IMR Press / FBL / Volume 30 / Issue 4 / DOI: 10.31083/FBL27046
Open Access Review
Deciphering the Role of Oxidative Stress in Male Infertility: Insights from Reactive Oxygen Species to Antioxidant Therapeutics
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Affiliation
1 Department of Reproductive Medicine, Zhaotong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 657000 Zhaotong, Yunnan, China
2 Department of Dermatology, Zhaotong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 657000 Zhaotong, Yunnan, China
3 Department of Clinical Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, 650500 Kunming, Yunnan, China
4 Department of Endocrinology, Zhaotong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 657000 Zhaotong, Yunnan, China
*Correspondence: 635385328@qq.com (Jing Zhang)
These authors contributed equally.
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2025, 30(4), 27046; https://doi.org/10.31083/FBL27046
Submitted: 20 October 2024 | Revised: 25 December 2024 | Accepted: 10 January 2025 | Published: 31 March 2025
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Male infertility represents a major health concern, accounting for approximately 50% of all infertility cases in couples. This condition arises from multiple etiologies, with oxidative stress gaining increasing attention in recent studies. During the final stages of sperm maturation, the majority of the cytoplasm is discarded, leaving sperm with a diminished antioxidant defense system, which makes them highly susceptible to the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can be generated from both intrinsic and extrinsic sources. Intrinsically, ROS are primarily produced by mitochondrial activity, while extrinsic factors include alcohol consumption, smoking, circadian rhythm disruption, gut microbiota imbalance, and leukocyte infiltration. Excessive ROS production leads to DNA damage, apoptosis, and epigenetic modifications in sperm, ultimately impairing sperm motility and contributing to infertility. This review provides a comprehensive examination of ROS sources and examines the mechanisms by which ROS induce sperm damage. Furthermore, it explores the therapeutic potential of antioxidants in mitigating oxidative stress and improving sperm quality.

Keywords
male infertility
oxidative stress
reactive oxygen species
sperm function
antioxidants
Funding
202301AZ070001-166/ Yunnan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Applied Basic Research Joint Special Project
Figures
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