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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Regulation of Sperm Function and Embryo Development
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Regulation of Sperm Function and Embryo Development

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1401

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jacob Thundathil

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Interests: sperm; fertility; male; assisted reproductive technologies; embryo; proteomics; genomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. John P. Kastelic

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
Interests: clinical science; production animal health; reproductive biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, assisted reproductive technologies have become increasingly important for both humans and animals. The incidence of human infertility has risen substantially, with male factors contributing to approximately 50% of these cases. Additionally, global demand for animal proteins is projected to increase by 70% by 2050, driven by a growing world population. Various established and emerging reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination, commercial embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), are widely used to improve animal productivity and ameliorate fertility issues. However, there is a need to improve the efficiency of these techniques by advancing our current understanding of sperm function, its role in early embryo development, and molecular regulation of preimplantation embryo development to enhance reproductive health across species. In this regard, a concerted effort from scientists is critical to enhance our fundamental understanding of reproductive biology and translate that knowledge into practical applications.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances in the regulation of sperm function and preimplantation embryo development and the potential applications of this knowledge to improve the outcomes of reproductive technologies.

Prof. Dr. Jacob Thundathil
Prof. Dr. John P. Kastelic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sperm
  • oocyte
  • embryo
  • genes
  • reproductive technologies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 657 KB  
Article
Individual Effect of Bull Prevails over Sperm Characteristics in Predictive Models
by Adriano Felipe Perez Siqueira, Leticia Signori de Castro, Thais Rose dos Santos Hamilton, Vivian Cardoso Castiglioni, Luana de Cássia Bicudo, Tamie Guibu Almeida, Rodolfo Daniel Mingoti, Camilla Mota Mendes, Roberta Leite, João Diego de Agostini Losano, Marcilio Nichi and Mayra Elena Ortiz D’Avila Assumpção
Biomolecules 2026, 16(4), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16040581 - 14 Apr 2026
Viewed by 397
Abstract
Sperm quality influences bovine in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Linear regression is a statistical tool that models the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. It can be used to predict outcomes, analyze trends, and understand the impact of [...] Read more.
Sperm quality influences bovine in vitro embryo production (IVEP). Linear regression is a statistical tool that models the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. It can be used to predict outcomes, analyze trends, and understand the impact of variables. These models are useful for indicating which sperm variables most influence IVEP results, facilitating the selection of superior samples to enhance IVEP. Using early IVEP indicators, such as cleavage rate, can assist in scheduling recipient preparation. This work aimed to construct linear regression models to study the influence of a comprehensive set of sperm variables and cleavage rate on IVEP yields. A dataset comprising 51 semen batches from 23 Nellore bulls was compiled, including 26 sperm variables from computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry per batch, with 184 IVEP procedures. The most robust predictive model had a coefficient of determination of 0.6358; furthermore, the BULL variable was the most influential predictor, yielding an independent coefficient of determination of 0.5218. Models that were exclusively founded on sperm analysis yielded meager coefficients of determination (<0.04). However, to predict the best batch from a bull, individual models achieve coefficients of determination ranging from 0.58 to 0.99. Contributions, impacts, and positive or negative correlations of various sperm variables with in vitro performance were influenced by the bull. We conclude that the BULL variable was the dominant predictor of in vitro performance, with cleavage rates serving as an early estimator of blastocyst rates. The predictive utility of analyzed sperm traits remains limited. Nonetheless, individualized models offer a valuable tool for selecting optimal batches for preferred bulls within IVEP laboratories, culminating in heightened blastocyst rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Sperm Function and Embryo Development)
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Review

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29 pages, 1025 KB  
Review
Impacts of Oxygen Tension on Developmental Competence of Preimplantation Embryos
by Shayesteh Mehdinejadiani, Brad Link, John P. Kastelic and Jacob Thundathil
Biomolecules 2026, 16(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16030341 - 24 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 673
Abstract
Oxygen (O2) tension is a critical factor influencing in vitro development of pre-implantation embryos. The in vivo environment has lower O2 tension (2–10%) than atmospheric air (~20%), along the female reproductive tract, from the oviducts (8–10%) to the uterus (2–5%), [...] Read more.
Oxygen (O2) tension is a critical factor influencing in vitro development of pre-implantation embryos. The in vivo environment has lower O2 tension (2–10%) than atmospheric air (~20%), along the female reproductive tract, from the oviducts (8–10%) to the uterus (2–5%), supporting development of early-stage embryos. As the female reproductive tract is inherently hypoxic, replicating low-O2 conditions in vitro may enhance embryo development. In contrast, culturing embryos under non-physiological O2 tension may impair stress adaptation and reduce developmental competence. Optimal O2 tension likely varies with species and embryo stage, suggesting a single uniform O2 tension throughout in vitro culture may not be ideal; conditions beneficial at one stage may be detrimental at another. Although atmospheric O2 harms embryo development and redox balance, specific advantages of low (5%) or ultra-low (≤2%) O2 remain uncertain, despite many studies documenting improved development under hypoxia. This review examines the current literature on effects of atmospheric, low, and ultra-low O2 tension during in vitro embryo culture, emphasizing impacts on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes, and the regulation of transcription and epigenomics during pre-implantation embryo development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Sperm Function and Embryo Development)
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