Age-Related COVID-19 Influence on Male Fertility.

The impact of coronavirus on the reproductive health of men attracts the special attention of many researchers. While studies suggest changes in sperm parameters and the possibility of testicular inflammation, further studies are needed to elucidate any potential age-related changes in these findings, which is the purpose of the present study. The semen quality parameters, cytokine concentration, and markers of the pro- and antioxidant system were assessed in 60 men five to seven months after the coronavirus infection and in 77 controls (without a history of coronavirus infection). Additionally, participants were divided into two age groups: less than 35 years and 35 years or older. Notably increased round cell count in ejaculate and reduced sperm hyaluronan binding ability were observed among post-infection patients younger than 35 years. In the same group, a decline in seminal plasma zinc levels and nitrotyrosine in the cell fraction was found. In men over 35 years of age, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to increased sperm DNA fragmentation, a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity, and an elevation in the levels of interleukin-1ß and interleukin-10. The concentration of interleukin-1ß decreased over time following recovery in all affected patients. The data obtained suggest the potential adverse impact of the coronavirus infection on male reproductive health; however, these effects appear to be age-dependent.

Oxidative Stress Markers and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Men Recovered from COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 negatively affects semen characteristics, impairs various biochemical processes in seminal fluid and within spermatogenic cells ultimately leading to male fertility decline. However, the distinct mechanisms, in particular, the role of oxidative stress on the consequences of coronavirus infection, have not been well investigated, which is the purpose of the present study. The standard semen parameters, its pro- and antioxidant system state, as well as the level of sperm DNA fragmentation, were assessed in 17 semen samples of men five months after the coronavirus infection and in 22 age-matched control patients. We determined that the DNA fragmentation rate negatively correlated with the period after coronavirus recovery, as well as seminal fluid superoxide dismutase activity and uric acid level. It was demonstrated that COVID-19 is not always associated with increased DNA fragmentation, allowing them to be considered as two independent factors. Thus, the most significant changes were noted in the samples of men after COVID-19 and abnormal TUNEL results: increased round cell number, decreased seminal fluid's nitrotyrosine level, and total antioxidant capacity and Zn, as well as an increased 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine level within spermatozoa. The data obtained indicate that increased DNA fragmentation and diminished semen quality in men can be the result of an imbalance in semen pro- and antioxidant components after COVID-19.

Age and Serum AMH and FSH Levels as Predictors of the Number of Oocytes Retrieved from Chromosomal Translocation Carriers after Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation: Applicability and Limitations.

We studied the impact of age and the serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels on the number of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved from female reciprocal and Robertsonian translocation carriers after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). The number of COCs retrieved after COH was retrospectively analyzed in female translocation carriers and 46,XX partners of male translocation carriers from 100 couples. The median number of COCs varied from nine to 16 and did not differ among subgroups of women categorized by age, presence and type of a translocation. The number of COCs correlated negatively with the woman's age in both the reciprocal and the Robertsonian translocation carriers, while in 46,XX women no correlation was detected. The number of COCs did not differ between the reciprocal and the Robertsonian translocation carriers aged either <35 or ≥35 years. In translocation carriers, the number of COCs correlated with the serum AMH level only in the younger-age subgroups; the correlation was strong positive in reciprocal and moderate positive in Robertsonian translocation carriers. The 46,XX women aged both <35 and ≥35 years showed similar moderate positive correlations. Across all subgroups, the number of COCs correlated moderately negatively with the serum FSH level only in Robertsonian translocation carriers aged <35 years. Our results suggest that chromosomal translocations per se do not increase the risk of poor oocyte retrieval outcome after COH. In translocation carriers, oocyte retrieval outcome depends to a large extent on their age. The serum AMH level strongly predicts oocyte retrieval outcomes only in young reciprocal translocation carriers, while the serum FSH level has a moderate predictive value in young Robertsonian translocation carriers.