<p>Covid-19 infection can adversely impact male fertility by dysregulating vital genes and proteins involved in male reproduction, according to a study by Jaslok Hospital and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.</p>.<p>The first-of-its-kind study research conducted by Dr Firuza Parikh, Director of the Jaslok FertilTree International Fertility Centre & Director of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Jaslok Hospital along with Dr Sanjeeva Srivastava, Head of the Proteomics Lab at IIT-B, Mumbai.</p>.<p>This study has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, according to a press statement released on Thursday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/more-than-1000-genes-linked-to-severe-covid-19-identified-1118342.html" target="_blank">More than 1,000 genes linked to severe Covid-19 identified</a></strong></p>.<p>The Covid-19 pandemic was initially perceived as one primarily affecting the respiratory system. As it progressed, cardiac and neurological symptoms came to the fore, while now a recent study shows it affects the male reproductive system.</p>.<p>The research team analysed semen samples from 10 healthy men and 17 men who had recently recovered from Covid-19. None of the men, ranging in age from 20 to 45, had a prior history of infertility.</p>.<p>The team found that recovered men had significantly reduced sperm count and motility, and fewer normally shaped sperm, than men who had not had Covid-19.</p>.<p>When the researchers analysed semen proteins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, they found 27 proteins at higher levels and 21 proteins at lower levels in Covid-19-recovered men compared with the control group.</p>.<p>The researchers said many of the proteins were involved in reproductive function. Two of the fertility-related proteins, semenogelin 1 and prosaposin, were present at less than half their levels in the semen of the Covid-19-recovered group than in the semen of controls. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has direct or indirect effects on male reproductive health that linger after recovery.</p>.<p>“Since semen reflects the overall function of the male reproductive system, this derangement of important parameters is indicative of long-term damage that the SARS-Cov-2 virus can cause on the male reproductive system,” said Dr Srivastava.</p>
<p>Covid-19 infection can adversely impact male fertility by dysregulating vital genes and proteins involved in male reproduction, according to a study by Jaslok Hospital and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.</p>.<p>The first-of-its-kind study research conducted by Dr Firuza Parikh, Director of the Jaslok FertilTree International Fertility Centre & Director of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Jaslok Hospital along with Dr Sanjeeva Srivastava, Head of the Proteomics Lab at IIT-B, Mumbai.</p>.<p>This study has been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, according to a press statement released on Thursday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/more-than-1000-genes-linked-to-severe-covid-19-identified-1118342.html" target="_blank">More than 1,000 genes linked to severe Covid-19 identified</a></strong></p>.<p>The Covid-19 pandemic was initially perceived as one primarily affecting the respiratory system. As it progressed, cardiac and neurological symptoms came to the fore, while now a recent study shows it affects the male reproductive system.</p>.<p>The research team analysed semen samples from 10 healthy men and 17 men who had recently recovered from Covid-19. None of the men, ranging in age from 20 to 45, had a prior history of infertility.</p>.<p>The team found that recovered men had significantly reduced sperm count and motility, and fewer normally shaped sperm, than men who had not had Covid-19.</p>.<p>When the researchers analysed semen proteins using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, they found 27 proteins at higher levels and 21 proteins at lower levels in Covid-19-recovered men compared with the control group.</p>.<p>The researchers said many of the proteins were involved in reproductive function. Two of the fertility-related proteins, semenogelin 1 and prosaposin, were present at less than half their levels in the semen of the Covid-19-recovered group than in the semen of controls. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has direct or indirect effects on male reproductive health that linger after recovery.</p>.<p>“Since semen reflects the overall function of the male reproductive system, this derangement of important parameters is indicative of long-term damage that the SARS-Cov-2 virus can cause on the male reproductive system,” said Dr Srivastava.</p>