Review of Sertoli cell dysfunction caused by COVID-19 that could affect male fertility

Abstract

Spermatogenesis is a complex and elaborate differentiation process and is vital for male fertility. Sertoli cells play a major role in fertility and induce spermatogenesis by protecting, nourishing, and supporting germ cells. It has been speculated that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could directly affect the male reproductive system, and therefore heredity and fertility. The similarity of SARS-CoV-2 to SARS-CoV could confirm this hypothesis because both viruses use angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) as the receptor to enter human cells. ACE2 is expressed by Sertoli cells and other testicular cells, therefore COVID-19 has the potential to impair fertility by destroying Sertoli cells. This hypothesis should be evaluated and confirmed by monitoring fertility in patients with COVID-19.

Long COVID and risk of erectile dysfunction in recovered patients from mild to moderate COVID-19

“…However, FSH serum level was insignificantly higher compared with the controls, which could be due to Leydig and Sertoli cell dysfunction 38 . Tabar et al shown how the ACE2-mediated pathway may be used by SARS-CoV-2 infection to harm Sertoli cells and trigger the onset of male infertility 39 . Moreover, other endocrinopathies in LC patients, such as thyroid dysfunction and insulin resistance, may cause functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism 12 , 40 .…”

A Study of Dual Function and Expression Pattern of Klf4 between Two Different Processes of Differentiation and Maintenance of Pluripotency in Spermatogonial Stem Cells

“…Chronologically, spermatogonia stages are either undifferentiated A-type or differentiating. GSCs are undifferentiated A single (As) spermatogonia [1,2]. Daughter cells formed from undifferentiated As (A single ) spermatogonia in mice may move to direct stem cell renewal or give rise to additional undifferentiated A-type spermatogonia, which go through differentiation stages.…”