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Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient in various enzymatic and physiological functions. However, excessive copper intake, mainly resulting from industrial emissions and improper agricultural practices, has raised growing concerns due to its toxicological effects, particularly on the male reproductive system. This review summarizes current research progress on copper-induced reproductive toxicity in males, emphasizing its impact on sperm quality, androgen production, and testicular structure and function. The underlying molecular mechanisms are discussed in detail, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis. In addition, emerging therapeutic approaches, such as antioxidant treatments and copper chelators, are evaluated for their potential to mitigate these toxic effects. A comprehensive understanding of copper-induced male reproductive toxicity may offer new insights into the prevention and management of metal-related infertility.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10534-025-00742-1 | DOI Listing |
Reprod Biomed Online
May 2025
Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address:
Research Question: What is the composition of bacterial communities at various genital sites and are there potential interactions between partners' microbiota?
Design: This observational study involved metagenomic analyses of samples collected from male and female partners of couples undergoing fertility treatment. Samples included vaginal and penile swabs, as well as follicular fluid and semen, which were analysed using next-generation sequencing.
Results: The bacterial community profiles of different genital tract niches were distinct, niche-specific compositions, with female samples predominantly featuring Lactobacillus species and male samples displaying greater microbial diversity, including genital-specific and skin-associated taxa.
Ecol Lett
September 2025
Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, CNRS, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.
Reproductive senescence, the decline in any component of offspring recruitment with increasing age, has been well documented in mammalian females. Male reproductive senescence, however, is much less understood, partly due to the past complexities of getting reliable paternity assignment in the wild. Through a standardised literature search, we compiled age-specific reproductive data on both mating and reproductive success on 57 species encompassing 73 populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiometals
September 2025
College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient in various enzymatic and physiological functions. However, excessive copper intake, mainly resulting from industrial emissions and improper agricultural practices, has raised growing concerns due to its toxicological effects, particularly on the male reproductive system. This review summarizes current research progress on copper-induced reproductive toxicity in males, emphasizing its impact on sperm quality, androgen production, and testicular structure and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxicol Appl Pharmacol
September 2025
Department of Environmental Hygiene and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China. Electronic address:
Phthalates (PEs) are widespread in environment, and human beings are unavoidably exposing to the mixture of PEs, which may induce male reproductive health risks. In order to investigate the mechanism of male reproductive injuries caused by the mixture of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate (MPEs), male rats were orally exposed to 16 mg/kg/d MPEs (L-MPEs) and 450 mg/kg/d MPEs (H-MPEs) for 90 days, and the results showed that MPEs decreased the weights of testes, epididymis and periepididymis fat, decreased serum levels of male hormones, increased abnormal sperm rate, and caused testicular histopathological damages, such as atrophy and cavitation of seminiferous tubules, spermatids exfoliation, Leydig cells hyperplasia and accumulation of lipid droplets in the testicular interstitium. Testicular transcriptomic analysis identified 100 differently expressed genes (DEGs) in L-MPEs group and 10,880 DEGs in H-MPEs group, and these DEGs mainly involved in signaling pathways of focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAGE, axon guidance, PPAR, MAPK and etc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Nutr
September 2025
Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Background: The UK has a high and increasing prevalence of folate deficiency. The decision to start mandatory folic acid fortification has not yet been implemented. Concern has been raised about the effect of high folate on vitamin B12 status.
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