Association between mitochondrial DNA genotype and sperm motility in humans

Abstract

The relationship between genetic alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and progressive motility (PR) and rapid progressive motility (grade A) of ejaculated human spermatozoa remains unclear. In this study, we explored the association between human mtDNA genotype and sperm PR and grade A by analyzing mtDNA copy number, loci, haplogroup, rearrangement, deletions, and duplications and sperm motility parameters. Human sperm mtDNA copy number, loci and haplogroups were not associated with human sperm motility PR or A grade. However, the cumulative frequency of human sperm mtDNA rearrangements (including deletions and duplications) in participants with high PR and grade A ratio was higher than in participants with low PR and grade A ratio. Additional studies are needed to understand the relationship between mtDNA genotypes, including deletions and duplications, and human sperm motility.

Keywords:

• Male infertility
• mitochondrial DNA
• sperm motility
• copy number

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the staff of the Department of Andrology and the Scientific Research Center for their help.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, grant number ZSQYBRJH0024; and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active substance screening and Translational Research, grant number ZDSYS20220606100801003.