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REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol.
Sec. Reproduction
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1427069

Hydrogen sulfide and its potential as a possible therapeutic agent in male reproduction

Provisionally accepted
Zuzana Pilsova Zuzana Pilsova 1*Aneta Pilsova Aneta Pilsova 1Natalie Zelenkova Natalie Zelenkova 1Barbora Klusackova Barbora Klusackova 1Eva Chmelikova Eva Chmelikova 1Pavla Postlerova Pavla Postlerova 1,2Marketa Sedmikova Marketa Sedmikova 1
  • 1 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Prague, Czechia
  • 2 Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, Czechia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule that belongs to the group of gasotransmitters along with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO). H2S plays a pivotal role in male reproductive processes. It is produced in various tissues and cells of the male reproductive system, including testicular tissue, Leydig and Sertoli cells, epididymis, seminal plasma, prostate, penile tissues, and sperm cells. This review aims to summarize the knowledge about the presence and effects of H2S in male reproductive tissues and outline possible therapeutic strategies in pathological conditions related to male fertility, e. g. spermatogenetic disorders and erectile dysfunction (ED). For instance, H2S supports spermatogenesis by maintaining the integrity of the blood-testicular barrier (BTB), stimulating testosterone production, and providing cytoprotective effects. In spermatozoa, H2S modulates sperm motility, promotes sperm maturation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction, and has significant cytoprotective effects. Given its vasorelaxant effects, it supports the erection of penile tissue. These findings suggest the importance and therapeutic potential of H2S in male reproduction, paving the way for further research and potential clinical applications.

    Keywords: Hydrogen Sulfide, Male reproduction, sperm, testes, Erectile function, antioxidant, Vasorelaxation

    Received: 07 May 2024; Accepted: 21 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Pilsova, Pilsova, Zelenkova, Klusackova, Chmelikova, Postlerova and Sedmikova. 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) or licensor 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: Zuzana Pilsova, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Prague, Czechia

    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.