Effects of The Mitochondrial Genome on Germ Cell Fertility: A Review of The Literature

Abstract

Infertility is one of the major problems faced in medicine. There are numerous factors that play a role in infertility. For example, numerous studies mention the impact of the quantity and quality of mitochondria in sexual gametes. This is a narrative review of the effects of the mitochondrial genome on fertility. We searched the PubMed, Science Direct, SID, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for articles related to “Fertility, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mitochondria, Sperm, mtDNA, Oocytes” and other synonymous keywords from 2000 to 2020. The mitochondrial genome affects infertility in both male and female gametes; in sperm, it mainly releases free radicals. In the oocyte, a mutation in this genome can affect the amount of energy required after fertilisation, leading to gestation failure. In both cases, infertile cells have substantially less mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies. The effects of mtDNA on gamete fertility occur via changes in oxidative phosphorylation and cellular energy production. Also, a reduction in the number of mtDNA copies is directly associated with sex cell infertility. Therefore, evaluation of the mitochondrial genome can be an excellent diagnostic option for couples who have children with neonatal disorders, infertile couples who seek assisted reproductive treatment, and those in whom assisted reproductive techniques have failed.

Keywords

• infertility
• mitochondria
• mitochondrial genome
• oocyte
• sperm