MAPKs signaling is obligatory for male reproductive function in a development-specific manner

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) represent widely expressed and evolutionarily conserved proteins crucial for governing signaling pathways and playing essential roles in mammalian male reproductive processes. These proteins facilitate the transmission of signals through phosphorylation cascades, regulating diverse intracellular functions encompassing germ cell development in testis, physiological maturation of spermatozoa within the epididymis, and motility regulation at ejaculation in the female reproductive tract. The conservation of these mechanisms appears prevalent across species, including humans, mice, and, to a limited extent, livestock species such as bovines. In Sertoli cells (SCs), MAPK signaling not only regulates the proliferation of immature SCs but also determines the appropriate number of SCs in the testes at puberty, thereby maintaining male fertility by ensuring the capacity for sperm cell production. In germ cells, MAPKs play a crucial role in dynamically regulating testicular cell-cell junctions, supporting germ cell proliferation and differentiation. Throughout spermatogenesis, MAPK signaling ensures the appropriate Sertoli-to-germ cell ratio by regulating apoptosis, controlling the metabolism of developing germ cells, and facilitating the maturation of spermatozoa within the cauda epididymis. During ejaculation in the female reproductive tract, MAPKs regulate two pivotal events—capacitation and the acrosome reaction essential for maintaining the fertility potential of sperm cells. Any disruptions in MAPK pathway signaling possibly may disturb the testicular microenvironment homeostasis, sperm physiology in the male body before ejaculation and in the female reproductive tract during fertilization, ultimately compromising male fertility. Despite decades of research, the physiological function of MAPK pathways in male reproductive health remains inadequately understood. The current review attempts to combine recent findings to elucidate the impact of MAPK signaling on male fertility and proposes future directions to enhance our understanding of male reproductive functions.

1 Introduction

Infertility & subfertility are growing challenges for livestock and humans alike; specific phenotypes and underlying mechanisms are both complex and diverse. Male-factor infertility has been attributed to deficits in both sperm production and function in humans (1). In livestock, including bovine, sub-fertility is typically attributed to deficits in traditional sperm motility and morphology parameters (2). The broad application of genetic technologies and high throughput screening platforms have started to elucidate some of the molecular regulators of male reproductive function, including members of the MAPK signaling pathways, which can lead to subfertility by disrupting any number of steps in spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis is a tightly regulated process by which the testicular germinal epithelium produces spermatozoa (3). Spermatogenesis requires exquisite coordination of steroid hormone signals from the hypothalamic axis and paracrine signals in the testes, the dynamic interactions Sertoli cells (SCs) maintain with the testicular blood supply and spermatogonia progenitor cells, and the intrinsic spermatozoa maturation processes (4). Cell signaling mechanisms underlying each of these critical functions are regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). While the etiology of male infertility is multifactorial, the MAPK signaling pathways are indispensable, and disruption of these pathways can cause mechanistically distinct infertility phenotypes, depending upon the affected cell type and developmental stage (5–7). Deeper characterization of MAPK signaling mechanisms in male reproduction may provide targets to improve intractable subfertility and present an attractive option to develop male contraceptives. This review will summarize the role of MAPK signaling in the testes, highlight the gaps in current knowledge, and illustrate potential opportunities to target MAPK both for infertility and contraceptive therapeutics strategies.

1.1 MAPKs overview

Mitogen-activated protein kinases are ubiquitously expressed and evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinases that transmit signals through a series of phosphorylation cascades to regulate a wide variety of cellular functions. There are three different and sequentially functioning MAP kinases that function in the following order: activated MAPKKKs phosphorylate MAPKKs, which in turn activate MAPKs via dual phosphorylation (8, 9). The physiological outcomes of this signaling cascade depend on cell type and intracellular protein expression. Currently, 12 MAPKs, 7 MAPKKs, and 14 MAPKKKs have been identified in mammalian cells (Table 1), among them extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), p38 and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) are the most extensively studied mammalian MAPKs (8, 9). This diversity of kinases allows cells to finely tune specific signaling cascades.

Table 1

Table 1. MAPKs.

The MAPK signaling pathway can be triggered by a variety of extracellular signaling molecules, including proinflammatory cytokines, mitogens, hormones, and growth factors. These signaling molecules bind to and activate their cognate receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) at the cell surface (10, 11). Unbound RTKs reside in the cell membrane as inactive monomeric subunits. Ligand binding induces dimerization, activating the receptor and triggering conformational changes of the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain (Figure 1). The functional cellular response to MAPK signaling is dependent upon the upstream trigger, cognate receptor, and specific MAPKKKs, MAPKKs, and MAPKs that are activated the downstream intracellular targets.

Figure 1

Figure 1. MAPK cascades in mammalian cells and description of activators and its cellular responses. Created with BioRender.com (Accessed October 2023).

2 MAPK signaling regulates Sertoli cell proliferation

The quantity and quality of testicular germ cells are determined by the number of SCs in the seminiferous tubules. SCs therefore help to maintain male fertility via defined mechanisms, transition from fetal to neonatal and pubertal stages. The immature Sertoli cells are only capable to proliferation prior to the pubertal transition and cannot undergo differentiation. The proliferation of immature SCs regulated by various signaling pathways, including MAPKs. These signaling pathways regulated upstream by the synergistic effect of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), testosterone, and other growth factors (6). The impact of this signaling on SCs proliferation is specific to the developmental stage of the testes, which interestingly determines whether FSH either activates or inhibits the MAPK pathway. In the postnatal testis, proliferation and differentiation of SCs are mainly governed by the synergistic effect of FSH and testosterone (12). Testosterone is present at low level until the onset of puberty and diffuses into the seminiferous tubules, when LH (Luteinizing hormone) binds to the surface of Leydig cells (5, 13). FSH therefore plays more prominent role in Sertoli cell proliferation compared to testosterone, a finding which demonstrated that FSH withdrawal followed by administration of high dose testosterone, reduced the Sertoli cell mitotic index. The mitotic index was concomitantly restored after injecting FSH (14). FSH and testosterone induce ERK1/2 phosphorylation following dual coupling of FSH receptors to Gs and Gi in a heterotrimeric PKA complex. This signaling complex promotes proliferation by enhancing cyclin D1 expression leading to cell cycle progression and promoting cell growth, or size expansion (15, 16) (Figure 2). In contrast, p38 MAPK is negatively regulated by the testosterone, hence upregulation of p38 inhibits Sertoli cell maturation and reduces fertility (17, 18). This study demonstrates that the outcome of MAPK signaling is dependent upon the developmental stage of tissue, despite an identical upstream trigger and indicates MAPK signaling is critical for both neonatal Sertoli cell proliferation and germ cell-sustaining function at the adult stage.

Figure 2

Figure 2. Testosterone regulates the sertoli cell function via two pathways: (1) the classical signaling pathway: testosterone diffuses by the plasma membrane and binds with the androgen receptors undergo conformational changes for activation which allowing to release HSPs (heat shock proteins) presents in the cytoplasm. After activation of cascades the androgen receptors translocate to the nucleus and binds to the specific DNA sequences androgen response elements (AREs;) and facilitates the recruitment of co-activator or co-repressor proteins which could alter the cellular functions (2). The non-classical pathways: Testosterone interacts with GPCR (G coupled G-protein coupled receptor) in the plasma membrane and activates the PLC (Phospholipase C) to cleave PIP into IP. (3) In the non-classical pathways: Testosterone binds and interact the with androgen receptors to activates Src, which activates the EGF receptors and MAPK cascade via Ras and sequentially phosphorylates and activates the RAF, MEK and ERK, resulted phosphorylates CREB on ser 133 and regulates the gene expression. Created with BioRender.com (Accessed October 2023).

IL-1α also drives the proliferation of immature SCs by activating p38 MAPK and JNK/SAPK in a manner independent of, but synergistic with FSH (15, 18). IL-1α does not induce ERK phosphorylation or downstream signaling in rat SCs, in contrast to FSH (15, 19). A p38 MAPK inhibitor attenuated, but did not completely block, in SCs from 8 to 9 day old rats (15, 19). p38 MAPK signaling is therefore at least partly responsible for regulating IL-1 α-induced proliferation, and this ERK-independent mechanism likely allows for the synergy between IL-1α and FSH to promote Sertoli cell mitosis. Based on these findings, MAPK regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation is expected to help determine the number of SCs in the testes at puberty and therefore the capacity for sperm cell production and male fertility. The use of these two independent mitogenic mechanisms likely provides exquisite tuning of Sertoli cell numbers during testicular development.

3 MAPKs integrate signals to dynamically regulate testicular cell-cell junctions

Spermatogenesis includes the physical migration of the germ cells from their origin in the germinal epithelium, between connected SCs, and arrival in the seminiferous tubules as spermatozoa. This physical migration requires exquisitely dynamic Sertoli-germ cell adhesion junction formation, maintenance, and dissolution as the germ cells migrate between, and interact with, SCs. Sertoli-Sertoli cell (tight) junctions must also be dynamically regulated, uncoupling to allow germ cells to migrate between the SCs, and then immediately reforming to maintain the blood-testes barrier and form interactions with the next developing germ cell (20). Mechanisms regulating junction formation and dynamics have been extensively studied (21–23); the current review will focus specifically on the role of MAPK proteins.

The evidence demonstrating MAPK signaling within the SCs is obligatory for normal cell junction dynamics is quite clear. Focusing first on the blood-testes barrier formed by the Sertoli-Sertoli tight junctions, data from rodent models demonstrate MAPK alternately promotes or inhibits tight junction stability, depending on upstream signaling. The Junction adhesion molecule B (JAM-B) is one of the required tight junction proteins, and it is the JAM-B transcript which distinct MAPK pathways either increase or decrease expression (24, 25). Positively regulating JAM-B, interluekin-1α activates the p38 MAPK pathway to increase JAM-B transcription, whereas in contrast, TGF-β3 activates JNK and ERK MAPK pathways to destabilize JAM-B transcript and reduce expression levels in mouse SCs (26, 27). Demonstrating this specificity for individual MAPKs, p38 inhibitors blocked interleukin-1α-induced JAM-B transcription and concomitant protein expression, where MAPK and ERK inhibitors has no effect on the interleukin-1α response (26). ERK1/2 and p54 JNK inhibitors did, however, prevent TGF-β3-induced degradation of JAM-B mRNA (27). Though JAM-B is only one of many tight junction proteins, and redundant mechanisms could exist to maintain tight junction integrity, the requirement for p38 MAPK was clearly illustrated in a subsequent Sertoli cell study (28). In cultured rat SCs, a specific p38 inhibitor prevented TGF-β3-induced loss of transepithelial electrical resistance, demonstrating p38 activity mediates the dynamic tight response to TGF-β. A MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor had no effect on electrical resistance following TGF-β3 stimulation, however, despite the fact that the mouse study demonstrated that ERK1/2 does regulate JAM-B mRNA expression (29). This may suggest species-specific tuning of these functional pathways or indicate that p38 regulates protein(s) in addition to JAM-B that maintains tight junction electrical properties (29). Studies to date have defined MAPK mechanisms regulating testicular cell junctions only from the Sertoli cell side (29). While more challenging, and requiring an appropriate co-culture system, work to delineate whether MAPKs also regulate cell junctions from the germ cell side. This exploration is essential to attain a comprehensive understanding of the system, that could be targeted modulation of this pathway for either fertility enhancement or developing male contraceptives.

4 MAPK signaling coordinates testicular germ cells in a development-specific manner

Though the germ cell side of the tight junction mechanisms is not well understood, significant work has been done to characterize the role of MAPKs throughout the development process that is spermatogenesis. As the germ cells move through each stage to ultimately become spermatozoa, so too does the MAPK regulation change to drive the development continuum.

4.1 Germ cell proliferation and differentiation

To continuously produce large numbers of sperm cells, the testicular germ cells must consistently proliferate and differentiate; both of these processes are MAPK-dependent. In mice, glial cell-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) stimulates both self-renewal to maintain multipotent stem cells and proliferation to maintain the spermatocyte population, while blocking differentiation of spermatogonia stem cells (30). GDNF activates the MEK pathway, increasing reactive oxygen species, and ultimately stimulating spermatogonia stem cell self-renewal via p38 and JNK signaling cascades (31). At the same time, mouse cells overexpressing GDNF are unable to respond to differentiation signals (32). These two mechanisms combine to accumulate undifferentiated spermatogonia stem cells in the testes, a mechanism which appears conserved across species.

For example, a study in bovine demonstrates that MAPK activation promotes testicular germline stem cell proliferation. Treating gonocytes cultured from neonatal bulls with GDNF activated MAPK1/2 and increased downstream cyclin D expression, known to promote cell proliferation. Inhibiting MAPK signaling in contrast limited cell proliferation and prevented colony formation. This study importantly demonstrated that MAPK regulates the renewal potential of bovine gonocytes (33).

Further down the spermatogenesis development continuum, MAPK kinase phosphorylation maintains chromatin in a highly condensed stage to avoid further DNA duplication in between consecutive meiotic divisions, as demonstrated for both mice and humans (34). This step is key to reducing the spermatogonia cell genome from diploid to haploid, and therefore necessary for sperm cell function and fertility. During late prophase I, phosphorylated ERK1 translocates to the nucleus and activates ribosomal protein S6 kinase-2 (RSK; also known as p90rsk or MAPK-activated protein kinase-1, MAPKAP-K1), forming a complex. That activated ERK1– Rsk2-p90 complex then binds to chromatin and activates cell-cycle regulator like NIMA-related protein kinase 2 (Nek-2) which in turn phosphorylates non-histone protein regulator high mobility group protein (HMGA2) (35, 36). Phosphorylated HMGA2 is released from the chromatin, a key step which allows binding of factors that trigger chromosome condensation, and thus ensures proper genomic reduction in spermatogonia cells (35, 36).

4.2 Apoptosis

About ∼75% of the developing germ cells normally undergo apoptosis in humans and rodents, while ∼63% do so in the buffalo testis, to maintain the appropriate Sertoli: germ cell ratio during spermatogenesis (7, 37, 38). Apoptosis is regulated by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors in a cell-specific manner during the maturation of germ cells. Any disturbance in apoptosis of developing germ cells leads to alterations in sperm production that could be one of the major causes of male infertility. Previous studies reported that heat and other inflammatory stress negatively impact testicular function, including sperm cell numbers, morphology, and physiology. Heat-stress is therefore a key factor driving seasonal breeding in many species (39–41). Low semen output during heat stress months is at least in part attributed to the induction of apoptosis in testicular germ cells (40, 42). More specifically, heat stress induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in male germ cells. This is considered the “intrinsic apoptotic pathway”, and is driven by the associated signaling cascade involving cytochrome-c release, cleavage of PARP (poly ADP ribose polymerase), BAX translocation and activation of the caspases (43–45). This contrasts extrinsic apoptotic pathway which involves tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-driven cytokine signaling. Work combining rat and human models demonstrated MAPK activates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Using an in vivo GnRH and testosterone deprivation model to induce mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis and mimic the heat stress response, researchers demonstrated that p38 MAPK is activated following hormone deprivation and iNOS expression was induced in a similar time frame in rat testes. Confirming p38-MAPK directly regulates testicular apoptosis, validated using the p38-MAPK inhibitor SB202190 significantly reduced NOS activation and DNA fragmentation (an apoptotic reporter) in the human seminiferous tubules cultured in the absence of serum to induce apoptosis (46).

It may be attractive to hypothesize that influencing the MAPK pathway could improve sperm cell numbers during summer heat stress, but if effective, preventing apoptosis is likely to lead to an accumulation of stressed cells which may or may not be fertilization-competent. Alternatively, the given availability of clinically applicable MAPK effectors could be considered as contraceptives. To be clinically relevant as contraceptives, these compounds would need to show consistent efficacy in eliminating sperm cell production at tolerated doses and demonstrate reversibility. In addition, localized delivery may be required to prevent undesired systemic effects given the ubiquitous nature of MAPK signaling in all cell types.

4.3 Metabolism

Germ cells switch their metabolic profile throughout the developmental stages in the testis (47–49). Lactate provided by SCs is the primary energy substrate produced from blood glucose, the uptake of which is regulated by specific glucose transporters (GLUTs) (50). Lactate is exported from SCs by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) and delivered to germ cells. During the metabolic transition, a change in the cellular redox state may result in a change in intracellular ROS levels (51, 52). ROS may in turn act as signaling molecules which are involved in the activation of several signal transduction pathways such as PI3K/Akt, p38-MAPK and Erk1/2 (53, 54). Germ cells demonstrate treatment with 500 mM H₂O₂ and 10 mM lactate activate signal transduction cascades including PI3K/Akt, p38-MAPK and Erk1/2 in (54). Lactate is oxidized to form pyruvate, increasing NADH levels, and providing a substrate for NOX4, then activating the ROS production. ROS may act as second messengers regulating Akt and p38-MAPK signal transduction pathways and expression of MCT2 (Monocarboxylate transporter 2) and LDH C genes (Lactate dehydrogenase) (54) (Figure 3). Na ⁺-K⁺ ATPase (NKA) is crucial to maintaining energy hemostasis and acts as ROS-mediated signal transducer that activates the MAPK pathway, and intracellular calcium (55–57). NKA is a widely distributed transmembrane protein, α4 isoform (ATP1A4) exclusively present on the germ cells and sperm surface. It has been reported that NKA expression is downregulated in human asthenzoospermia compared to normozoospermia patients may lead to defects in MAPK pathways (58). In bovines, NKA may also be an important parameter of bull's sperm-fertilizing potential (59).

Figure 3

Figure 3. Mechanism of lactate effects on male germ cell function: lactate used as metabolic substrate by germ cells and oxidized into pyruvate which increase NADH, acts as a substrate for NOX4. Reactive oxygen species produced in the NOX4 activity, may act as second messengers activates the p38MAPK, Akt and other MAPK signal transduction pathways regulates the gene expression. Created with BioRender.com (Accessed October 2023).

5 MAPK signaling supports spermatozoa quiescence in the cauda epididymis

Immature spermatozoa are released in the proximal part of epididymis for maturation where they pass from caput to cauda epididymis. The caudal epididymis provides an environment where fully mature spermatozoa stay in a quiescent state to conserve energy and survive until ejaculation into the female reproductive tract. Interestingly, about 90% of water is absorbed during epididymis passage to support storing a large number of sperm in that quiescent state (60, 61). An early study focused on defining the mechanisms by which spermatozoa transition from the quiescent to motile state demonstrated active p38 MAPK was higher in quiescent rat spermatozoa than motile cells, where in contrast, pERK1/2 MAPK was higher in motile cells (62). Building on these findings, Devi et al. found phosphorylated levels of p38 MAPK, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K were greater in quiescent rat sperm compared to motile spermatozoa from the caudal epididymis (63). Activating each of these kinases in motile sperm decreased the percentage of motile cells, while inhibiting these same kinases increased the percentage of motile sperm (63). The study furthermore found that p70S6K was downstream of p38, Akt, and mTOR, suggesting that p38 acts as one of the master kinases regulating the transition from quiescent to motile sperm. Taken together, these studies suggest that ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK regulate the quiescent to motile cell transition in an opposing fashion.

6 MAPK signaling regulates ejaculated sperm cell function

MAPK signaling plays an important function to regulates the spermatozoa motility attainment, capacitation, and acrosome reaction that are critical events to attain the fertilization potential and establishing the successful pregnancy.

6.1 Sperm motility

Sperm cells must maintain a progressively motile phenotype and the ability to respond to hyperactivating signals in the female tract in order to reach the oocyte in the oviduct. Ejaculated human spermatozoa express ERK1/2, and phosphorylation of this MAPK is increased in capacitated sperm treated with either PMA or vanadate peroxide (64). These authors observed no phospho-ERK1/2 response to progesterone stimulation in their capacitated sperm cell model, where a previous publication had demonstrated opposing results (65). The p38 phosphorylation was not induced by any of the activators, demonstrating specificity of the ERK1/2 response (64). Consistent with these results a MEK1-specific inhibitor (MEK1 mediates ERK1/2 signaling) attenuated the number of motile cells in the capacitated sperm cells, while a p38 inhibitor dramatically increased the percentage of motile cells (64). These studies suggested that the reciprocal regulation of sperm cell motility by ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK is probably conserved across species. In bovines, a reduction in MAPK signaling is correlated with bull fertility (66). It has been reported that genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation of proteins involve in the MAPK signaling of sperm function are significantly down regulated in low fertile bulls (66).

6.2 Capacitation

Capacitation occurs as the spermatozoa transit the female reproductive tract and is required for sperm to be capable of the acrosome reaction and fertilizing the oocyte. Capacitation is characterized by biochemical, physiological and membrane rearrangement prior to the acrosome reaction including, an efflux of cholesterol leading to an increased in membrane fluidity, changes in protein kinases activity, increases permeability for bicarbonate and calcium ions, and intracellular pH (67).

In bovine, endogenous cannabinoid receptors 1/2 (CB1/2; G-protein couple receptors) present in spermatozoa are involved in capacitation and the interplay with progesterone in the female reproductive tract. The resultant acrosome reaction is activated by several pathways, ion channels and cAMP followed by downstream activation of MAPK and IP3 signaling cascade (68).

Clearly demonstrating the multifaceted nature of progesterone-induced capacitation and the acrosome reaction, work by Mahajan et al. (68) in bovine demonstrated that complete block of P4 capacitation required simultaneous block of CB1/2, TRPV1, and CatSper channels, and possibly IP3R, where blocking only one receptor type was insufficient to prevent capacitation based on evaluating classic hallmarks of phosphorylation, CTC, motility, and head staining patterns (68). Blocking MAPK signaling with PD184352 (a MEK inhibitor) in addition to the CB1/2 completely eliminated all detectable B pattern sperm cells following P4 stimulation. Blocking only CB1/2 allowed P4 to double the percentage of B-pattern spermatozoa compared to basal control levels, and similar results were obtained using the sAC inhibitor, KH7, the PKA inhibitor H-89, and the IP3R inhibitor LY294002. Data suggest that each of these intracellular signaling molecules is obligatory for the acrosome reaction. More specifically, however, CB1 and CB2 appear to trigger an increase in cAMP, which in turn activates MAPK signaling and is required to trigger the acrosome reaction. Each of the receptors therefore plays a role in at least part of the acrosome signal because blocking just one is insufficient to prevent the acrosome reaction. Blocking one receptor in combination with intracellular transducers does, however prevent the acrosome reaction, suggesting integration or redundancy in upstream signaling.

6.3 Acrosome reaction

The acrosome reaction is an exocytic process that releases hydrolyzing enzymes required for the sperm to invade the zona pellucida (ZP) and fertilize the oocyte (69). The physiological events underlying the acrosome reaction are characterized by the influx of calcium and subsequent protein phosphorylation (69). The phosphorylation events are regulated by MAPKs, with crosstalk to other signaling pathways including protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and Protein Tyrosine Kinase (70). ZP can bind to plasma membrane receptors on the sperm cell, including G-protein coupled receptors and tyrosine kinase receptors. Binding then activates phospholipase-C (71) which increases cAMP via adenylate cyclase and activates protein kinase A. The protein kinase A activates the voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel in the acrosomal membrane and causes Ca²⁺ efflux from the acrosome into the cytosol (72). Ca^2 +activates the Ras-Raf-ERK cascade via G-protein coupled receptor/PLC/diacylglycerol/PKC signaling in conjunction with progesterone and the bicarbonate/cAMP/Ca²⁺ pathway (73). This cAMP activates PKA, which subsequently activates Hsp90 and makes a complex with co-chaperone Cdc37 to stabilize and phosphorylate ERK1/2. The culmination of this signaling cascade promotes hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction. In contrast, the Hsp-Cdc37-ERK1/2 complex maintains p38 in an un-phosphorylated state which negatively regulates the acrosome reaction. This mechanism was elucidated using a specific ERK1/2 and Hsp90 inhibitor, which promoted the dissociation of this complex, resulting in activation of the p38 through its autophosphorylation. This ERK1/2-mediated pathway inhibits the acrosome reaction and capacitation (71, 74). This suggests that MAPKs are required for this fertilization-obligatory event; irreversible MAPK inhibitors could therefore be potential contraceptives if they specifically targeted sperm cells without affecting cells in the female tract. Further research is needed, however, to investigate the potential function of MAPK signaling in the rearrangement of cytoskeletal components during capacitation and the acrosome response.

7 Conclusions

Previous research has shown that MAPK activators and inhibitors can be used to treat a variety of human illnesses, including infertility and other reproductive abnormalities in both men and women using assisted reproductive procedures. In this study, we focused on the role of the MAPK signaling cascade in germ cell maturation in the testis and the generation of completely functioning mature sperm. We have provided information on the potential use of MAPK modulators and MAPK-interacting sperm-specific proteins as tools for the development of non-hormonal contraception and the management of male reproductive diseases (Table 2). This might also aid in the development of novel and more effective therapy techniques for male infertility and other associated reproductive problems. Changes in molecular mechanisms caused by stress-activated kinases like p38 and JNK, as well as their downstream effector pathways, could be utilized as markers for infertility in mammals including dairy animals. Conclusively, MAPK kinases could be a potential target for therapeutic strategies to manage male reproductive disorders. However, extensive research is needed to decipher the molecular mechanism and regulatory pathways associated with the MAPKs.

Table 2

Table 2. MAPK inhibitors and reproductive functions.

Author contributions

LK: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. SS: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – review & editing. AJ: Software, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – review & editing. MB: Supervision, Writing – review & editing. RG: Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing. SR: Formal Analysis, Writing – review & editing. ER: Conceptualization, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Conflict of interest

LK, SS and RG were employed by Genus Breeding India Pvt Ltd. LK, SS, MB, SR, and ER were employed by GenusPlc, ABS Global.

The remaining author declares 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.

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