Castellini Chiara, D'Andrea Settimio, Cordeschi Giuliana, Totaro Maria, Parisi Antonio, Di Emidio Giovanna, Tatone Carla, Francavilla Sandro, Barbonetti Arcangelo
Andrology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Apr 28;10(5):695. doi: 10.3390/antiox10050695.
The dogma of mitochondria as the major source of energy in supporting sperm motility should be critically reconsidered in the light of several experimental data pointing to a major role of glycolysis in mammalian spermatozoa. In this light, the reported positive correlation between the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and motility of ejaculated spermatozoa cannot be explained convincingly by an impaired mitochondrial ATP generation only. Evidence has been produced suggesting that, in human sperm, dysfunctional mitochondria represent the main site of generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, in these organelles, a complex bidirectional relationship could exist between ROS generation and apoptosis-like events that synergize with oxidative stress in impairing sperm biological integrity and functions. Despite the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant factors, human spermatozoa are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which plays a major role in male factor infertility. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of metabolic, oxidative and apoptosis-like inter-linkages of mitochondrial dysfunction and their reflections on human sperm biology.
鉴于多项实验数据表明糖酵解在哺乳动物精子中起主要作用，线粒体作为支持精子运动的主要能量来源这一教条应受到严格重新审视。据此，仅线粒体ATP生成受损无法令人信服地解释所报道的线粒体膜电位（ΔΨm）与射出精子活力之间的正相关关系。已有证据表明，在人类精子中，功能失调的线粒体是活性氧（ROS）产生的主要部位。此外，在这些细胞器中，ROS产生与凋亡样事件之间可能存在复杂的双向关系，这些事件与氧化应激协同作用，损害精子的生物学完整性和功能。尽管存在酶促和非酶促抗氧化因子的活性，但人类精子对氧化应激特别敏感，氧化应激在男性因素不育中起主要作用。本文旨在概述线粒体功能障碍的代谢、氧化和凋亡样相互联系及其对人类精子生物学的影响。
