Virus World
378.2K views | +6 today
Follow
Virus World
Medicine

Virus World

Virus World provides a daily blog of the latest news in the Virology field and the COVID-19 pandemic. News on new antiviral drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tests, viral outbreaks, novel viruses and milestone discoveries are curated by expert virologists. Highlighted news include trending and most cited scientific articles in these fields with links to the original publications. Stay up-to-date with the most exciting discoveries in the virus world and the last therapies for COVID-19 without spending hours browsing news and scientific publications. Additional comments by experts on the topics are available in Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanlama/detail/recent-activity/)
Curated by Juan Lama
Your new post is loading...
Scooped by Juan Lama
Scoop.it!

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Reduces Quality of Sperm Parameters

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Reduces Quality of Sperm Parameters | Virus World | Scoop.it
From www.sciencedirect.com - June 11, 2023 12:53 PM

Background

Short- and long-term implications of SARS-CoV-2 on the quality of the sperm and the results of this on fertility remain largely unknown due to lack of longitudinal studies. In this longitudinal observational cohort study, we aimed to analyse the differential effect and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on different semen quality parameters.

Methods

Sperm quality was assessed using the World Health Organization criteria, DNA damage to sperm cells by quantifying the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the high-density stainability (HDS), IgA- and IgG-anti-sperm antibodies (ASA) were assessed with light microscopy.

Findings

SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with sperm parameters that were independent of spermatogenic cycle like progressive motility, morphology, DFI and HDS, as well as spermatogenic cycle dependent parameters such as sperm concentration. Detection of IgA- and IgG-ASA allowed classification of patients in three different groups according to its sequence of appearance in sperm during post-COVID-19 follow-up. The maximum progressive motility was lowest during follow-up in patients without ASA (41.9%), intermediate in patients with only IgA-ASA (46.2%) and highest inpatients who had both IgA- and IgG-ASA (54.9%).

Interpretation

SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with changes of all analysed sperm parameters to a different degree which is also observed in their return to normality and is suggestive of individual variations in the patient's immune system performance. Firstly, sperm production is decreased through temporal immune mediated arrest of active meiosis, and secondly immune induced sperm DNA damage prevents fertilization if transferred to the oocyte. Both mechanisms are temporal, and most sperm parameters return to baseline after infection.

Evidence before this study

Although some studies have shown the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the testis of deceased COVID-19 patients and during the acute phase of the infection, many studies reported the absence of the virus in semen shortly after COVID-19. Despite the potential risk for sexual transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus therefore being low, short- and long-term effects on the quality of the sperm and the impact of this on fertility remain largely unknown due to lack of longitudinal studies.

Added value of this study

This large follow-up study of post COVID-19 patients demonstrated a harmful effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on different sperm parameters through immune response. Recovery of the different sperm parameters varied between patients, could take more than one-year post infection, and depended on the initial immune response of the patient. Our data show for the first time that peak progressive sperm motility post-COVID-19 is dependent on the patient's antibody response. Patients producing both IgA/IgG-ASA had the fastest and most complete recovery, while patients without IgA/IgG-ASA experienced slow and incomplete recovery. Conversely, harmful sIgG-N in blood only significantly correlated with higher sperm DNA damage (DFI). Our longitudinal data show that the reduction in sperm concentration after SARS-CoV-2 infection is not caused by fever but rather by the immunological response that follows afterwards. The main goal of the immune response after a SARS-CoV-2 infection is to protect cell populations amplified through meiosis. Firstly, sperm production is decreased through temporal arrest of active meiosis, and secondly the sperm DNA is damaged preventing fertilization if transferred to the oocyte. Both mechanisms are temporal, and most sperm parameters return to baseline after infection.

Implications of all the available evidence

Detection of IgA and IgG ASA that bind the tail of spermatozoa allowed a novel classification of patients in 3 different groups according to the detection and sequence of appearance in sperm during post COVID-19 follow-up. Detection of harmful (sIgG-N) and protective (RBD-IgG) antibodies in both serum and sperm (IgA/IgG-ASA) as well as the measurement of sperm DNA damage in sperm should be promoted in fertility assessment. While we showed that the humoral immunity plays a key role in modulating sperm parameters after SARS-CoV-2 infection, future research will focus on how the cellular immunity and t-cell mediated response can also impact fertility.

 

Published in eBioMedicine (July 2023):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104640 

more...
No comment yet.
Sign up to comment
Scooped by Juan Lama
Scoop.it!

COVID-19 Could Cause Male Infertility 

COVID-19 Could Cause Male Infertility  | Virus World | Scoop.it
From www.jpost.com - October 7, 2020 1:02 PM

The virus was found within the sperm of some 13% of screened male COVID-19 patients. Males who suffer from moderate or severe cases of COVID-19 could experience reduced fertility, according to a new study conducted by Dr. Dan Aderka of Sheba Medical Center. Aderka reported that not only was the virus found within the sperm of some 13% of screened male COVID-19 patients, but that there was a 50% decrease in the sperm volume, concentration and motility in patients with moderate disease even 30 days post diagnosis. Finally, post-mortem tests of 12 COVID-19 patients demonstrated moderate to severe changes in the testicular cells supporting sperm development and those producing testosterone, the hormone that induces sperm division and multiplication.

 

Aderka, whose research has not yet been published, told The Jerusalem Post that the cause for this phenomenon seems to be the presence of the ACE2 receptor on the surface the cell of the Sertoli and Leydig cells of the testis, the same receptors on the cells of lungs, kidneys and hearts. The Sertoli cells support sperm maturation. The Leydig cells produce testosterone. He said the coronavirus binds to the ACE2 receptors and destroys the cells, which causes infertility. “As normal sperm maturation takes 70 to 75 days, it is possible that if we are doing a sperm examination two and a half months after recovery, we may see even more reduced fertility,” Aderka said. “It could be even more detrimental.”

 

He added that it is also still unclear if the effects on the quality and quantity of the sperm are reversible or persistent. He said doctors will need to examine these same patients six months and a year after recovery to see if the damage “stands the test of time.” This is something his team is planning to do. Aderka said that there is another hypothesis that can now be explored, also as a result of his research: “Interestingly, an enzyme called TMPRSS2 assists the virus in binding to the ACE receptor, facilitating its internalization into the cells.” TMPRSS2 is activated by testosterone. “This phenomenon may explain the higher COVID-10 morbidity and mortality of men compared to women,” he told the Post, adding that it also may explain the lower morbidity and mortality of children, whose testosterone levels are low.

more...
No comment yet.
Sign up to comment
About Follow us Resources Terms Mobile Features
Facebook
X
LinkedIn