The Effect of Abnormal Metabolism on Germ Cell Growth, Maturation, and Fertilization in Mammals

Dynamic balancing and timing of metabolism are critical in germ cell development. To date, most germ cell metabolism studies focus on the effects of extrinsic nutrients, with limited attention on internal regulation of germ cell metabolic enzymes, intracellular mediators, or metabolite transport. The metabolic characteristics of germ cells are distinct from other cell types. Each individual process and event in germ cell maturation and fertilization may require a different substrate and metabolic pathway, depending on the species. These pathways are believed to be particularly sensitive to changes in nutritional, chemical, and endocrine environments, as a variety of metabolites and metabolism-related enzymes play critical roles in multiple events during germ cell development. Specifically, decreased concentrations of transport proteins, increased glucose/lipid content, and reactive oxygen species have been implicated in meiotic defects, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic alterations, affecting germ cell maturation and development. Therefore, the study of metabolic disorders of germ cells will help obtain high-quality germ cells and provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of male and female infertility.

This Research Topic focuses on the current advances and research challenges in the metabolic events of mammalian germ cell growth, maturation, and fertilization, highlighting the importance of endogenous and exogenous regulation linking germ cell metabolism and reproductive outcomes, with an emphasis on the metabolic control of meiosis, mitochondria, epigenetic modifications, etc. The purpose is to reveal the links between germ cell metabolism and reproductive outcomes. Studies in these areas are expected to contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying germ cell development and may provide insights regarding the identification of predictors of germ cell quality and treatment of infertility, especially in mammals with metabolic diseases. Areas of interest include but are not limited to the following aspects:

• Spatiotemporal changes in metabolism during sperm maturation
• Sperm metabolism: Warburg effect
• Physiological mechanisms of granulosa cells regulating oocyte metabolism
• Effects of abnormal metabolism on meiosis and fertilization of oocytes
• Relationship between dysmetabolism and infertility in germ cells
• Cryo-injuries affecting metabolic functions of germ cells
• Role of metabolic substrates as secondary messengers in germ cell development
• Abnormal metabolism of germ cells in mammals with metabolic diseases