Scientists reveal how age affects sperm quality

Details of the experiment that treats of the sperm quality.

Scientists from Russia conducted several experiments at once, clearly showing the effect of age and toxic substances on sperm quality. The findings are published by Epigenomics journal.

The experiments with rodents were carried out by employees of the Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology. Sperm samples from male rats were studied at 65 and 120 days after birth (in humans, this corresponds to adolescence and adulthood). To test the effect of toxic substances on germ cells, the rats were previously exposed to toxins in the prenatal period (the last weeks of pregnancy and the first days after birth).

It turned out that at an older age, active DNA methylation (suppression) occurs in germ cells in those areas that are responsible for the brain development of the future embryo. From this we can conclude that late paternity may be accompanied by health problems in the offspring. If we talk about exposure to toxins, the changes in germ cells were more pronounced in adolescent rats than in adults.

In the future, experts plan to study the molecular mechanisms in more detail to better understand the processes that occur in germ cells with age and under the influence of toxins. Then these findings will be confirmed in humans.