Effect research of acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide pathway in sperm mitochondrial homeostasis in male soldiers with asthenospermia at high altitude
Objective To investigate the level of sperm mitophagy and the changes of acid sphingomyelinase(ASM)/ceramide(Cer)pathway in male soldier asthenospermia patients at high altitude,and to further study whether this pathway plays a role in the regulation of sperm mitophagy in male soldier asthenospermia patients at high altitude.Methods Male soldiers at high altitude diagnosed with moderate and severe asthenospermia in the Reproductive Medicine Center of a hospital in Lanzhou from May to November 2023 were included in the high altitude asthenospermia group(HA group,n=30),while those with normal sperm motility in the plain male soldiers were selected and included in the plain control group(CON group,n=30).The morphology of sperm mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy;sperm mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)was detected by MMP detection kit;Western Blot method was used to detect the protein expressions of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3),P62,Rab7,and ASM;Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect Cer level.In order to confirm whether ASM/Cer pathway plays a role in sperm mitochondrial homeostasis in male soldier asthenospermia patients at high altitude,patients in CON group treated with desipramine(Dpm,an inhibitor of the ASM/Cer pathway)were included into CON+Dpm group,patients in HA group treated with Cer(exogenous C6-Cer)were included into HA+Cer group.The level of sperm MMP was detected.Results Compared with the CON group,the HA group showed changes in sperm mitochondrial morphology and decreased function,mitophagy was activated but autophagic flow was blocked,and ASM/Cer level decreased.Compared with the CON group,the MMP level of the CON+Dpm group was decreased;compared with the HA group,sperm MMP level of the HA+Cer group was restored.Conclusions The ASM/Cer pathway may play a role in the regulation of sperm mitochondrial homeostasis in male soldiers asthenospermia patients at high altitude.
万方数据
维普
