98%
921
2 minutes
20
In recent decades, we have witnessed a progressive decline in male fertility. This is partly related to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., obesity and diabetes mellitus) and risky lifestyle behaviors. These conditions alter male fertility through various non-genetic mechanisms. However, there is increasing evidence that they are also capable of causing sperm epigenetic alterations, which, in turn, can cause infertility. Furthermore, these modifications could be transmitted to offspring, altering their general and reproductive health. Therefore, these epigenetic modifications could represent one of the causes of the progressive decline in sperm count recorded in recent decades. This review focuses on highlighting epigenetic modifications at the sperm level induced by non-genetic causes of infertility. In detail, the effects on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the expression profiles of non-coding RNAs are evaluated. Finally, a focus on the risk of transgenerational inheritance is presented. Our narrative review aims to demonstrate how certain conditions can alter gene expression, potentially leading to the transmission of anomalies to future generations. It emphasizes the importance of the early detection and treatment of reversible conditions (such as obesity and varicocele) and the modification of risky lifestyle behaviors. Addressing these issues is crucial for individual health, in preserving fertility, and in ensuring the well-being of future generations.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11277947 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life14070803 | DOI Listing |
Cell Commun Signal
September 2025
Department of Cytology, Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, Building MA 5/52, Bochum, 44801, Germany.
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by oxidative stress and progressive motor neuron degeneration. This study evaluates the potential neuroprotective effects of caffeine in the Wobbler mouse, an established model of ALS.
Methods: Wobbler mice received caffeine supplementation (60 mg/kg/day) via drinking water, and key parameters, including muscle strength, NAD metabolism, oxidative stress, and motor neuron morphology, were assessed at critical disease stages.
Physiol Plant
September 2025
Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Plants and Crops, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Plant water potential is one of the most frequently measured variables of plant water status. Stem water potential, often approximated by wrapping the leaves, is assumed to be more stable and a better measure of drought stress than leaf water potential. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiosystems
September 2025
Department of Physics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
From a physics perspective, DNA and RNA molecules are characterized as dynamic biological structures that exhibit vibrations across a range of time scales. To conduct a more accurate investigation of their dynamic properties, it is essential to consider the environmental conditions surrounding these molecules. A harmonic Hamiltonian that incorporates damping, along with the Green's function method, has been utilized to analyze the vibrational responses of viscous DNA and RNA strands.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Gastroenterol Hepatol
September 2025
The Global NASH/MASH Council, Washington, DC, United States; Gastroenterology Section, Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Liver, Digestive, and Lifestyle Health Research Section, and Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Sp
Background And Aim: Although the clinical burden of MASH is well known, its economic burden is less well described. We estimated MASH's economic burden in several regions of the world including the US, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and United Kingdom (UK), Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil over the next two decades.
Methods: A one-year cycle Markov model projected MASH progression from 2021 to 2040, incorporating 2020 prevalent cases and annual incident cases (2021-2040).
Mar Pollut Bull
September 2025
Ecological Risk Research Department, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology, Geoje 53201, Republic of Korea; Department of Ocean Science, KIOST School, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Eutrophication in semi-enclosed coastal systems remains a persistent concern due to restricted water circulation and continuous nutrient inputs. To better characterize nutrient-driven water quality degradation, we applied a threshold-based analysis to seasonal monitoring data collected from Masan Bay, South Korea, between 2010 and 2015. Eutrophication status was assessed using a composite Eutrophication Index (EI) integrating chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDF