The role of transmission microscopy in assessing morphometric changes in spermatozoa of fertile and infertile men who have had COVID-19
Introduction. As COVID-19-induced disorders wreak havoc on populations worldwide, attention to the rehabilitation of the consequences has focused mainly on vital organ systems (lungs, kidneys, and heart) that are vulnerable to the initial viral attack and contribute to the development of acute pathology associated with this disease. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that COVID-19 affects any cells in the body that express ACE2, including human sperm.Prokop Ya.O., Ibishev Kh.S., Pogozhaeva M.A., Sinelnik E.A., Kogan M.I.
Materials and methods. The results of transmission electron microscopy of the ejaculate of 157 men were analyzed. They were divided into four groups: Group I – 49 patients with idiopathic infertility who had COVID-19, Group II – 42 patients with idiopathic infertility who did not have COVID-19 during the study, Group III – 39 fertile men who had COVID-19, Group IV – 27 fertile men who did not have COVID-19. Objective: To study the role of sperm mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of male infertility associated with COVID-19.
Results. According to transmission microscopy of the ejaculate, men who brought COVID-19 have severe sperm disorders, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and the presence of residual cytoplasm, which were more often recorded in infertile patients, compared to fertile men.
Conclusions. COVID-19 impairs male reproductive potential and may impair male fertility.
Keywords
ejaculate
spermatozoa
mitochondrial dysfunction
residual cytoplasm
coronavirus infection
Covid-19
SARS-СoV-2
About the Authors
Corresponding author: Kh.S. Ibishev ‒ Ph.D., MD, Professor of the Department of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with a course of pediatric urology and andrology), FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Rostov-on-Don, Russia; e-mail: Ibishev22@mail.ruSimilar Articles
