Alahmar Ahmed T, Calogero Aldo E, Singh Rajender, Cannarella Rossella, Sengupta Pallav, Dutta Sulagna
Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Iraq.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Teaching Hospital Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2021 Jun;48(2):97-104. doi: 10.5653/cerm.2020.04175. Epub 2021 May 25.
Male infertility has a complex etiopathology, which mostly remains elusive. Although research has claimed that oxidative stress (OS) is the most likely underlying mechanism of idiopathic male infertility, the specific treatment of OS-mediated male infertility requires further investigation. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vitamin-like substance, has been found in measurable levels in human semen. It exhibits essential metabolic and antioxidant functions, as well as playing a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Thus, CoQ10 may be a key player in the maintenance of biological redox balance. CoQ10 concentrations in seminal plasma directly correlate with semen parameters, especially sperm count and sperm motility. Seminal CoQ10 concentrations have been shown to be altered in various male infertility states, such as varicocele, asthenozoospermia, and medical or surgical regimens used to treat male infertility. These observations imply that CoQ10 plays an important physiological role in the maintenance and amelioration of semen quality. The present article thereby aimed to review the possible mechanisms through which CoQ10 plays a role in the regulation of male reproductive function, and to concisely discuss its efficacy as an ameliorative agent in restoring semen parameters in male infertility, as well as its impact on OS markers, sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.
男性不育具有复杂的病因病理，大多仍不明确。尽管研究表明氧化应激（OS）是特发性男性不育最可能的潜在机制，但OS介导的男性不育的具体治疗方法仍需进一步研究。辅酶Q10（CoQ10）是一种类似维生素的物质，已在人类精液中检测到可测量的水平。它具有重要的代谢和抗氧化功能，并且在线粒体生物能量学中发挥着至关重要的作用。因此，CoQ10可能是维持生物氧化还原平衡的关键因素。精浆中的CoQ10浓度与精液参数直接相关，尤其是精子数量和精子活力。精液CoQ10浓度在各种男性不育状态下已显示出改变，如精索静脉曲张、弱精子症以及用于治疗男性不育的药物或手术方案。这些观察结果表明CoQ10在维持和改善精液质量方面发挥着重要的生理作用。因此，本文旨在综述CoQ10在调节男性生殖功能中发挥作用的可能机制，并简要讨论其作为改善剂在恢复男性不育患者精液参数方面的疗效，以及其对OS标志物、精子DNA片段化、妊娠和辅助生殖技术结局的影响。
