Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number: a marker of male fertility and reproductive success - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #mitochondrial DNA
- #male fertility
- #sperm health
- Sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) serves as a promising biomarker of sperm health, offering molecular insights beyond standard semen analysis.
- Elevated sperm mtDNAcn is consistently linked to poorer sperm quality, including reduced motility, concentration, morphology, and higher DNA fragmentation.
- Higher mtDNAcn is associated with diminished reproductive outcomes, such as longer time-to-pregnancy in natural conception, lower fertilization potential in ART, and poorer embryo quality.
- Biological underpinnings involve regulation during spermatogenesis, nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins like TFAM, and potential epigenetic modulation through sperm DNA methylation.
- Standardized measurement protocols and large prospective studies are needed to define clinical thresholds and realize the biomarker's full potential in male fertility assessment.
- Emerging evidence suggests mitochondrial-nuclear crosstalk, with sperm mtDNAcn linked to altered nuclear DNA methylation patterns.