Frontiers in Microbiology (May 2024)
Gut microbiota is involved in male reproductive function: a review
- Shuya Lv,
- Shuya Lv,
- Jingrong Huang,
- Jingrong Huang,
- Yadan Luo,
- Yadan Luo,
- Yuhang Wen,
- Yuhang Wen,
- Baoting Chen,
- Baoting Chen,
- Hao Qiu,
- Hao Qiu,
- Huanxin Chen,
- Tianhao Yue,
- Tianhao Yue,
- Lvqin He,
- Lvqin He,
- Baochun Feng,
- Zehui Yu,
- Zehui Yu,
- Mingde Zhao,
- Mingde Zhao,
- Qian Yang,
- Qian Yang,
- Manli He,
- Manli He,
- Wudian Xiao,
- Wudian Xiao,
- Xiaoxia Zou,
- Xiaoxia Zou,
- Congwei Gu,
- Congwei Gu,
- Congwei Gu,
- Ruilin Lu
Affiliations
- Shuya Lv
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Shuya Lv
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Jingrong Huang
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Jingrong Huang
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Yadan Luo
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Yadan Luo
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Yuhang Wen
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Yuhang Wen
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Baoting Chen
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Baoting Chen
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Hao Qiu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Hao Qiu
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Huanxin Chen
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
- Tianhao Yue
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Tianhao Yue
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Lvqin He
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Lvqin He
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Baochun Feng
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
- Zehui Yu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Zehui Yu
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Mingde Zhao
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Mingde Zhao
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Qian Yang
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Qian Yang
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Manli He
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Manli He
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Wudian Xiao
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Wudian Xiao
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Xiaoxia Zou
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
- Xiaoxia Zou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Congwei Gu
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Congwei Gu
- Model Animal and Human Disease Research of Luzhou Key Laboratory, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Congwei Gu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
- Ruilin Lu
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, Suining First People's Hospital, Suining, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1371667
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 15
Abstract
Globally, ~8%−12% of couples confront infertility issues, male-related issues being accountable for 50%. This review focuses on the influence of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the male reproductive system from five perspectives: sperm quality, testicular structure, sex hormones, sexual behavior, and probiotic supplementation. To improve sperm quality, gut microbiota can secrete metabolites by themselves or regulate host metabolites. Endotoxemia is a key factor in testicular structure damage that causes orchitis and disrupts the blood-testis barrier (BTB). In addition, the gut microbiota can regulate sex hormone levels by participating in the synthesis of sex hormone-related enzymes directly and participating in the enterohepatic circulation of sex hormones, and affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis. They can also activate areas of the brain that control sexual arousal and behavior through metabolites. Probiotic supplementation can improve male reproductive function. Therefore, the gut microbiota may affect male reproductive function and behavior; however, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying microbiota-mediated male infertility.
Keywords
- gut microbiota
- gut metabolites
- male reproductive function
- sperm quality
- testis structure
- sex hormone
