Introduction: In the quest to understand male fertility, an intriguing player has emerged from the shadows – the gut microbiome. Recent studies have illuminated the profound impact of our gut's microbial residents on the intricate web of factors that govern sperm health and reproduction. This article delves into the intricate relationship between the gut microbiome and male fertility, highlighting how the gut's delicate balance can sway the scales of spermatogenesis and reproductive succes In the following, we will describe some roles of the gut microbiome that have been mentioned in recent studies.Sperm Health: At the heart of this connection is the intriguing possibility that the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in shaping the health of sperm. It has been revealed that the composition of gut microbiota can influence essential elements like testosterone levels and sperm production.Normal Spermatogenesis: The journey to healthy sperm is not without its challenges, and the gut microbiome is sensitive to dietary and environmental influences. A high-fat diet, for instance, can disrupt the harmonious process of spermatogenesis and impede sperm motility.Gut-Testis Axis: Enter the gut-testis axis, a complex interplay between the gut, the immune system, and the reproductive system. It's becoming increasingly clear that the gut microbiome contributes significantly to male reproduction by providing vital nutrition, immunity, and signaling support. This microbial ecosystem may even play a role in guiding spermatogonial stem cells on their transformative journey to becoming fully-fledged sperm.Probiotics and Prebiotics: Armed with this knowledge, researchers are exploring novel therapeutic avenues. Probiotics, prebiotics, and even fecal microbiota transplantation have emerged as potential tools in the battle against male infertility. Prebiotics, for instance, hold the power to boost specific beneficial microbes like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and intriguingly, have shown promise in accelerating sexual maturity in experimental models.In this article, we embark on a fascinating journey through the crossroads of the gut and male fertility, unraveling the intricate ways in which our gut microbiome can shape the path to fatherhood.
Methods: The method of this study was to review the articles available in ISI Schopus, PubMed and Google Scholar.
Results: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in normal spermatogenesis and can be negatively impacted by diet and environmental factors. Prebiotics can increase levels of certain probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, as well as accelerate sexual maturity in rats. The gut microbiota supports male reproduction via nutrition, immunity, and signaling, and can promote spermatogonial stem cells differentiation into sperms. Calcium plays a decisive role in the fertilization process and improves sperm motility and sperm capacitation. Impairment of spermatogenesis and sperm motility can be caused by high-fat diet-induced dysbiosis of gut microbes. Therapeutic options such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation are potential treatments for male infertility.
Conclusion: Therefore, prebiotics can play a role in the spermatogenesis axis by increasing levels of certain probiotics and accelerating sexual maturity in rats. The gut microbiota also supports male reproduction via nutrition, immunity, and signaling, and can promote spermatogonial stem cells differentiation into sperms. Calcium also plays a crucial role in the fertilization process and improves sperm motility and sperm capacitation. However, further research is needed to fully understand the role of prebiotics in the spermatogenesis axis.
Keywords: Male fertility, microbiome, gut-testicular axis