Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Congress of Microbiome Therapies with International Participation, Antalya, Türkiye, 17 - 20 Mart 2022, ss.2
Aim
The aim of this review is to reveal the relationship between
microbiota and male fertility/infertility.
Method
In the review writing, search engines such as ScienceDirect,
PubMed, Google Scholar were used in terms of literature
service. Studies between 1961-2022 were utilized with the help
of keywords such as "microbiota, semen, infertility".
Literature Information
Studying and researching diverse microbial communities offers
the opportunity to better understand both our own physiology
and environmental factors and systems. Analysis methods such
as metagenomics, sequencing technology and bioinformatics
contribute in this sense. Microbiota is clusters of physiological
and pathogenic microorganisms and they are found on the inner
and outer surfaces of all multicellular organisms from plants to
animals. Microbiota; while it contributes to the development of
the immune system, has also important roles on skin, urinary
system, respiratory system, digestion and absorption of
nutrients, production of vitamins, development and functions
of the gastrointestinal immune system. Besides, the living
body provides a rich nutrient environment for the survival of
microorganisms. Environmental factors such as mode of birth,
diet, use of antibiotics and drugs, geography and lifestyle also
affect the microbiota. Microbiota includes bacteria, archaea,
protists, fungi and viruses. From this perspective, microbiota
may be responsible in the pathogenesis of diseases, especially
in the development of idiopathic diseases. On the other hand,
microbial infections of genital tract that can cause inflammation
of tissues, obstruction of genital tract, epididymitis and
orchitis may lead to infertility. Pathogenic and apathogenic
microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi in semen
are seen that there are negative effects on spermatological
parameters. Infection and inflammation of the male genital tract
may negatively affect on sperm quality such as morphological
changes, acrosome exocytosis, sperm agglutination, decreased
sperm motility and membrane integrity. Approximately 15% of
male infertility is caused by genital tract infection. However, no
causative agent was determined in 30% of male infertile cases,
and when the semen microbiota of the patients in this group is
compared with the semen microbiota of healthy men, there are
some changes in the profile of microorganisms. A significant
decrease was found in the Lactobacillus ratio, especially in
the microbiota of infertile cases. This change may impair
sperm quality. The most common microorganism in semen
is bacteria and they are in the beneficial and harmful classes.
Bacteriospermia causes infertility in males, besides decrease
in pregnancy rate and early embryonic death in females. The
main transmission site of infectious agents in semen of animals
is the preputium. Other sources of contamination; feces,
inflammatory foci in the genital tract, semen collection and
processing equipment, animal caretakers, laboratory personnel
and semen extenders. Semen contaminated with bacteria
such as Enterobacteriaceae can adversely affect the quality of
semen used in methods such as artificial insemination and in
vitro fertilization, and also play an important role as hygiene
indicator. Even though most of the bacteria in semen are
non-pathogenic, they can adversely affect sperm quality and
longevity if present in high concentrations. Bacteriospermia
is a frequently encountered situation in applications such as
artificial insemination. Therefore, some antibiotics are added to
the extenders while preparing the semen. On the other hand,
considering the application of probiotics in connection with
the treatment process, the fact that oxidative stress triggers
sperm damage and that probiotics have antioxidant activity
has led to the idea that they can be used in treatment.
Conclusion
Many microorganisms play a role in causing infertility in
humans and animals. Although there have been studies
explaining the role of microbiota in the organism in recent
years, it is important to create optimum health conditions of
the body by understanding the molecular mechanisms and the
immune response potential of the host in more detail.