Back to Search Start Over

Congenital Zika virus infection impacts on male mouse offspring's reproductive biology.

Authors :
Teixeira Wnuk, Natália
Almeida Figueiredo, André Felipe
de Oliveira Farias, Talita
Gouvêa Brener, Marcos Rocha
dos Santos Nassif Lacerda, Samyra Maria
Neves Camargos, Vidyleison
Henrique Amaral, Paulo
Maria Andrade, Lídia
Nogueira Silva, Maria Ivonete
Araujo Lopes, Roberta
Escorsim Szawka, Raphael
Carlos González, Juan
Martins Teixeira, Mauro
da Glória de Souza, Danielle
Vasconcelos Costa, Vivian
Jardim Costa, Guilherme Mattos
Source :
Reproduction; May2024, Vol. 167 Issue 5, p15-29, 15p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Infection with ZIKV during pregnancy is associated with fetal developmental problems. Although neurological issues are being explored more in experimental studies, limited research has focused on the reproductive health consequences for offspring born to infected mothers. In this context, this study aimed to assess the impact of ZIKV infection during pregnancy on the testes and sperm of adult male offspring. Female mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with a Brazil strain of ZIKV during the 5.5th day of embryonic gestation. The offspring were evaluated 12 weeks after birth to analyze cellular and molecular changes in the testes and sperm. A novel approach combining variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and machine learning modeling was also introduced for sperm sample analysis. The study revealed the presence of ZIKV protein in the testis parenchyma of adult male offspring born to infected mothers. It was shown that the testes exhibited altered steroidogenesis and inflammatory mediators, in addition to significant issues with spermiogenesis that resulted in sperm with DNA fragmentation, head defects, and protamination failure. Additionally, sperm dielectric properties and artificial intelligence showed potential for rapid identification and classification of sperm samples from infected mice. These findings provide crucial insights into the reproductive risks for men born from ZIKV-infected pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14701626
Volume :
167
Issue :
5
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Reproduction
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
177403142
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-23-0343