Fertility Impairment after Trekking at High Altitude: A Proof of Mechanisms on Redox and Metabolic Seminal Changes.
altitude hypoxia
male infertility
oxidative stress
redox biology
sperm parameters
sperm physiology
Journal
International journal of molecular sciences
ISSN: 1422-0067
Titre abrégé: Int J Mol Sci
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101092791
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
13 Aug 2022
13 Aug 2022
Historique:
received:
12
07
2022
revised:
08
08
2022
accepted:
10
08
2022
entrez:
26
8
2022
pubmed:
27
8
2022
medline:
30
8
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Many authors described negative but reversible effects of high-altitude hypoxic exposure on animal and human fertility in terms of sperm concentration, function, and biochemical alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of high-altitude exposure on classical sperm parameters, redox status, and membrane composition in a group of travellers. Five healthy Italian males, all lowlanders not accustomed to the altitude, were evaluated after 19 days-trekking through low, moderate, and high altitudes in the Himalayas. Sperm samples were collected before (Pre), 10 days after (Post), and 70 days after the end of the expedition (Follow-up). Sperm concentration, cholesterol and oxysterol membrane content, and redox status were measured. Hypoxic trek led to a significant reduction in sperm concentration (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.91), with a reduction from Pre to Post (71.33 ± 38.81 to 60.65 ± 34.63 × 106/mL) and a further reduction at Follow-up (to 37.13 ± 39.17 × 106/mL). The seminal volume was significantly affected by the hypoxic trek (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.75) with a significant reduction from Pre to Post (2.86 ± 0.75 to 1.68 ± 0.49 mL) and with partial recovery at Follow-up (to 2.46 ± 0.45 mL). Moreover, subjects had an increase in ROS production (+86%), and a decrease in antioxidant capacity (−37%) in the Post period with partial recovery at Follow-up. These results integrated the hormonal response on thyroid function, hypothalamus−pituitary−gonadal axis, and the prolactin/cortisol pathways previously reported. An uncontrolled ROS production, rather than a compromised antioxidant activity, was likely the cause of impaired sperm quality. The reduction in fertility status observed in this study may lie in an evolutionary Darwinian explanation, i.e., limiting reproduction due to the “adaptive disadvantage” offered by the combined stressors of high-altitude hypoxia and daily physical exercise.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36012330
pii: ijms23169066
doi: 10.3390/ijms23169066
pmc: PMC9409093
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Antioxidants
0
Reactive Oxygen Species
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Références
Science. 1963 Apr 12;140(3563):184-6
pubmed: 13953583
High Alt Med Biol. 2019 Jun;20(2):198-202
pubmed: 30900912
Front Physiol. 2020 Nov 10;11:607616
pubmed: 33240112
Fertil Steril. 2003 Apr;79(4):829-43
pubmed: 12749418
Fertil Steril. 2011 May;95(6):2018-23, 2023.e1-3
pubmed: 21444069
J Androl. 2000 Nov-Dec;21(6):776-98
pubmed: 11105904
Andrology. 2018 Mar;6(2):325-334
pubmed: 29378089
Urology. 2017 Aug;106:96-102
pubmed: 28522219
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2012 Sep;18(9):835-9
pubmed: 23193675
J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2020 Aug;22(8):1494-1503
pubmed: 32762147
High Alt Med Biol. 2017 Jun;18(2):191-192
pubmed: 28418708
Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2014;2014:306179
pubmed: 25374651
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 Jan;88(1):61-7
pubmed: 15026084
Br Foreign Med Chir Rev. 1860 Apr;25(50):367-404
pubmed: 30164232
High Alt Med Biol. 2017 Sep;18(3):303-304
pubmed: 28753037
Eur J Sport Sci. 2021 Jul;21(7):994-1002
pubmed: 32627691
Investig Clin Urol. 2017 Nov;58(6):385-399
pubmed: 29124237
Genes (Basel). 2019 Feb 15;10(2):
pubmed: 30781443
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2016 Jan;116(1):129-44
pubmed: 26349745
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2020 Jul;21(7):363-383
pubmed: 32231263
Extrem Physiol Med. 2013 Oct 23;2(1):30
pubmed: 24229457
Exp Physiol. 2017 Jun 1;102(6):711-724
pubmed: 28390080
Redox Biol. 2017 Apr;11:111-117
pubmed: 27912195
Nutrients. 2021 Jan 30;13(2):
pubmed: 33573243
Asian J Androl. 2014 Jan-Feb;16(1):31-8
pubmed: 24369131
Fertil Steril. 2009 Nov;92(5):1626-31
pubmed: 18937945
Hum Reprod Update. 2010 May-Jun;16(3):231-45
pubmed: 19934213
Asian J Androl. 2008 Jul;10(4):602-6
pubmed: 18097511
Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Mar;55(3):2653-2675
pubmed: 28421539
BJU Int. 2005 Mar;95(4):503-7
pubmed: 15705068
Science. 1942 Jan 23;95(2456):79-84
pubmed: 17757318
Andrologia. 2005 Feb;37(1):47-52
pubmed: 15644063
Animal. 2018 May;12(5):1007-1014
pubmed: 28988559
High Alt Med Biol. 2018 Mar;19(1):7-14
pubmed: 29596018
Front Physiol. 2017 Feb 13;8:84
pubmed: 28243207
Asian J Androl. 2010 Jan;12(1):95-8
pubmed: 20111088
Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 31;6:32426
pubmed: 27579527
Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Jan 2;2021:8869849
pubmed: 33488947
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2019 Dec;119(11-12):2449-2456
pubmed: 31520216
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020 Jul;120(7):1629-1636
pubmed: 32494861
Biol Reprod. 2013 Sep 19;89(3):60
pubmed: 23946533
Physiol Res. 2007;56(6):779-787
pubmed: 17087599
Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 Apr 30;2022:4430032
pubmed: 35535360
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1335:111-119
pubmed: 33742419
Front Mol Biosci. 2022 Jan 05;8:799294
pubmed: 35071326
J Androl. 2007 Jul-Aug;28(4):613-20
pubmed: 17409462
Hum Reprod. 1999 Nov;14(11):2801-7
pubmed: 10548626
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Jan;121(1):297-306
pubmed: 33057877
Am J Hum Biol. 2013 Mar-Apr;25(2):179-89
pubmed: 23382088
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2018 Janurary;24(1):27-32
pubmed: 30157356
Food Chem. 2017 Apr 15;221:1221-1225
pubmed: 27979081
Andrologia. 2014 Feb;46(1):1-8
pubmed: 23127143
World J Mens Health. 2021 Jul;39(3):470-488
pubmed: 33831977
High Alt Med Biol. 2015 Sep;16(3):216-22
pubmed: 26288097
Asian J Androl. 2012 Jan;14(1):82-7
pubmed: 22179510
Front Biosci. 1996 Aug 01;1:e78-86
pubmed: 9159248
Ann Bot. 2003 Jan;91 Spec No:179-94
pubmed: 12509339
Fertil Steril. 2011 Jul;96(1):28-33
pubmed: 21561607
Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:9540142
pubmed: 26942204
Andrologia. 2021 Feb;53(1):e13646
pubmed: 32447772
An Fac Med Lima. 1953;36(3):419-46
pubmed: 13197786
Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 May;101:805-819
pubmed: 29525677
Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Feb 11;11(2):
pubmed: 35204250
Biol Reprod. 2011 Jul;85(1):128-36
pubmed: 21415139