive system may occur among these patients. Although there is a limited evidence to confirm the orchitis and virus presence in the semen of patients, there are concerns about the transmission of virus through the semen. In addition, reduced fertility or infertility can be seen as consequences of severe COVID-19 in recovered subjects. In this study, we aimed to review articles related to COVID-19 and male reproductive system to find the possible underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in affecting male fertility. The following keywords of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, testis, orchitis, semen, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis, Hypothalamus, etc., were defined to find the related publications from standard search engines, e.g., PUBMED, SCOPUS, Google Scholar. According to studies, COVID-19 occurs in severe patients as respiratory disease, along with multi-organ failure. The most important mechanisms are classified as direct and indirect pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The presence of ACE2 on the cell surface of various cells in testis increases the risk of direct infection by this virus. SARS-CoV-2 also affects the testis through the cytokine storm. In addition, the important role of HPT axis dysregulation through impaired Leydig cells and hypothalamus should be considered. Using antiviral and immunomodulatory therapy can be harmful for testis function. Further investigations are required to investigate potential mechanisms of male infertility in survivals of COVID-19. Since involvement of testis is essential for fertility, increasing the knowledge of health system may improve the outcomes.

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Section: Sars-cov-2 Effects On the Male Reproductive System: Pathologic Alterations And Underlying Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and male reproductive system: pathogenic features and possible mechanisms

Zadeh

Arab

2021

J Mol Histol

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“…As angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors (ACSE2) expression is rich in testes, SARS-CoV-2 may bind these receptors to penetrate cells and initiate its intracellular replication and action (cytotoxicity) that disrupting the testicular hemostasis. Similarly, several studies reported that ACSE2 receptor expression is rich in human male gonads (spermatogonia, Leydig, Sertoli cells, and seminiferous ducts), thus SARS-CoV-2 can bind ACSE2 receptor to disrupt gonadal hemostasis and increase the risk of testicular dysfunction [19][20][21][22]. SARS-CoV-2 may cause spermatogenic failure [20].…”

Section: Possible Mechanisms Of How the Sars-cov-2 Can Infect The Testesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crosstalk between SARS-CoV-2 and Testicular Hemostasis: Perspective View

Ahmed¹

2022

Biotechnology to Combat COVID-19

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The infection of SARS-CoV-2 and its COVID disease caused several economic and social disturbances worldwide. This chapter aimed to determine the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the testicular hemostasis. This overview showed the possible mechanisms of how the SARS-CoV-2 can infect the testes. SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia, cytokine storm, and immunosuppressive state may transfer from the respiratory tract to the blood circulation, binding to testicular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors (ACSE2) and initiate its intracellular replication and action (cytotoxicity), that disrupting the testicular hemostasis. In severe states, COVID-19 disease can increase body/testes temperature, which may destroy the germ cell in the long term. The final mechanism is that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes stress, panic, and anxiety states, causing brain disorders that may perturb the hypothalamic–pituitary-testes-axis (HPTA). This disturbance may then lead to testicular dysfunction. The severity of COVID-19 may be age-dependent and depending on the expression and distribution of testicular ACSE2 receptors. Also, this chapter not only showed the sexual transmission of SARS-CoV-2 but also followed its impact on sexual behavior, pregnancy, and progeny. Thus, maintaining the testicular hemostasis may play a vital role in a healthy life for the offspring. Further research and clinical studies are required to explore this issue.

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“…Therefore, infection with SARS-CoV-2 can result in wide range of clinical signs. The patients may demonstrate one or more of the following symptoms: respiratory manifestations (Zheng et al 2020 ), gastro-intestinal symptoms and hepatic abnormalities (Zarifian et al 2020 ), integumentary system and skin lesions (e.g., pityriasis rosea, exanthem, papules, vesicles, and urticaria) (Rodriguez-Cerdeira et al 2021 ; Deshmukh et al 2020 ), multisystem inflammatory syndrome and Kawasaki-like syndrome in children (Esmaeilzadeh et al 2021 ; Haslak et al 2020 ), nervous signs (Soltani et al 2021 ; Ellul et al 2020 ), severe immune response (storm of cytokines) (Hu et al 2021 ), and cardiovascular manifestations (Israel et al 2021 ) and may even infect the male reproductive system leading to testicular damage and reduction of male fertility (Roychoudhury et al n.d. ; Tian and Zhou 2021 ).…”

Section: Factors Determining Covid-19 Susceptibility In the Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%