We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Gut microbiota is involved in male reproductive function: a review
Summary
This review summarizes how gut bacteria influence male reproductive health, including sperm quality, testicular health, sex hormone levels, and sexual behavior. The findings suggest that an unhealthy gut microbiome may contribute to male infertility, while probiotic supplements could potentially improve reproductive function -- an important connection as microplastics are known to disrupt gut bacteria.
Globally, ~8%-12% of couples confront infertility issues, male-related issues being accountable for 50%. This review focuses on the influence of gut microbiota and their metabolites on the male reproductive system from five perspectives: sperm quality, testicular structure, sex hormones, sexual behavior, and probiotic supplementation. To improve sperm quality, gut microbiota can secrete metabolites by themselves or regulate host metabolites. Endotoxemia is a key factor in testicular structure damage that causes orchitis and disrupts the blood-testis barrier (BTB). In addition, the gut microbiota can regulate sex hormone levels by participating in the synthesis of sex hormone-related enzymes directly and participating in the enterohepatic circulation of sex hormones, and affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis. They can also activate areas of the brain that control sexual arousal and behavior through metabolites. Probiotic supplementation can improve male reproductive function. Therefore, the gut microbiota may affect male reproductive function and behavior; however, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying microbiota-mediated male infertility.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Probiotics improve polystyrene microplastics-induced male reproductive toxicity in mice by alleviating inflammatory response
Researchers found that giving mice probiotics (beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) helped protect against reproductive damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. The microplastics disrupted gut bacteria and triggered inflammation that traveled to the testes via the gut-testis connection, reducing sperm quality and testosterone levels. Probiotic treatment restored healthy gut bacteria and reduced the inflammatory response, suggesting that maintaining gut health could help counteract some reproductive harm from microplastic exposure.
Testis–Gut‐Reproduction Axis: The Key to Reproductive Health
This review explores the connection between gastrointestinal health and male reproductive function, describing a testis-gut-reproduction axis. Researchers found that gut hormones and gut microbiota can either promote or inhibit testicular functions including sperm production and hormone regulation. The study suggests that maintaining gut health may be an important factor in supporting male fertility.
Microplastics-perturbed gut microbiota triggered the testicular disorder in male mice: Via fecal microbiota transplantation
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted gut microbiota in mice, which in turn triggered testicular damage and reproductive disorders. Through fecal microbiota transplantation experiments, the study suggests that gut bacteria play a critical role in microplastic-induced reproductive toxicity, with inflammatory immune responses driven by bacterial changes being a key mechanism.
Male infertility and its link to microplastics: A sterile future
This review examines the link between microplastic exposure and male infertility, summarizing evidence that microplastics and their chemical additives disrupt reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and testicular function in animal models and human studies.
Environmental and microbiome determinants of sperm quality: a narrative review on male health
This narrative review examines how environmental factors, including microplastics and other emerging contaminants, affect male sperm quality and fertility. The study suggests that pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates, PFAS, air pollution, and microplastics can impair sperm parameters through various mechanisms, and highlights the role of the reproductive microbiome in mediating these environmental effects.