Biometals are of utter importance in several scientific fields like biology, biochemistry, and medicine. The metals copper, zinc, iron, and manganese are examples of metals that are essential for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis of many organ systems including the reproduction system in males and females. Calcium, potassium, and sodium are present in relatively larger amounts, whereas trace metals such as Co Mo, Zn, and Se are present in smaller quantities but also serve many critical functions in cells.
Studies have shown that the absence or presence of Cu, Mo, Zn, and Se plays an essential role in reproduction in animals. In women, zinc plays a vital role in many key reproductive processes from the hypothalamus to the gonads including regulation of egg quality and ovulation in females and sperm motility in males. Zinc deficiency has been associated with increased risk of miscarriage and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Selenium deficiency is also associated with several reproductive issues like female infertility, and pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes.
In addition to the normal roles for trace elements, toxic heavy metal exposure such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) have been proven responsible for endometrial dysfunctions, implantation failure, premature delivery, subfertility, spontaneous abortions, and preeclampsia.
The wide involvement of biometals in reproduction and development highlights the need for further research in the area. For example, what are the molecular signalling events in reproductive organs will help us to find a promising marker for infertility. It will be also vital to understand the live birth rate and the link between fetuses born with abnormalities and deficiency of essential elements required during pregnancy. Unraveling the role of these elements will be the crux to understanding their role in reproduction at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include but are not limited to:
• Research unravelling the cellular role of trace elements infertility including effects on the hypothalamus, reproductive tract, gonads, and gametes.
How does trace element deficiency lead to impaired placenta function and and adverse pregnancy outcomes?
• Toxic effects of heavy metals presents in the environment on cellular sig cell function resulting in impaired reproduction or development.
• Role of zinc during egg fertilization.
• Involvement of trace elements in epigenetic programming or reproductive cells and tissues.
• Studies targeting metal transporters and supplementation to improve fertility.
• The use of biometals as a marker for diagnosis of any diseases of the reproductive tract including but not limited to cancer (prostate, uterine, breast, gonads), diabetes, PCOS, infertility.
We welcome different article types including Original Research, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Methods, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
Keywords:
Biometals, trace elements, Heavy metals, Metal transporters, metal deficiency, animal reproduction
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Biometals are of utter importance in several scientific fields like biology, biochemistry, and medicine. The metals copper, zinc, iron, and manganese are examples of metals that are essential for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis of many organ systems including the reproduction system in males and females. Calcium, potassium, and sodium are present in relatively larger amounts, whereas trace metals such as Co Mo, Zn, and Se are present in smaller quantities but also serve many critical functions in cells.
Studies have shown that the absence or presence of Cu, Mo, Zn, and Se plays an essential role in reproduction in animals. In women, zinc plays a vital role in many key reproductive processes from the hypothalamus to the gonads including regulation of egg quality and ovulation in females and sperm motility in males. Zinc deficiency has been associated with increased risk of miscarriage and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Selenium deficiency is also associated with several reproductive issues like female infertility, and pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes.
In addition to the normal roles for trace elements, toxic heavy metal exposure such as Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) have been proven responsible for endometrial dysfunctions, implantation failure, premature delivery, subfertility, spontaneous abortions, and preeclampsia.
The wide involvement of biometals in reproduction and development highlights the need for further research in the area. For example, what are the molecular signalling events in reproductive organs will help us to find a promising marker for infertility. It will be also vital to understand the live birth rate and the link between fetuses born with abnormalities and deficiency of essential elements required during pregnancy. Unraveling the role of these elements will be the crux to understanding their role in reproduction at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels.
Areas to be covered in this Research Topic may include but are not limited to:
• Research unravelling the cellular role of trace elements infertility including effects on the hypothalamus, reproductive tract, gonads, and gametes.
How does trace element deficiency lead to impaired placenta function and and adverse pregnancy outcomes?
• Toxic effects of heavy metals presents in the environment on cellular sig cell function resulting in impaired reproduction or development.
• Role of zinc during egg fertilization.
• Involvement of trace elements in epigenetic programming or reproductive cells and tissues.
• Studies targeting metal transporters and supplementation to improve fertility.
• The use of biometals as a marker for diagnosis of any diseases of the reproductive tract including but not limited to cancer (prostate, uterine, breast, gonads), diabetes, PCOS, infertility.
We welcome different article types including Original Research, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Methods, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.
Keywords:
Biometals, trace elements, Heavy metals, Metal transporters, metal deficiency, animal reproduction
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.