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Percentage of body fat may be better indicator of men’s reproductive health than BMI

A recent study found that a higher body fat percentage is linked to lower sperm counts and changes in male reproductive hormones. Men with high body fat percentages had lower semen volume, sperm concentration, and testosterone levels compared to those with normal body fat percentages.

SourceEuropean Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology·JournalHuman Reproduction·TypeObservational study·DateJul 29, 2026

Selfish sperm hijack genetic gatekeeper to kill healthy rivals

A new study reveals that selfish chromosomes exploit the Overdrive gene to destroy rival sperm, boosting their chances of passing into the next generation. The gene acts as a quality control checkpoint during sperm development, normally eliminating abnormal sperm cells, but selfish chromosomes hijack the system to kill competitors.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2026

New study from Aarhus questions European precautionary measures on paternal use of valproate

A new study from Aarhus University found no statistically significant increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose fathers were treated with valproate during spermatogenesis. The researchers urge for full transparency and replication of the IQVIA study to ensure the evidence-based basis of precautionary measures.

SourceAarhus University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2025

Uncovering the protein complex critical to male fertility

Researchers from Osaka University have identified a protein complex crucial for male fertility, revealing the TEX38/ZDHHC19 interaction regulates sperm development and structure. The study found that disrupting this complex can cause sperm deformity and infertility, providing insight into the causes of male infertility.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 3, 2025

Malfunction in spermatogenesis

A study by Bonn researchers found that cylicins play a crucial role in sperm structure and development, leading to defects in head and tail shape. The absence of these proteins renders mice infertile, while similar variants in humans are linked to male infertility.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournaleLife·DateNov 28, 2023

Possible cause of male infertility

Researchers from Universitatsklinikum Bonn have found that a loss of the structural protein ACTL7B blocks spermatogenesis in male mice, leading to infertility. The study suggests that mutations in the Actl7b gene could be a cause of male infertility in humans.

SourceUniversitatsklinikum Bonn·JournalDevelopment·DateOct 27, 2023

New diagnostic finds intact sperm in infertile men

Researchers developed a noninvasive diagnostic test to identify intact sperm in infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia. The test uses protein biomarkers AKAP4 and ASPX to visualize well-developed sperm, potentially increasing success rates for surgical sperm extraction. This breakthrough may lead to new male birth control drugs ...

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 14, 2023

Sperm are masters of Tetris packing

Researchers discovered that the process of hypercondensation, where DNA is compressed, relies on a second type of protamine, PRM2, which may be crucial for fertility. The study sheds light on the complex mechanism behind sperm development and could lead to new treatments for male infertility.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJul 11, 2022

How do genomes evolve between species? The key role of 3D structure in male germ cells

A study by UAB and University of Kent researchers found that the 3D structure of male germ cells plays a key role in determining genome evolution. Genome rearrangements were associated with DNA damage locations in spermatids, suggesting that males have a unique impact on genome evolution.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 11, 2022

A novel gene involved in male infertility: ZFP541

A new gene ZFP541 has been discovered by researchers at Kumamoto University to control the completion of meiosis in spermatogenesis. The study found that ZFP541 plays an essential role in regulating meiosis and is expressed in late meiotic prophase, binding to regulatory regions of meiosis-related genes.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2021

The FASEB Journal: DNA repair gene linked to male infertility

A recent animal study published in The FASEB Journal found that a deficiency of the DNA repair gene XRCC1 leads to impaired spermatogenesis and infertility in male mice. The researchers observed lower sperm concentration and motility, as well as disrupted stemness, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in XRCC1-knockout mice.

CAS scientists discover BCAS2 involved in alternative mRNA splicing in spermatogonia and the transit to meiosis

Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences found that BCAS2 plays a crucial role in alternative mRNA splicing during mouse spermatogenesis, leading to impaired meiosis initiation. The study provides evidence for the importance of alternative splicing machinery in regulating germ cell development.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 27, 2017

Opioids regulate spermatozoon formation

A recent study published in PLoS One has revealed that opioid receptors participate in spermatogenesis, a process crucial for male fertility. The researchers identified the activation of these receptors as regulating the formation of machinery responsible for correctly segregating genetic information during spermatozoa production.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateJun 8, 2016

'Marijuana receptor' might hold the key to new fertility treatments for men

Researchers found that a cannabinoid receptor called CB2 helps regulate the creation of sperm, providing evidence for marijuana's impact on male fertility and suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for treating male infertility. The study suggests that a balance of CB2 activation is required for proper spermatogenesis.