Journal article
Chronic testicular Chlamydia muridarum infection impairs mouse fertility and offspring development
Biology of reproduction, v 102(4), pp 888-901
01 Apr 2020
PMID: 31965142
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
With approximately 131 million new genital tract infections occurring each year, Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen worldwide. Male and female infections occur at similar rates and both cause serious pathological sequelae. Despite this, the impact of chlamydial infection on male fertility has long been debated, and the effects of paternal chlamydial infection on offspring development are unknown. Using a male mouse chronic infection model, we show that chlamydial infection persists in the testes, adversely affecting the testicular environment. Infection increased leukocyte infiltration, disrupted the blood:testis barrier and reduced spermiogenic cell numbers and seminiferous tubule volume. Sperm from infected mice had decreased motility, increased abnormal morphology, decreased zona-binding capacity, and increased DNA damage. Serum anti-sperm antibodies were also increased. When both acutely and chronically infected male mice were bred with healthy female mice, 16.7% of pups displayed developmental abnormalities. Female offspring of chronically infected sires had smaller reproductive tracts than offspring of noninfected sires. The male pups of infected sires displayed delayed testicular development, with abnormalities in sperm vitality, motility, and sperm-oocyte binding evident at sexual maturity. These data suggest that chronic testicular Chlamydia infection can contribute to male infertility, which may have an intergenerational impact on sperm quality.
Summary sentence
Testicular C. muridarum infection results in tissue damage and poor sperm quality and gives rise to offspring with serious abnormalities and developmental delays.
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Details
- Title
- Chronic testicular Chlamydia muridarum infection impairs mouse fertility and offspring development
- Creators
- Emily R. Bryan - Queensland University of TechnologyKate A. Redgrove - University of Newcastle AustraliaAlison R. Mooney - Queensland University of TechnologyBettina P. Mihalas - University of Newcastle AustraliaJessie M. Sutherland - University of Newcastle AustraliaAlison J. Carey - Queensland University of TechnologyCharles W. Armitage - King's College LondonLogan K. Trim - Queensland University of TechnologyAvinash Kollipara - Queensland University of TechnologyPeter B. M. Mulvey - Queensland University of TechnologyElla Palframan - Queensland University of TechnologyGemma Trollope - Queensland University of TechnologyKristofor Bogoevski - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteRobert McLachlan - Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchEileen A. McLaughlin - University of Newcastle AustraliaKenneth W. Beagley - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication Details
- Biology of reproduction, v 102(4), pp 888-901
- Publisher
- Oxford Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- APP1062198 / Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pediatrics; College of Medicine; Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000568998100012
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85083042586
- Other Identifier
- 991020099678304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Reproductive Biology