The role of transmission microscopy in assessing morphometric changes in spermatozoa of fertile and infertile men who have had COVID-19
- Authors: Prokop Y.O.1, Ibishev K.S.1, Pogozhaeva M.A.1, Sinelnik E.A.1, Kogan M.I.1
-
Affiliations:
- FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
- Issue: No 4 (2025)
- Pages: 48-52
- Section: Andrology
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1728-2985/article/view/316546
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.18565/urology.2025.4.48-52
- ID: 316546
Cite item
Open Access
Access granted
Subscription Access
Abstract
Introduction. As COVID-19-induced disorders wreak havoc on populations worldwide, attention to the rehabilitation of the consequences has focused mainly on vital organ systems (lungs, kidneys, and heart) that are vulnerable to the initial viral attack and contribute to the development of acute pathology associated with this disease. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that COVID-19 affects any cells in the body that express ACE2, including human sperm.
Materials and Methods. The results of transmission electron microscopy of the ejaculate of 157 men were analyzed. They were divided into four groups: Group I – 49 patients with idiopathic infertility who had COVID-19, Group II – 42 patients with idiopathic infertility who did not have COVID-19 during the study, Group III – 39 fertile men who had COVID-19, Group IV – 27 fertile men who did not have COVID-19. Objective: To study the role of sperm mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of male infertility associated with COVID-19.
Results. According to transmission microscopy of the ejaculate, men who brought COVID-19 have severe sperm disorders, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and the presence of residual cytoplasm, which were more often recorded in infertile patients, compared to fertile men.
Conclusions. COVID-19 impairs male reproductive potential and may impair male fertility.
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Yan O. Prokop
FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: unprocop@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5340-9406
M.D., Urologist, Postgraduate Student, Dept. of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with the Pediatric Urology and Andrology Course)
Russian Federation, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Nakhichevansky Lane 29Khalid S. Ibishev
FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Author for correspondence.
Email: ibishev22@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2954-842X
M.D., Dr. Sc. (M), Professor; Prof. Dept. of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with the Pediatric Urology and Andrology Course)
Russian Federation, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Nakhichevansky Lane 29Maria A. Pogozhaeva
FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: m_tapo@mail.ru
Student of the Medical Faculty
Russian Federation, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Nakhichevansky Lane 29Elena A. Sinelnik
FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: 127pao.ob2@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2201-5065
Assistant at the Pathological Anatomy Department
Russian Federation, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Nakhichevansky Lane 29Mikhail I. Kogan
FGBOU VO Rostov State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Email: dept_kogan@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1710-0169
M.D., Dr. Sc. (Med), Full Prof., Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation; Head, Dept. of Urology and Human Reproductive Health (with Pediatric Urology and Andrology Course)
Russian Federation, 344022, Rostov-on-Don, Nakhichevansky Lane 29References
- Аitken R.J. COVID-19 and human spermatozoa-Potential risks for infertility and sexual transmission? Andrology. 2021;9(1):48–52.
- Kamalov A.A., Mareev V. u., Orlova Ya.A. et al. Androgen status in men with COVID-19 and its relationship with the course of the disease. Moscow urologist. 2021;4:2–3. Russian (Камалов А.А., Мареев В.Ю., Орлова Я.А. и др. Андрогенный статус у мужчин с COVID-19 и его связь с течением заболевания. Московский уролог. 2021;4:2–3).
- Ibishev Kh.S., Prokop Ya.O. New coronavirus infection: is it possible to affect men’s reproductive health. Bulletin of Urology. 2022;10(1):128–134. Russian (Ибишев Х.С., Прокоп Я.О. Новая коронавирусная инфекция: возможно ли влияние на репродуктивное здоровье мужчин? Вестник урологии. 2022;10(1):128–134).
- Wang S., Zhou X., Zhang T., Wang Z. The need for urogenital tract monitoring in COVID-19. Nat Rev Urol. 2020;17(6):314–315.
- Ma L. et al. Effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection upon male gonadal function: a single center-based study. Med Rxiv. 2020 doi: 10.1101/2020.03.21.20037267.
- Abobaker A., Raba A.A. Does COVID-19 affect male fertility? World J Urol. 2021;39(3):975–976.
- Todorov S.S., Ibishev Kh.S., Vasiliev O.N., Prokop Ya.O. Morphological changes in the testicles of patients with idiopathic infertility who have had a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Bulletin of Urology. 2022;10(2):72–77. Russian (Тодоров С.С., Ибишев Х.С., Васильев О.Н., Прокоп Я.О. Морфологические изменения тестикул пациентов с идиопатической инфертильностью, перенесших новую коронавирусную инфекцию (COVID-19). Вестник урологии. 2022;10(2):72–77).
- Kidun K.A., Ugolnik T.S. Mitochondrial dysfunction of spermatozoa in the pathogenesis of pathospermia under oxidative stress (literature review). Problems of health and ecology. 2013;2:20–24. Russian (Кидун К.А., Угольник Т.С. Митохондриальная дисфункция сперматозоидов в патогенезе патоспермий при окислительном стрессе (обзор литературы). Проблемы здоровья и экологии. 2013;(2):20–24).
- Lukyanova LD. Pharmacology of mitochondrial dysfunctions. Consilium Medicum. 2007;9(8):102–107. Russian (Лукьянова Л.Д. Фармакология митохондриальных дисфункций. Consilium Medicum. 2007;9(8):102–7).
- Globa O.V. et al. Clinical polymorphism of mitochondrial dysfunction in children. Modern problems of science and education. 2008;4:52–53. Russian (Глоба О.В. и др. Клинический полиморфизм митохондриальной дисфункции у детей. Современные проблемы науки и образования. 2008;4:52–53).
- du Plessis S.S., Agarwal A., Mohanty G., van der Linde M. Oxidative phosphorylation versus glycolysis: what fuel do spermatozoa use? Asian J Androl. 2015;17(2):230–35.
- Hayat S.Sh., Kurilo L.F., Chernykh V.B. Mitochondrial DNA copy number in spermatozoa and male fertility. Medical Genetics. 2023;22(12):45–51. Russian (Хаят С.Ш., Курило Л.Ф., Черных В.Б. Купейность митохондриальной ДНК в сперматозоидах и мужская фертильность. Медицинская генетика. 2023;22(12):45–51).
- Mannur S, Jabeen T, Khader MA, Rao LSS. Post-COVID-19-associated decline in long-term male fertility and embryo quality during assisted reproductive technology. QJM. 2021;114(5):328–330.
- Ibishev Kh.S., Prokop Ya.O., Todorov S.S., Sinelnik E.A., Sizyakin D.V., Kogan M.I. Pathomorphological changes in ejaculate revealed by electron transmission microscopy in patients who had COVID-19. Urologiia. 2025;2:49–54). Russian (Ибишев Х.С., Прокоп Я.О., Тодоров С.С., Синельник Е.А., Сизякин Д.В., Коган М.И. Патоморфологические изменения эякулята, выявленные электронной трансмиссионной микроскопией у пациентов, перенесших COVID-19. Урология. 2025;2:49–54).
Supplementary files
