Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights
Mitochondria are central to energy production and redox regulation in spermatozoa, supporting key functions such as progressive motility, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. These processes are essential for successful fertilization and embryo development. However, species-specific differences...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2246 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849239860017102848 |
|---|---|
| author | Zhiqian Xu Qi Yan Ke Zhang Ying Lei Chen Zhou Tuanhui Ren Ning Gao Fengyun Wen Xiaoxia Li |
| author_facet | Zhiqian Xu Qi Yan Ke Zhang Ying Lei Chen Zhou Tuanhui Ren Ning Gao Fengyun Wen Xiaoxia Li |
| author_sort | Zhiqian Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mitochondria are central to energy production and redox regulation in spermatozoa, supporting key functions such as progressive motility, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. These processes are essential for successful fertilization and embryo development. However, species-specific differences exist in the reliance on oxidative phosphorylation versus glycolysis. Mitochondria also generate reactive oxygen species, which at physiological levels aid in sperm function but can cause oxidative stress and damage when overproduced. Mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive ROS can impair membrane potential, induce apoptosis, and damage nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, ultimately compromising sperm quality. Sperm mitochondrial DNA is highly susceptible to mutations and deletions, contributing to reduced motility and fertility. Targeted antioxidant strategies have emerged as promising therapeutic interventions to mitigate oxidative damage. This article provides a comprehensive overview of mitochondrial regulation in spermatozoa, the consequences of redox imbalance, and the potential of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants to improve sperm function and male fertility outcomes. The paper aims to deepen our understanding of mitochondrial roles in sperm physiology and contribute to the advancement of strategies for addressing male infertility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-140e19907eeb4ca1a14a2494df88d5f2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-140e19907eeb4ca1a14a2494df88d5f22025-08-20T04:00:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011515224610.3390/ani15152246Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic InsightsZhiqian Xu0Qi Yan1Ke Zhang2Ying Lei3Chen Zhou4Tuanhui Ren5Ning Gao6Fengyun Wen7Xiaoxia Li8College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410125, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, ChinaMitochondria are central to energy production and redox regulation in spermatozoa, supporting key functions such as progressive motility, capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. These processes are essential for successful fertilization and embryo development. However, species-specific differences exist in the reliance on oxidative phosphorylation versus glycolysis. Mitochondria also generate reactive oxygen species, which at physiological levels aid in sperm function but can cause oxidative stress and damage when overproduced. Mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive ROS can impair membrane potential, induce apoptosis, and damage nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, ultimately compromising sperm quality. Sperm mitochondrial DNA is highly susceptible to mutations and deletions, contributing to reduced motility and fertility. Targeted antioxidant strategies have emerged as promising therapeutic interventions to mitigate oxidative damage. This article provides a comprehensive overview of mitochondrial regulation in spermatozoa, the consequences of redox imbalance, and the potential of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants to improve sperm function and male fertility outcomes. The paper aims to deepen our understanding of mitochondrial roles in sperm physiology and contribute to the advancement of strategies for addressing male infertility.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2246mitochondriaspermatozoaenergy metabolismreactive oxygen speciesmtDNAantioxidant |
| spellingShingle | Zhiqian Xu Qi Yan Ke Zhang Ying Lei Chen Zhou Tuanhui Ren Ning Gao Fengyun Wen Xiaoxia Li Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights Animals mitochondria spermatozoa energy metabolism reactive oxygen species mtDNA antioxidant |
| title | Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights |
| title_full | Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights |
| title_fullStr | Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights |
| title_short | Mitochondrial Regulation of Spermatozoa Function: Metabolism, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Insights |
| title_sort | mitochondrial regulation of spermatozoa function metabolism oxidative stress and therapeutic insights |
| topic | mitochondria spermatozoa energy metabolism reactive oxygen species mtDNA antioxidant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2246 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhiqianxu mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT qiyan mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT kezhang mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT yinglei mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT chenzhou mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT tuanhuiren mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT ninggao mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT fengyunwen mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights AT xiaoxiali mitochondrialregulationofspermatozoafunctionmetabolismoxidativestressandtherapeuticinsights |