Skip to main content

EDITORIAL article

Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 04 November 2022
Sec. Molecular and Cellular Reproduction
This article is part of the Research Topic Intra- and Extra-Environment and Reproduction View all 32 articles

Editorial: Intra- and extra-environment and reproduction

  • 1Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Life Sciences, Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
  • 2Histology and Embryology, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
  • 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgery, Department of Biology, McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

Editorial on the Research Topic
Intra-and extra-environment and reproduction

Introduction

Infertility is a challenging problem for people who desire to have children. Approximately 10–15% of reproductive-age couples are affected by infertility (Wasilewski et al., 2020; Saha et al., 2021). The causes of infertility are various, with approximately 30% for male factors, 30% for female factors, 30% for both partners, and 8–28% for unexplained reasons (Saha et al., 2021) (https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/infertility-statistics/). In females, the most common causes of infertility are ovarian dysfunction (25–35%), tubal-related problems (20–25%), uterine pathology (15–30%), and unexplained reasons (20–30%) (Takasaki et al., 2018; Szamatowicz and Szamatowicz, 2020). In males, low sperm quality (35%) is the main cause of infertility (Odisho et al., 2014; Carson and Kallen, 2021). These causes of infertility can be attributed to other common health issues (Carson and Kallen, 2021). For example, metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes, induce low oocyte quality, abnormal epigenetic modifications in oocytes and sperm, and impaired embryo development (Ou et al., 2019; Snider and Wood, 2019; Kusuyama et al., 2020). PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), a common endocrine disease in reproductive-age women, leads to anovulation, low oocyte quality and fertilization rate, and subfertility/infertility (Risal et al., 2019; Kumariya et al., 2021). Exposure to phthalates, widely used in the manufacture of plastics, leads to premature ovarian failure by disrupting the reproductive endocrine functions (Lambrot et al., 2009; Lehraiki et al., 2009; Rajkumar et al., 2022). Pesticide residues are deleterious to ovarian function and oocytes (Biggs et al., 2008; Liu et al., 2021). Lifestyle factors such as smoking also contribute to infertility, (Esakky and Moley, 2016; Engel et al., 2021). However, the mechanisms of environmental factors underlying infertility are not yet fully understood. This Research Topic is focused on the intra- and extra-environmental factors affecting reproduction.

Regulation of gametogenesis

In mammals, haploid germ cells are produced from the diploid precursor cells through meiosis (Larose et al., 2019). In females, meiosis is initiated in the fetal ovary, and the primary oocytes are arrested at Meiotic Prophase I, enclosed in primordial follicles, perinatally in mice. At puberty, a cohort of the primordial follicles are recruited in the growth phase, and the oocytes resume the meiotic cell cycle to go through the first meiosis division and become mature oocytes. Accurate chromosome segregation depends on many factors including chromosomal and ooplasmic components. For example, centromeres and telomeres are two crucial regions in chromosomes and play a key role in regulating chromosome segregation during oocyte meiosis (Meerdo et al., 2005; Kazemi and Taketo, 2021). Jeon and Oh report that the deletion of TRF1, a component of the telomeric protein complex, resulted in the dysfunction of the spindle-assembly checkpoint (SAC) and an increase in the aneuploidy rate in mouse oocytes. mRNA accumulation during oocyte growth/follicular development is crucial for oocyte competency and early embryo development (Ruebel et al., 2021). At the end of the growth phase of oocytes, when they are commonly referred to as germinal vesicles (GV), the oocyte ceases transcription and the mRNA accumulated is programmatically degraded during meiotic progression (Gindi et al., 2022). The poly(A) tail length at the 3′ end is important for mRNA stability in oocytes (Yang et al., 2020). The CCR4-NOT complex regulates mRNA degradation through deadenylation (shortening) of the poly(A) tail (Reyes and Ross, 2016). Epigenetic modification is another important factor that regulates mRNA stability in oocytes. For example, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays a key role in stabilizing the mRNA of oocytes and early embryos (Kasowitz et al., 2018). Another modification, N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), of mRNA was found to regulate translation (Arango et al., 2018). Xiang et al. report that ac4C is mediated by NAT10 (N-acetyltransferase 10), while the deletion of NAT10 decreased the oocyte maturation rate in the mouse subject.

In males, spermatogenesis occurs throughout the entire life by maintaining the spermatogonial stem cells and this process is precisely regulated (Neto et al., 2016). After the proliferation of spermatogonia, they enter meiosis to become spermatocytes, which further differentiate into round spermatids through consecutive meiotic divisions. The round spermatids then undergo transformation to become spermatozoa, which are released into the seminiferous tubule lumen. Spermatozoa undergo further maturation in the epididymis. This process is regulated by hormones, pre-mRNA alternative splicing, non-coding RNA, epigenetic modifications, micro-environment, etc. (Neto et al., 2016). Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a crucial reason for male infertility, but the causes of ∼70% of NOA are still termed idiopathic NOA (iNOA). Tang et al. find that some males were diagnosed with iNOA in the clinic, but they had been fertile. To investigate, they test the mRNA profiling in the testicular tissues of these males and find the mRNA expression was altered compared to obstructive azoospermia. Wu et al. find that the deletion of SYMPK blocked spermatogenesis and led to infertility in mice because the pre-mRNA alternative splicing was disturbed. During post-testicular sperm maturation, there is a dynamic change process of non-coding RNA (Sharma et al., 2018) and a re-methylation process of the Pgk-2, ApoA1, and Oct-3/4 loci (Ariel et al., 1994). These indicate that non-coding RNA and the re-methylation of genes are essential for sperm maturation. In this topic, Chadourne et al. report that Topaz1 is important for spermatogenesis mediated by lncRNA. Chen et al. find that the global methylation in sperm from the testis was significantly different from sperm from the caput epididymis. The microenvironment is also important for spermatogenesis. For example, in the testis, hypoxia leads to abnormal spermatogenesis and infertility (Jankovic Velickovic and Stefanovic, 2014). Li et al. review the relationship between hypoxia, induced by environmental and pathological factors, and male infertility in humans and animals and discuss the potential mechanisms.

Metabolic disorders have adverse effects on reproduction and offspring health

PCOS is a major cause of female infertility. For women with PCOS, ovarian function is reduced, resulting in anovulation and low oocyte competence. Studies in mice show that the global gene expression in ovaries and granulosa cells is altered by PCOS, including genes associated with oocyte meiosis (Palomba et al., 2017; Snider and Wood, 2019). Gao et al. demonstrate that PCOS leads to an increase in the expression of USP25 in granulosa cells, which regulates the proliferation and apoptosis by decreasing the expression of PI3K, AKT, and BCL2, and increasing the expression of Bax. Li et al. report that PCOS altered the transcriptional profiling in oocytes and cumulus cells compared with age-matched non-PCOS women.

Since the 1960s, researchers have been exploring the oocyte metabolome to identify those with the greatest potential to produce a successful pregnancy (Collado-Fernandez et al., 2012). Harris et al. find that, during folliculogenesis, glucose is utilized by intact follicles while pyruvate is the main metabolite consumed by oocytes during folliculogenesis (Harris et al., 2007; Harris et al., 2009; Collado-Fernandez et al., 2012). Amino acid is also crucial for follicular development, fertilization, and early embryo development (Hong and Lee, 2007). Liu et al. analyze the metabolome landscape during oocyte maturation and elucidate the metabolic pathway of polyunsaturated fatty acids regulating oocyte maturation (Li et al., 2020). The pivotal role of lipid metabolism during oocyte maturation is reviewed by Liu et al. PCOS may alter the metabolic profile in serum and follicular fluid, contributing to an important etiology of low oocyte competence. Liu et al. report that high levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with high oocyte retrieval, but obesity is associated with lower oocyte maturation rate, fertilization rate and good-quality embryo rate, as well as a poor live birth outcome for women with PCOS undergoing an unstimulated natural cycle. Huang et al. analyze the follicular fluid of PCOS women using Raman spectra, and find an association of these values with blastocyst rate and clinical pregnancy rates. When Raman spectra is matched with machine-learning algorithms, an accuracy of 90% and 74% in evaluating oocyte competence and clinical pregnancy of PCOS patients, respectively, can be achieved. Raman spectra are also used to predict male reproductive capacity, as reviewed by Zhang et al..

The WHO (World Health Organization) reported that diabetes mellitus and obesity are two of the most frequent metabolic diseases worldwide. (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight). Diabetes and obesity cause many complications in health and adverse effects on reproduction. For example, diabetes and obesity lead to ovarian inflammation and low oocyte quality (Snider and Wood, 2019). However, the mechanisms underlying ovarian dysfunction due to diabetes or obesity are not completely elucidated. Adamowski et a1. find that leptin signaling plays an important role in the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the ovaries of obese mice. Ge et al. report that the loss of PDK1 is a major cause of the abnormal maturation of oocytes in diabetic mice. Furthermore, the offspring of females with diabetes or obesity have a higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, such as cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Dong et al. report that the offspring of mothers with type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes had a higher risk of malformations and death at birth.

Effects of extra-environmental factors on reproduction

Environmental pollution is a great threat to public health, including reproductive health (Malott and Luderer, 2021; Liu et al., 2022). For example, heavy metals exposure has deleterious effects on gametogenesis, resulting in impaired development in early embryos, fetuses, and offspring (Rzymski et al., 2015; Bhardwaj et al., 2021). Exposure to air pollution, for instance, including particulate matter (PM), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), leads to subfertility/infertility, low oocyte and sperm quality, and imbalanced endocrine function (Kampa and Castanas, 2008; Grippo et al., 2018). Nicotine, an important air pollutant from smoking, induces abnormal folliculogenesis and autophagy of ovarian cells at birth (Wang et al., 2018). Liu et al. report that the damage to early folliculogenesis induced by nicotine could be alleviated by high dosages of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). Synthetic chemical compounds and some components of plants also have adverse effects on reproduction. The deleterious effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates on germ cells and embryos are well known (Lehraiki et al., 2009; Rajkumar et al., 2022). Niu et al. demonstrate that hexestrol, a chemical compound used in livestock production and aquaculture, disturbs oocyte maturation and embryo development. Li et al. show that Aristolochic acid I reduces oocyte maturation, embryo development, and mitochondrial function of oocytes.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are widely used in humans, domestic animals, and animal models. ART has become the most effective way to treat infertility/subfertility in humans, and more than 5 million ART babies have been born since 1978 when the first ART child was born in Great Britain. Thus, the safety of ARTs has to be considered. Clinical studies indicate that ART increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, malformations in infants, and chronic diseases (Chen and Heilbronn, 2017; Wijs et al., 2021). The adverse effects of ART on offspring may start during the manipulations to obtain germ cells and early embryos. For example, exogenous hormones, used in ovarian stimulation reduce oocyte quality and embryo developmental potential (Marshall and Rivera, 2018). The culture medium cannot completely mimic the in vivo environment and may have adverse effects on germ cells and embryos. Oocyte freezing damages cellular organelles and reduces embryo developmental potential. Micromanipulations, such as ICSI, may also have deleterious effects on embryo development (Marshall and Rivera, 2018). Evidence from human and animal models has proved that epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, micro-RNAs, RNA modifications, and chromosome structure, are prone to be disturbed by ARTs during the maturation of germ cells and early embryo development (Menezo and Elder, 2020) that could lead to aberrant fetal development (Liang et al., 2013; Saenz-de-Juano et al., 2019). For example, Xu et al. report that cryopreservation of sperm altered the miRNA profile, which may play a role in the low blastocyst rate after fertilization in mice.

It is a great challenge to minimize the adverse effects of ARTs on germ cells, embryos, and offspring. Clinicians have used low-dosage exogenous hormones and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist-based ovarian stimulation protocol to reduce their adverse effects (Wang et al., 2021). Chen et al. report that a tip pipette, combined with a piezoelectric-assisted manipulator, increases the survival rate of oocytes and embryos after mRNA microinjection in mice. Chu et al. show that vitamin C prevents the active DNA methylation of early mouse embryos that takes place during in vitro culture. Hou et al. show that minocycline hydrochloride alleviates the adverse effects of the medium on early embryos by inhibiting Parp1 (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1) in mice. Tang et al. present evidence that glycine and melatonin could improve the embryo development produced by vitrified oocytes of mice. Hao et al. report that making a small hole in the zona pellucida of a morula stage embryo improves the hatching rates in mice. More studies are still required to reduce the deleterious effects of ARTs on germ cells, embryos, and offspring.

Uterine endometrium and implantation

Naturally, the incidence of successful pregnancies is no more than 30% in each menstrual cycle. Approximately 75% of the lost conceptions are caused by implantation failure (Zhang et al., 2013). For successful implantation to take place, the blastocysts have to acquire the implantation competency and the uterine stroma needs to differentiate into epithelial-like secretory decidual cells, known as decidualization, which is essential for embryonic growth and invasion. Decidualization is also important for the semi-allogenic embryo to escape from the maternal immunological responses (Zhang et al., 2013). These two events are hierarchically regulated by many factors, including estrogen and progesterone (Zhang et al., 2013). Zhu et al. report that monosodium urate enhances the transformation of uterine stromal cells into decidual cells, and Zhu et al. find that a higher expression of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) may induce spontaneous abortion impairing decidualization. The crosstalk between mother and fetus is also regulated by the chemokines, as reviewed by Zhang et al.

Summary

In this Research Topic, a total of 31 papers were accepted by reviewers and editors. Of these papers, seven contribute to the understanding of gametogenesis; nine explore the effects and the possible mechanisms of metabolic disorders including PCOS, diabetes, obesity, and aging on germ cells and offspring; four provide new knowledge on the adverse effects of environmental pollution on germ cells and embryos, and how to alleviate the deleterious effects; seven investigate the adverse effects of ART on germ cells and embryos and explore how to reduce them; and, finally, four are focused on the maternal-fetal interface during implantation. These papers greatly contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effect the intra- and extra-environment have on reproduction and encourage more studies on this topic in the future.

Author contributions

Z-JG wrote the manuscript. FGK and TT edited.

Funding

This work is supported by the funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31872312) and the Doctor Foundation of Qingdao Agricultural University (6631116008) to Z-JG.

Acknowledgments

We deeply appreciate all the authors and reviewers for their great contributions to this Research Topic.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

References

Arango, D., Sturgill, D., Alhusaini, N., Dillman, A. A., Sweet, T. J., Hanson, G., et al. (2018). Acetylation of cytidine in mRNA promotes translation efficiency. Cell 175, 1872–1886 e24. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.10.030

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ariel, M., Cedar, H., and Mccarrey, J. (1994). Developmental changes in methylation of spermatogenesis-specific genes include reprogramming in the epididymis. Nat. Genet. 7, 59–63.

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Bhardwaj, J. K., Paliwal, A., and Saraf, P. (2021). Effects of heavy metals on reproduction owing to infertility. J. Biochem. Mol. Toxicol. 35, e22823. doi:10.1002/jbt.22823

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Biggs, M. L., Davis, M. D., Eaton, D. L., Weiss, N. S., Barr, D. B., Doody, D. R., et al. (2008). Serum organochlorine pesticide residues and risk of testicular germ cell carcinoma: A population-based case-control study. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev. 17, 2012–2018. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0032

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Carson, S. A., and Kallen, A. N. (2021). Diagnosis and management of infertility: A review. JAMA 326, 65–76. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.4788

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Chen, M., and Heilbronn, L. K. (2017). The health outcomes of human offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). J. Dev. Orig. Health Dis. 8, 388–402. doi:10.1017/S2040174417000228

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Collado-Fernandez, E., Picton, H. M., and Dumollard, R. (2012). Metabolism throughout follicle and oocyte development in mammals. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 56, 799–808. doi:10.1387/ijdb.120140ec

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Engel, K. M., Baumann, S., Blaurock, J., Rolle-Kampczyk, U., Schiller, J., Von Bergen, M., et al. (2021). Differences in the sperm metabolomes of smoking and nonsmoking men†. Biol. Reprod. 105, 1484–1493. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioab179

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Esakky, P., and Moley, K. H. (2016). Paternal smoking and germ cell death: A mechanistic link to the effects of cigarette smoke on spermatogenesis and possible long-term sequelae in offspring. Mol. Cell. Endocrinol. 435, 85–93. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2016.07.015

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Gindi, N., Grossman, H., Bar-Joseph, H., Miller, I., Nemerovsky, L., Hadas, R., et al. (2022). Fyn and argonaute 2 participate in maternal-mRNA degradation during mouse oocyte maturation. Cell Cycle 21, 792–804. doi:10.1080/15384101.2022.2031427

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Grippo, A., Zhang, J., Chu, L., Guo, Y., Qiao, L., Zhang, J., et al. (2018). Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Rev. Environ. Health 33, 247–264. doi:10.1515/reveh-2017-0033

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Harris, S. E., Adriaens, I., Leese, H. J., Gosden, R. G., and Picton, H. M. (2007). Carbohydrate metabolism by murine ovarian follicles and oocytes grown in vitro. Reproduction 134, 415–424. doi:10.1530/REP-07-0061

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Harris, S. E., Leese, H. J., Gosden, R. G., and Picton, H. M. (2009). Pyruvate and oxygen consumption throughout the growth and development of murine oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76, 231–238. doi:10.1002/mrd.20945

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Hong, J., and Lee, E. (2007). Intrafollicular amino acid concentration and the effect of amino acids in a defined maturation medium on porcine oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development. Theriogenology 68, 728–735. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.06.002

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Jankovic Velickovic, L., and Stefanovic, V. (2014). Hypoxia and spermatogenesis. Int. Urol. Nephrol. 46, 887–894. doi:10.1007/s11255-013-0601-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kampa, M., and Castanas, E. (2008). Human health effects of air pollution. Environ. Pollut. 151, 362–367. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kasowitz, S. D., Ma, J., Anderson, S. J., Leu, N. A., Xu, Y., Gregory, B. D., et al. (2018). Nuclear m6A reader YTHDC1 regulates alternative polyadenylation and splicing during mouse oocyte development. PLoS Genet. 14, e1007412. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1007412

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kazemi, P., and Taketo, T. (2021). Two telomeric ends of acrocentric chromosome play distinct roles in homologous chromosome synapsis in the fetal mouse oocyte. Chromosoma 130, 41–52. doi:10.1007/s00412-021-00752-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kumariya, S., Ubba, V., Jha, R. K., and Gayen, J. R. (2021). Autophagy in ovary and polycystic ovary syndrome: Role, dispute and future perspective. Autophagy 17, 2706–2733. doi:10.1080/15548627.2021.1938914

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Kusuyama, J., Alves-Wagner, A. B., Makarewicz, N. S., and Goodyear, L. J. (2020). Effects of maternal and paternal exercise on offspring metabolism. Nat. Metab. 2, 858–872. doi:10.1038/s42255-020-00274-7

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lambrot, R., Muczynski, V., Lecureuil, C., Angenard, G., Coffigny, H., Pairault, C., et al. (2009). Phthalates impair germ cell development in the human fetal testis in vitro without change in testosterone production. Environ. Health Perspect. 117, 32–37. doi:10.1289/ehp.11146

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Larose, H., Shami, A. N., Abbott, H., Manske, G., Lei, L., and Hammoud, S. S. (2019). Gametogenesis: A journey from inception to conception. Curr. Top. Dev. Biol. 132, 257–310. doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2018.12.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Lehraiki, A., Racine, C., Krust, A., Habert, R., and Levacher, C. (2009). Phthalates impair germ cell number in the mouse fetal testis by an androgen- and estrogen-independent mechanism. Toxicol. Sci. 111, 372–382. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfp153

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Li, L., Zhu, S., Shu, W., Guo, Y., Guan, Y., Zeng, J., et al. (2020). Characterization of metabolic patterns in mouse oocytes during meiotic maturation. Mol. Cell 80, 525–540. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2020.09.022

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liang, X. W., Cui, X. S., Sun, S. C., Jin, Y. X., Heo, Y. T., Namgoong, S., et al. (2013). Superovulation induces defective methylation in line-1 retrotransposon elements in blastocyst. Reprod. Biol. Endocrinol. 11, 69. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-11-69

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, Y., He, Q. K., Xu, Z. R., Xu, C. L., Zhao, S. C., Luo, Y. S., et al. (2021). Thiamethoxam exposure induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and affects ovarian function and oocyte development in mice. J. Agric. Food Chem. 69, 1942–1952. doi:10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06340

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Liu, Z., Zhuan, Q., Zhang, L., Meng, L., Fu, X., and Hou, Y. (2022). Polystyrene microplastics induced female reproductive toxicity in mice. J. Hazard. Mat. 424, 127629. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127629

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Malott, K. F., and Luderer, U. (2021). Toxicant effects on mammalian oocyte mitochondria†. Biol. Reprod. 104, 784–793. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioab002

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Marshall, K. L., and Rivera, R. M. (2018). The effects of superovulation and reproductive aging on the epigenome of the oocyte and embryo. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 85, 90–105. doi:10.1002/mrd.22951

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Meerdo, L. N., Reed, W. A., and White, K. L. (2005). Telomere-to-centromere ratio of bovine clones, embryos, gametes, fetal cells, and adult cells. Cloning Stem Cells 7, 62–73. doi:10.1089/clo.2005.7.62

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Menezo, Y., and Elder, K. (2020). Epigenetic remodeling of chromatin in human ART: Addressing deficiencies in culture media. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 37, 1781–1788. doi:10.1007/s10815-020-01884-6

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Neto, F. T., Bach, P. V., Najari, B. B., Li, P. S., and Goldstein, M. (2016). Spermatogenesis in humans and its affecting factors. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 59, 10–26. doi:10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.04.009

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Odisho, A. Y., Nangia, A. K., Katz, P. P., and Smith, J. F. (2014). Temporal and geospatial trends in male factor infertility with assisted reproductive technology in the United States from 1999-2010. Fertil. Steril. 102, 469–475. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.05.006

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ou, X. H., Zhu, C. C., and Sun, S. C. (2019). Effects of obesity and diabetes on the epigenetic modification of mammalian gametes. J. Cell. Physiol. 234, 7847–7855. doi:10.1002/jcp.27847

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Palomba, S., Daolio, J., and La Sala, G. B. (2017). Oocyte competence in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Trends Endocrinol. Metab. 28, 186–198. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2016.11.008

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rajkumar, A., Luu, T., Beal, M. A., Barton-Maclaren, T. S., Hales, B. F., and Robaire, B. (2022). Phthalates and alternative plasticizers differentially affect phenotypic parameters in gonadal somatic and germ cell lines†. Biol. Reprod. 106, 613–627. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioab216

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Reyes, J. M., and Ross, P. J. (2016). Cytoplasmic polyadenylation in mammalian oocyte maturation. Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. RNA 7, 71–89. doi:10.1002/wrna.1316

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Risal, S., Pei, Y., Lu, H., Manti, M., Fornes, R., Pui, H. P., et al. (2019). Prenatal androgen exposure and transgenerational susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome. Nat. Med. 25, 1894–1904. doi:10.1038/s41591-019-0666-1

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Ruebel, M. L., Zambelli, F., Schall, P. Z., Barragan, M., Vandevoort, C. A., Vassena, R., et al. (2021). Shared aspects of mRNA expression associated with oocyte maturation failure in humans and rhesus monkeys indicating compromised oocyte quality. Physiol. Genomics 53, 137–149. doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00155.2020

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Rzymski, P., Tomczyk, K., Rzymski, P., Poniedzialek, B., Opala, T., and Wilczak, M. (2015). Impact of heavy metals on the female reproductive system. Ann. Agric. Environ. Med. 22, 259–264. doi:10.5604/12321966.1152077

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Saenz-De-Juano, M. D., Ivanova, E., Billooye, K., Herta, A. C., Smitz, J., Kelsey, G., et al. (2019). Genome-wide assessment of DNA methylation in mouse oocytes reveals effects associated with in vitro growth, superovulation, and sexual maturity. Clin. Epigenetics 11, 197. doi:10.1186/s13148-019-0794-y

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Saha, S., Roy, P., Corbitt, C., and Kakar, S. S. (2021). Application of stem cell therapy for infertility. Cells 10, 1613. doi:10.3390/cells10071613

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Sharma, U., Sun, F., Conine, C. C., Reichholf, B., Kukreja, S., Herzog, V. A., et al. (2018). Small RNAs are trafficked from the epididymis to developing mammalian sperm. Dev. Cell 46, 481–494. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2018.06.023

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Snider, A. P., and Wood, J. R. (2019). Obesity induces ovarian inflammation and reduces oocyte quality. Reproduction 158, R79–R90. doi:10.1530/REP-18-0583

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Szamatowicz, M., and Szamatowicz, J. (2020). Proven and unproven methods for diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Adv. Med. Sci. 65, 93–96. doi:10.1016/j.advms.2019.12.008

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Takasaki, A., Tamura, I., Okada-Hayashi, M., Orita, T., Tanabe, M., Maruyama, S., et al. (2018). Usefulness of intermittent clomiphene citrate treatment for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome that is resistant to standard clomiphene citrate treatment. Reprod. Med. Biol. 17, 454–458. doi:10.1002/rmb2.12219

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wang, B., Liu, W., Liu, Y., Zhang, W., Ren, C., and Guan, Y. (2021). What does unexpected suboptimal response during ovarian stimulation suggest, an overlooked group? Front. Endocrinol. 12, 795254. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.795254

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wang, Y. F., Sun, X. F., Han, Z. L., Li, L., Ge, W., Zhao, Y., et al. (2018). Protective effects of melatonin against nicotine-induced disorder of mouse early folliculogenesis. Aging (Albany NY) 10, 463–480. doi:10.18632/aging.101405

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wasilewski, T., Lukaszewicz-Zajac, M., Wasilewska, J., and Mroczko, B. (2020). Biochemistry of infertility. Clin. Chim. Acta. 508, 185–190. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.039

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Wijs, L. A., Fusco, M. R., Doherty, D. A., Keelan, J. A., and Hart, R. J. (2021). Asthma and allergies in offspring conceived by ART: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum. Reprod. Update 28, 132–148. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmab031

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Yang, F., Wang, W., Cetinbas, M., Sadreyev, R. I., and Blower, M. D. (2020). Genome-wide analysis identifies cis-acting elements regulating mRNA polyadenylation and translation during vertebrate oocyte maturation. RNA 26, 324–344. doi:10.1261/rna.073247.119

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Zhang, S., Lin, H., Kong, S., Wang, S., Wang, H., Wang, H., et al. (2013). Physiological and molecular determinants of embryo implantation. Mol. Asp. Med. 34, 939–980. doi:10.1016/j.mam.2012.12.011

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: environmental factors, oocyte, sperm, ovary, metabolic disorders, reproduction

Citation: Ge Z-J, Gioia Klinger F and Taketo T (2022) Editorial: Intra- and extra-environment and reproduction. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 10:1020470. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1020470

Received: 16 August 2022; Accepted: 10 October 2022;
Published: 04 November 2022.

Edited and reviewed by:

Rafael A. Fissore, University of Massachusetts Amherst, United States

Copyright © 2022 Ge, Gioia Klinger and Taketo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Zhao-Jia Ge, zjge@qau.edu.cn

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.