Exposure to Cumulus Cell Secretome Improves Sperm Function: New Perspectives for Sperm Selection In Vitro

Luongo, Francesca Paola; Perez Casasus, Silvia; Haxhiu, Alesandro; Barbarulo, Fabio; Scarcella, Marta; Governini, Laura; Piomboni, Paola; Scarica, Catello; Luddi, Alice

doi:10.3390/cells12192349

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Design of the study. Sample collection and analysis was performed according WHO manual 2021 [30] IF: immunofluorescence analysis; WB: Western blot analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Semen analysis was conducted within 30 min after fluidification, according to WHO 2021 guidelines, with two separate blinded observers performing the assessment (the reported data represents the average of the two observations). An amount of 10 µL of each semen sample was used for analysis according to the WHO guidelines [30]. An unbiased observer assessed seminal parameters, and the results were independently verified by another observer to ensure quality control.…”

Section: Semen Collection and Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sperm samples were examined using the Leica AF6500 Integrated System for Imaging and Analysis (Leica Microsystems in Wetzlar, Germany) and operated with the LAS AF 4.0 software. Staining patterns were analyzed and classified as reported in the literature [30,34].…”

Section: Immunofluorescence Stainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paternal Age Amplifies Cryopreservation-Induced Stress in Human Spermatozoa

Pérez Casasús,

Luongo,

Haxhiu

et al. 2024

Cells

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The global fall in male fertility is a complicated process driven by a variety of factors, including environmental exposure, lifestyle, obesity, stress, and aging. The availability of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has allowed older couples to conceive, increasing the average paternal age at first childbirth. Advanced paternal age (APA), most often considered male age ≥40, has been described to impact several aspects of male reproductive physiology. In this prospective cohort study including 200 normozoospermic patients, 105 of whom were ≤35 years (non-APA), and 95 of whom were ≥42 years (APA), we assessed the impact of paternal age on different endpoints representative of sperm quality and cryopreservation tolerance. Non-APA patients had superior fresh semen quality; DNA fragmentation was notably increased in APA as compared to non-APA individuals (21.7% vs. 15.4%). Cryopreservation further increased the DNA fragmentation index in APA (26.7%) but not in non-APA patients. Additionally, APA was associated with increased mtDNAcn in both fresh and frozen/thawed sperm, which is indicative of poorer mitochondrial quality. Cryopreservation negatively impacted acrosome integrity in both age groups, as indicated by reduced incidences of unreacted acrosome in relation to fresh counterparts in non-APA (from 71.5% to 57.7%) and APA patients (from 75% to 63%). Finally, cryopreservation significantly reduced the phosphorylation status of proteins containing tyrosine residues in sperm from young males. Therefore, the present findings shed light on the effects of paternal age and cryopreservation on sperm quality and serve as valuable new parameters to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sperm developmental competence that are under threat in current ART practice.

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“…Design of the study. Sample collection and analysis was performed according WHO manual 2021 [30] IF: immunofluorescence analysis; WB: Western blot analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Semen Collection and Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Paternal Age Amplifies Cryopreservation-Induced Stress in Human Spermatozoa

Pérez Casasús,

Luongo,

Haxhiu

et al. 2024

Cells

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Assessment of sperm chromosomal abnormalities using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): implications for reproductive potential

Luongo,

Annunzi,

Girolamo

et al. 2024

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose Chromosomal abnormalities play an important role in male infertility, which is becoming a significant issue in human fertility. Aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of spermatic aneuploidies and diploidies in human sperm, according to semen parameters. Methods We performed semen analysis according to the 6th edition of WHO criteria in 50 male subjects; samples were divided into normozoospermic (n = 23) or those with altered seminal parameters (n = 27). To assess chromosomal numerical alterations of sperm, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used. Result A significant increase in aneuploidies and diploidies was observed in samples with altered seminal parameters. Furthermore, stratifying this group, we observed a significant increase in aneuploidies and total abnormalities in oligozoospermic, asthenoteratozoospermic (AT), and oligoteratoasthenozoospermic (OAT) samples compared to normozoospermic. Conclusion Our results showed the correlation between altered seminal parameters and numerical chromosomal abnormalities, confirming that sperm FISH analysis could be an additional clinical tool to assess reproductive potential in infertile males. Moreover, our results point to the importance of updating the normality ranges for detecting chromosomal aneuploidies using FISH.

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