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Cells
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New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement...
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New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement of Environmental and Metabolic Factors?

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive Cells and Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 25528

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Agniezka Rak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
Interests: reproduction; fertility; obesity; adipokines; endocrine disruptors; cell signalling; cell cycle; steroid synthesis; apoptosis; proliferation; angiogenesis; oocyte maturation; ovary; placenta; pregnancy
Dr. Joëlle Dupont

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Physiology and Livestock Systems, French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), F-37380 Nouzilly, France
Interests: fertility; ovary; testis; adipokines; human; domestic animal; adipose tissue; energy metabolism; obesity; environmental factors
Prof. Dr. Nina Smolinska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology (WBiB), University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (UWM), 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: reproduction; reproductive biology; reproductive endocrinology; angiogenesis; apoptosis; molecular biology; gene and protein expression; transcriptomics; proteomics; oestrous cycle; pregnancy; implantation; adipokines; hypothalamus; pituitary; ovaries; corpus luteum; granulosa cells; theca cells; uterus; placenta
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The proposed Special Issue is focused on novel aspects in the regulation of female and male reproduction in animal cells of different species, including human. The reproductive system is regulated precisely by an intricate interplay of hormones produced by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and the gonads. In females, the interplay of hormones results in ovarian cyclicity, which consequently leads to fertilization, the maintenance of pregnancy and offspring delivery. Moreover, it is now clear that fertility strongly depends on energy metabolism status and environmental factors. For example, obesity and some metabolic disorders impair the fertility of women and men through dysregulation of hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad functions but also ovulation; oocyte development; embryo and endometrial development; implantation and pregnancy; spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis; and sexual function. Metabolic hormones like adipokines, nutrients like vitamins, neuropeptides like phoenixin, or environmental factors like endocrine disruptors are now known to act directly or indirectly on the cells at different levels of the reproductive axis. In this Special Issue, we propose to discuss the role of these new metabolic signals and environmental factors on the male and female fertility regulation in normal and pathological conditions in different species, including human.

Dr. Agniezka Rak
Dr. Joëlle Dupont
Prof. Dr. Nina Smolińska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cells is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Reproduction
  • Fertility
  • Metabolic hormones
  • Neuropeptides
  • Environmental factors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 839 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Interaction NGF/p75NTR in Sperm Cells: A Rabbit Model
by Cesare Castellini, Simona Mattioli, Elisa Cotozzolo, Alessandra Pistilli, Mario Rende, Desirée Bartolini, Gabriele Di Sante, Laura Menchetti, Alessandro Dal Bosco and Anna Maria Stabile
Cells 2022, 11(6), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11061035 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2725
Abstract
Background: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) plays an important role in the reproductive system through its receptor’s interaction (p75NTR). This paper aims to analyze the impact of NGF p75NTR in epididymal and ejaculated rabbit semen during in vitro sperm storage. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) plays an important role in the reproductive system through its receptor’s interaction (p75NTR). This paper aims to analyze the impact of NGF p75NTR in epididymal and ejaculated rabbit semen during in vitro sperm storage. Methods: Semen samples from 10 adult rabbit bucks were collected four times (n = 40) and analyzed. NGF was quantified in seminal plasma, and the basal expression of p75NTR in sperm was established (time 0). Moreover, we evaluated p75NTR, the apoptotic rates, and the main sperm parameters, at times 2–4 and 6 h with or without the administration of exogenous NGF. Results: Based on the level of p75NTR, we defined the threshold value (25.6%), and sperm were divided into High (H) and Normal (N). During sperm storage, p75NTR of H samples significantly modulated some relevant sperm parameters. Specifically, comparing H samples with N ones, we observed a reduction in motility and non-capacitated cell number, together with an increased percentage of dead and apoptotic cells. Notably, the N group showed a reduction in dead and apoptotic cells after NGF treatment. Conversely, the NGF administration on H sperm did not change either the percentage of dead cells or the apoptotic rate. Conclusion: The concentration of p75NTR on ejaculated sperm modulates many semen outcomes (motility, apoptosis, viability) through NGF interaction affecting the senescence of sperm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement of Environmental and Metabolic Factors?)
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29 pages, 6372 KiB  
Article
Spermatozoal Mitochondrial Dynamics Markers and Other Functionality-Related Signaling Molecules Exert Circadian-like Response to Repeated Stress of Whole Organism
by Isidora M. Starovlah, Sava M. Radovic Pletikosic, Tamara M. Tomanic, Marija L. J. Medar, Tatjana S. Kostic and Silvana A. Andric
Cells 2022, 11(6), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11060993 - 15 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2355
Abstract
In the search for the possible role of the mitochondrial dynamics markers in spermatozoa adaptation, an in vivo approach was designed to mimic situations in which human populations are exposed to 3 h of repeated psychological stress (the most common stress in human [...] Read more.
In the search for the possible role of the mitochondrial dynamics markers in spermatozoa adaptation, an in vivo approach was designed to mimic situations in which human populations are exposed to 3 h of repeated psychological stress (the most common stress in human society) at different time points during the day (24 h). The hormones (stress hormone corticosterone and testosterone), the number and the functionality of spermatozoa (response to acrosome-reaction-inducer progesterone), as well as the transcriptional profiles of 22 mitochondrial dynamics and function markers and 22 signaling molecules regulating both mitochondrial dynamics and spermatozoa number and functionality were followed at three time points (ZT3, ZT11, and ZT23). The results show that repeated stress significantly decreased the number and functionality of spermatozoa at all time points. In the same samples, the transcriptional profiles of 91% (20/22) of mitochondrial dynamics and functionality markers and 86% (19/22) of signaling molecules were disturbed after repeated stress. It is important to point out that similar molecular changes in transcriptional profiles were observed at ZT3 and ZT23, but the opposite was observed at ZT11, suggesting the circadian nature of the adaptive response. The results of PCA analysis show the significant separation of repeated stress effects during the inactive/light and active/dark phases of the day, suggesting the circadian timing of molecular adaptations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement of Environmental and Metabolic Factors?)
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Review

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36 pages, 1771 KiB  
Review
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Relevant Role of the Theca and Granulosa Cells in the Pathogenesis of the Ovarian Dysfunction
by Malgorzata Jozkowiak, Hanna Piotrowska-Kempisty, Dominik Kobylarek, Natalia Gorska, Paul Mozdziak, Bartosz Kempisty, Dominik Rachon and Robert Z. Spaczynski
Cells 2023, 12(1), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12010174 - 31 Dec 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8147
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common heterogeneous endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. The pathogenesis of PCOS remains elusive; however, there is evidence suggesting the potential contribution of genetic interactions or predispositions combined with environmental factors. Among these, endocrine disrupting [...] Read more.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common heterogeneous endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. The pathogenesis of PCOS remains elusive; however, there is evidence suggesting the potential contribution of genetic interactions or predispositions combined with environmental factors. Among these, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been proposed to potentially contribute to the etiology of PCOS. Granulosa and theca cells are known to cooperate to maintain ovarian function, and any disturbance can lead to endocrine disorders, such as PCOS. This article provides a review of the recent knowledge on PCOS pathophysiology, the role of granulosa and theca cells in PCOS pathogenesis, and the evidence linking exposure to EDCs with reproductive disorders such as PCOS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement of Environmental and Metabolic Factors?)
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47 pages, 1810 KiB  
Review
New Aspects of Corpus Luteum Regulation in Physiological and Pathological Conditions: Involvement of Adipokines and Neuropeptides
by Ewa Mlyczyńska, Marta Kieżun, Patrycja Kurowska, Monika Dawid, Karolina Pich, Natalia Respekta, Mathilde Daudon, Edyta Rytelewska, Kamil Dobrzyń, Barbara Kamińska, Tadeusz Kamiński, Nina Smolińska, Joelle Dupont and Agnieszka Rak
Cells 2022, 11(6), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11060957 - 10 Mar 2022
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 11310
Abstract
The corpus luteum is a small gland of great importance because its proper functioning determines not only the appropriate course of the estrous/menstrual cycle and embryo implantation, but also the subsequent maintenance of pregnancy. Among the well-known regulators of luteal tissue functions, increasing [...] Read more.
The corpus luteum is a small gland of great importance because its proper functioning determines not only the appropriate course of the estrous/menstrual cycle and embryo implantation, but also the subsequent maintenance of pregnancy. Among the well-known regulators of luteal tissue functions, increasing attention is focused on the role of neuropeptides and adipose tissue hormones—adipokines. Growing evidence points to the expression of these factors in the corpus luteum of women and different animal species, and their involvement in corpus luteum formation, endocrine function, angiogenesis, cells proliferation, apoptosis, and finally, regression. In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge about the expression and role of adipokines, such as adiponectin, leptin, apelin, vaspin, visfatin, chemerin, and neuropeptides like ghrelin, orexins, kisspeptin, and phoenixin in the physiological regulation of the corpus luteum function, as well as their potential involvement in pathologies affecting the luteal cells that disrupt the estrous cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspect on Regulation of Female and Male Reproduction: Involvement of Environmental and Metabolic Factors?)
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