DNA damage in germ cells, such as base mismatches, strand breaks, adducts and base alkylation, are related to decreased fertilizing ability, recurrent abortions and at times transmission of congenital defects in offspring. In recent years, the efforts made to clarify the causes of male and female infertility have highlighted the role of oxidative stress in the onset of reproductive disorders. Several factors, such as lifestyle, exposure to cytotoxic and genotoxic substances, can cause an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidants, inducing maturational competency compromise, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, and consequent reduction in the seminal fluid quality. During embryogenesis certain ROS levels are sometimes required to promote specific stage advancement, however high ROS levels compromise the embryo's development and reduce the percentage of live births.
This special issue aims to address the effects of oxidizing molecules on spermatozoa, oocytes and embryos, and identify the processes responsible for cell and DNA damage in the reproductive field. While the susceptibility of spermatozoa to DNA damage has already been documented, the mechanisms underlying damage are not yet fully clarified. Moreover, little is known about the damage induced by oxidizing conditions in the oocyte and in embryos, due to the reduced availability of these cells for research. Protecting cells from such damage is essential to ensure the production of both properly matured oocytes and spermatozoa with intact DNA, and therefore to maintain the reproductive life span allowing fertilization and the development of a healthy organism. Thoroughly studying genome stability, oxidative stress and the DNA damage/DSBs repair pathway pre- and post-exposure to genotoxic and anti-genotoxic molecules is of fundamental importance to understand the causes of idiopathic infertility and direct medical research towards the development of a therapeutic plan.
Considering the serious impact on male and female fertility caused by oxidizing agents continuously released into the environment, researchers are invited to contribute with original research and review manuscripts on humans and animals, aiming to elucidate the role of oxidative stress in the onset of reproductive diseases and embryo development alterations. The ultimate aim is to clarify the importance of antioxidant substances supplementation in triggering damage repair molecular pathways and treatments for infertility.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• in vivo and in vitro effects of genotoxic exposure in reproductive cells
• DNA-damage response in germinal and embryo cells
• Male and female infertility related to oxidative stress
• DNA damage repair and antioxidant reproductive therapies in reproductive or fertility-related models
DNA damage in germ cells, such as base mismatches, strand breaks, adducts and base alkylation, are related to decreased fertilizing ability, recurrent abortions and at times transmission of congenital defects in offspring. In recent years, the efforts made to clarify the causes of male and female infertility have highlighted the role of oxidative stress in the onset of reproductive disorders. Several factors, such as lifestyle, exposure to cytotoxic and genotoxic substances, can cause an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidants, inducing maturational competency compromise, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, and consequent reduction in the seminal fluid quality. During embryogenesis certain ROS levels are sometimes required to promote specific stage advancement, however high ROS levels compromise the embryo's development and reduce the percentage of live births.
This special issue aims to address the effects of oxidizing molecules on spermatozoa, oocytes and embryos, and identify the processes responsible for cell and DNA damage in the reproductive field. While the susceptibility of spermatozoa to DNA damage has already been documented, the mechanisms underlying damage are not yet fully clarified. Moreover, little is known about the damage induced by oxidizing conditions in the oocyte and in embryos, due to the reduced availability of these cells for research. Protecting cells from such damage is essential to ensure the production of both properly matured oocytes and spermatozoa with intact DNA, and therefore to maintain the reproductive life span allowing fertilization and the development of a healthy organism. Thoroughly studying genome stability, oxidative stress and the DNA damage/DSBs repair pathway pre- and post-exposure to genotoxic and anti-genotoxic molecules is of fundamental importance to understand the causes of idiopathic infertility and direct medical research towards the development of a therapeutic plan.
Considering the serious impact on male and female fertility caused by oxidizing agents continuously released into the environment, researchers are invited to contribute with original research and review manuscripts on humans and animals, aiming to elucidate the role of oxidative stress in the onset of reproductive diseases and embryo development alterations. The ultimate aim is to clarify the importance of antioxidant substances supplementation in triggering damage repair molecular pathways and treatments for infertility.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:
• in vivo and in vitro effects of genotoxic exposure in reproductive cells
• DNA-damage response in germinal and embryo cells
• Male and female infertility related to oxidative stress
• DNA damage repair and antioxidant reproductive therapies in reproductive or fertility-related models