Influence of physical activity on male fertility.

Infertility is a worldwide issue impacting 15% of couples' population. Male-related infertility results in almost 50% of these cases. Considering lifestyle factors associated with infertility, here in this literature review article, we aimed to discuss training/sport effects on male-related infertility. Regarding this issue, human and animal model studies related to the subject were gathered and analysed. Exercise is well known as a general improving factor, however, excessive exercise can result in male infertility due to reduced hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPT) function, increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Consequently, these underlying impacts result in a low testosterone production, and reduced semen quality, and can lead to infertility. In contrast, it has been revealed that exercise can improve male fertility status in lifestyle-induced infertility condition such as obesity and diabetes. Indeed, exercise, by increasing testicular antioxidant defence, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines level and enhancing the steroidogenesis process, leads to improved spermatogenesis and semen quality in lifestyle-induced infertility. In fact, it seems that individual health status as well as exercise volume, intensity and duration are effective-involved co-factors that influence the impact that exercise will promote on male fertility. Regarding these findings, it is important to study exercise different impacts in further clinical trials in order to generate preservative guidelines for exercise and also considering exercise as a treatment option in lifestyle-induced disease management.

Characterization of varicocele-induced animal models: Potential role of inflammasome complex in the varicocele pathophysiology.

Varicocele mechanisms and its impact in testicular dysfunction has been studied in order to understand the pathophysiology involved in this disease. However, study designs using testicular tissues from varicocele patients are restricted due to ethical limitations. Therefore, the use of animal models, mainly rats, that mimics varicocele and its effects is an option to develop new approaches. The surgical technique, that induces the varicocele in rats, is based on the partial obstruction of the left renal vein, leading to a dilation in the left spermatic vein and consequently to the pampiniform plexus, resulting in varicocele-induced condition. Thus, the study of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in varicocele development can be addressed in depth. Besides the animal model goal to uncover the exact varicocele pathophysiology, varicocele induced models are the best options to develop new non-surgical and less invasive therapies. Various animal model studies designed and investigated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents to face varicocele conditions. Minding this fact, we tried to discuss a newly uncovered complex in varicocele condition, known as inflammasome complex. Taking into consideration the possible inflammatory state present in varicocele, the inflammasome complex has been proposed to be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease.