Impact of COVID ‐19 on sperm quality and the prostaglandin and polyamine systems in the seminal fluid

This study compared semen collected from men without positive coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis with samples obtained from individuals 1 –6 months and 7–30 months post SARS-CoV-2 infection. Semen parameters, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, cyclooxygenase 2 expression by fluorescence immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting, prostaglandin levels by enzyme immunoassay, ornithine decarboxylase activity by a radioactive assay, and polyamine and acetylated polyamine levels by thin-layer chromatography were assessed.ResultsIn both groups of semen samples from coronavirus disease 2019 recovered men, sperm vitality, total and progressive sperm motility, and putrescine levels were significantly decreased when compared with samples from the uninfected group. In contrast, lipid peroxidation, leukocyte-associated cyclooxygenase 2 expression, and prostaglandin D2 levels were higher in semen from coronavirus disease 2019 recovered men than in samples from uninfected individuals. While sperm concentration and morphology, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and N-acetylputrescine levels were statistically diminished in semen obtained up to 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 recovery, these parameters remained unchanged when samples were collected 7 –30 months after coronavirus disease 2019 recovery. Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination did not show negative effects on any of the parameters evaluated.Discussion and conclusionOur work provides insights into the detrimental imp...
Source: Andrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research