Obesity and Male Reproduction: Do Sirtuins Play a Role?

Abstract

Obesity is a major current public health problem of global significance. A progressive sperm quality decline, and a decline in male fertility, have been reported in recent decades. Several studies have reported a strict relationship between obesity and male reproductive dysfunction. Among the many mechanisms by which obesity impairs male gonadal function, sirtuins (SIRTs) have an emerging role. SIRTs are highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent deacetylases that play a role in gene regulation, metabolism, aging, and cancer. SIRTs regulate the energy balance, the lipid balance, glucose metabolism, and adipogenesis, but current evidence also indicates a role for SIRTs in male reproduction. However, the majority of the studies have been conducted in animal models and very few have been conducted with humans. This review shows that SIRTs play an important role among the molecular mechanisms by which obesity interferes with male fertility. This highlights the need to deepen this relationship. It will be of particular interest to evaluate whether synthetic and/or natural compounds capable of modifying the activity of SIRTs may also be useful for the treatment of obesity and its effects on gonadal function. Although few studies have explored the role of SIRT activators in obesity-induced male infertility, some molecules, such as resveratrol, appear to be effective in modulating SIRT activity, as well as counteracting the negative effects of obesity on male fertility. The search for strategies to improve male reproductive function in overweight/obese patients is a challenge and understanding the role of SIRTs and their activators may open new interesting scenarios in the coming years.

Semen quality and frozen semen production in Pasundan bulls: A molecular weight perspective on seminal plasma and spermatozoa protein

“…The expression of proteins with a MW of 50–65 kDa in seminal plasma and spermatozoa can indicate proteins that play a role in the function of catalytic activity, such as regulating energy metabolism in mitochondria [24] . Proteins like mitochondrial sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) may influence male fertility by regulating mitochondrial function and overseeing oxidative stress.…”

Effect of Paternal Body Mass Index on In Vitro Fertilization and Neonatal Outcomes among Oligozoospermia and Asthenospermia Patients

“…Obesity and overweight were the most important abnormal metabolism associated with decreased androgen indices. Excessive visceral fat catalyzes the irreversible conversion of T to E 2 due to a greater aromatase activity [ 18 ]. Spermatogenesis is completely dependent on FSH and androgens, where the role of FSH is to stimulate spermatogonial proliferation and entry into meiosis and the role of T is to ensure the completion of meiosis and spermiogenesis [ 19 ].…”

“…Spermatogenesis is completely dependent on FSH and androgens, where the role of FSH is to stimulate spermatogonial proliferation and entry into meiosis and the role of T is to ensure the completion of meiosis and spermiogenesis [ 19 ]. Obesity, associated with chronic systemic inflammation, induces an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant systems subsequently triggering excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production [ 18 ]. High levels of ROS would attack the lipids in the sperm plasma membrane as well as the DNA in the nucleus and mitochondria, thereby compromising sperm viability and DNA integrity [ 20 ].…”

Obesity: A Doorway to a Molecular Path Leading to Infertility

“…Women with obesity have a lower rate of implantation and pregnancy [ 29 ]. Similarly, obesity in men leads to male infertility mediated through the altered hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, testicular steroidogenesis, metabolic dysregulation of insulin, cytokines, and adipokines, oxidative stress, and genetic and epigenetic changes [ 9 , 30 , 31 ].…”