Context Endometrial dysbiosis has been linked to infertility, but its relationship with systemic immune activity remains unclear.Aims To examine whether endometrial microbiota phenotype is associated with serum complement profiles in infertile women.Methods We enrolled 105 infertile women and classified endometrial microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Lactobacillus-dominant microbiota (LDM) or non-LDM (NLDM). Complement data were available in 27 women: after excluding cases with missing C-reactive protein (CRP; n = 2) or CRP above the 95th percentile (n = 2), 23 women were analyzed for C3/C4 and 19 for CH50. Group comparisons used Welch's t-test and Fisher's exact test.Key results NLDM was associated with lower serum C3 than LDM (101.5 +/- 12.4 vs 121.0 +/- 18.0 mg/dL; P = 0.006). C4 and CH50 did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusions Endometrial dysbiosis was associated with selective C3 reduction in this infertile cohort, consistent with mild complement consumption.Implications Serum C3, interpreted with microbiota profiling, may provide a practical adjunct marker of inflammation-related infertility in routine care. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these preliminary findings.
Context The efficiency of in vitro embryo production in animal species is constrained by the absence of practical, non-invasive biomarkers to assess oocyte quality. Cumulus cell DNA fragmentation index (CC-DFI) has been proposed as a biomarker in humans, but data in animals remain limited. Aims This study investigated the association of CC-DFI with in vitro maturation (IVM) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes in horses, and its relationship with mare-related factors, autumnal transition period, cumulus cell viability, and cumulus expansion. Methods Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) retrieved via ovum pick-up were subjected to IVM. Immediately after denudation, CC-DFI for each mare was assessed using a chromatin dispersion assay across 54 ICSI sessions. Viability was assessed based on membrane integrity, and expansion was quantified as the relative change in total COC area. Only mature oocytes were selected for ICSI and subsequent in vitro culture. Key results Oocyte maturation rate and cleavage rate were not associated with CC-DFI, whereas total blastocyst rate and yield were significantly negatively associated with CC-DFI. Blastocyst yield at day 7 was also significantly negatively associated with CC-DFI, whereas no associations were found with grade 1 blastocysts. No significant associations of CC-DFI with mare-related factors, autumnal transition period, cumulus cell viability, and cumulus expansion were observed. Conclusions In conclusion, this study supports CC-DFI as a potential biomarker for predicting oocyte developmental potential in equine ICSI, particularly blastocyst formation. Implications CC-DFI could help improve oocyte selection and embryo production efficiency in equine ICSI programs, but further validation is required before routine clinical use.
Context Semen evaluation plays a key role in the success of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) as it allows high-quality spermatozoa to be selected. Conventional analysis methods are widely performed despite drawbacks, including subjectivity, potential sample damage, high costs and the need for specialised personnel, highlighting the demand for standardised, accessible and minimally invasive approaches.Aims This review describes the potential of microfluidics and optical trapping (OT) as alternative approaches for semen assessment and selection, exploring their possible combination and integration into ART workflows.Methods A literature review was conducted to describe in vitro assessment of spermatozoa and explore conventional methods for selection, separation and sorting. Microfluidics and OT were introduced from basic concepts to applications in biology. Their application to assisted reproduction was then examined, focusing on sperm sorting, assessment and IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection techniques.Key results Microfluidic systems, exploiting laminar flow within microchannels, represent a non-invasive approach to sperm selection. They enable motile spermatozoa to be separated from immotile or abnormal spermatozoa while reducing centrifugation-related phenomena such as mechanical stress and DNA fragmentation. OT allows precise manipulation of spermatozoa and quantitative investigation of sperm motility, swimming force and cellular behaviour. The integrated use of Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence imaging allows cellular activity assessment.Conclusions Microfluidics and OT provide complementary approaches for sperm assessment and sorting, integrating non-invasive selection strategies with single-cell manipulation and analysis.Implications The integration of these approaches into a single optofluidic device may support incorporation into ART workflows, promoting improved semen selection and analysis.
Context Sperm quality is essential for artificial insemination success, because oxidative stress during in vitro storage impairs boar semen quality. Glycyrrhiza flavonoids (GF), the major bioactive components of licorice, possess antioxidant properties; however, their role in boar semen preservation has not been fully elucidated.Aims This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of GF on boar sperm during liquid storage at 17 degrees C and 4 degrees C.Methods Four concentrations (3, 15, 75, and 375 mu g/mL) of GF were added to the diluent and tested for effects on sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, activities of antioxidant enzymes (total superoxide dismutase [T-SOD] and catalase [CAT]), and oxidative stress biomarkers (reactive oxygen species [ROS] and malondialdehyde [MDA]).Key results GF at 75 mu g/mL and 375 mu g/mL significantly preserved sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity on Days 1, 3 and 5 at 17 degrees C. Specifically, at 4 degrees C with these concentrations, sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity were increased on Days 1, 3 and 5, whereas mitochondrial function was enhanced on Day 3. SOD activity was significantly elevated by treatment with 75 mu g/mL GF on Days 1 and 5 at both temperatures.Conclusions These findings suggest that optimal GF doses preserve sperm function and attenuate oxidative stress during liquid storage by enhancing enzymatic antioxidant activities, thereby maintaining cellular structural and functional stability.Implications These findings have provided a potential strategy to improve boar semen preservation for artificial insemination.
Male fertility is primarily assessed using descriptive semen parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility and morphology. These conventional parameters provide an initial assessment of male reproductive health and may explain why a couple is struggling to conceive; however, they are not a direct measure of fertility potential. Growing evidence suggests that spermatozoa transmit far more than paternal DNA. Alongside the genome, spermatozoa deliver proteins, RNA and epigenetic information that are responsive to environmental and lifestyle exposures, and can influence embryo development, pregnancy outcomes and offspring health. This emerging concept challenges the view that male fertility is defined solely by successful conception. Here, we discuss evidence that spermatozoa act as carriers of environmental and lifestyle 'memories', transmitting molecular information shaped by paternal health to the next generation. We further consider the implications for assisted reproductive technologies, which select spermatozoa largely on their capacity to move while overlooking the molecular cargo they transmit. Recognising spermatozoa as vectors of environmental information reframes male fertility and highlights the need for biomarkers that assess molecular integrity alongside conventional clinical parameters.
