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A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition
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A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 8267

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Montserrat Rivera Del Álamo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary School, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
Interests: amniotic fluid; semen analysis; embryos; theriogenology; cryopreservation; reproductive biology; semen preservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to invite you to submit your contributions to this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Science, which is focused on a molecular perspective of reproductive health. Reproduction, as with any other physiological function, is molecular based, and its comprehension will result in a better understanding of the mechanisms behind it. A better understanding of its molecular functioning may supply tools that could be useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of reproductive pathologies, thus improving the clinical approach and, in turn, providing better solutions to the patients.

Dr. Maria Montserrat Rivera Del Álamo
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • reproductive function
  • molecular bases
  • male
  • female
  • reproductive pathology
  • reproductive physiology

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 32472 KiB  
Article
Upregulation of Autophagy During the Differentiation of Primary Human Term Cytotrophoblast Cells into Syncytial Cells: Ultrastructural Analysis
by Shohei Tozawa, Hironori Takahashi, Syunya Noguchi, Takami Takizawa, Takanobu Sakurai, Akihide Ohkuchi, Hiroyuki Fujiwara and Toshihiro Takizawa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031321 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 993
Abstract
The villous trophoblast cells are of fundamental importance because they fulfill a variety of functions that are vital for the growth of the fetus and the maintenance of pregnancy. A simple in vitro villous trophoblast cell model that grows on standard tissue culture [...] Read more.
The villous trophoblast cells are of fundamental importance because they fulfill a variety of functions that are vital for the growth of the fetus and the maintenance of pregnancy. A simple in vitro villous trophoblast cell model that grows on standard tissue culture plates has been utilized for various functional studies on villous trophoblast cells. Despite the potential value of incorporating electron microscopy analysis in reports on functional analysis of primary human trophoblast cells, electron microscopy analysis is exclusively ancillary to functional analysis in previous publications. In the context of autophagy research of villous trophoblast cells using primary trophoblast cells, a detailed ultrastructural analysis of autophagy flux using electron microscopy is imperative; however, it has not been conducted to date. In this study, we isolated term villous trophoblast cells (i.e., cytotrophoblast cells, CTB cells) using the most up-to-date isolation method for isolating pure CTB cells from human term placenta and investigated the ultrastructural dynamic process of autophagy of cultured CTB cells by means of transmission electron microscopy. The initial 6 h culture resulted in CTB cell aggregation; however, the majority of CTB cells did not differentiate into syncytial cells. In contrast, after 72 h, CTB cells exhibited a promotion of differentiation into syncytial cells. The electron microscopy analysis revealed the upregulation of autophagy and visualized unique autophagic profiles during differentiation into syncytial cells, which exhibited perinuclear accumulation of extremely large autophagosomes/autolysosomes. This study provides novel insights into the reproductive biology of primary trophoblast cells, thereby demonstrating the substantial value of primary trophoblast cells as research resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3182 KiB  
Article
Dead or Alive: Exploratory Analysis of Selected Apoptosis- and Autophagy-Related Proteins in Human Endometrial Stromal Cells of Fertile Females and Their Potential Role During Embryo Implantation
by Iwona Scheliga, Dunja M. Baston-Buest, Djamila Haramustek, Alexandra Knebel, Jan-Steffen Kruessel and Alexandra P. Bielfeld
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010175 - 28 Dec 2024
Viewed by 880
Abstract
To date, very little is known about how apoptosis and autophagy affect human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), particularly how these processes might determine the depth of implantation in humans. Before investigating how apoptosis and autophagy might modulate the implantation process in an infertile [...] Read more.
To date, very little is known about how apoptosis and autophagy affect human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), particularly how these processes might determine the depth of implantation in humans. Before investigating how apoptosis and autophagy might modulate the implantation process in an infertile population, it is necessary to clarify how these processes are regulated in healthy individuals. This study examined the protein expression related to apoptosis and autophagy in primary ESCs from fertile women, particularly in the context of decidualization and embryo contact, using Western blot analysis. This study evaluated the protein expression of apoptosis receptors and autophagy markers during the window of implantation. Previous research has shown that a syndecan 1 (Sdc1) knockdown (kd) in endometrial stromal cell lines increased the sensitivity to apoptosis induced by embryonic stimuli. We aimed to determine if this effect is also present in primary cells and if Sdc1 regulates autophagy. The expression of autophagy- and apoptosis-associated proteins in primary ESCs from fertile individuals was investigated in this preliminary study, along with their impact on the process of human embryo implantation. During decidualization and exposure to embryo contact, we observed an upregulation of apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins in ESCs. Decidualized ESCs exhibited higher levels of apoptosis receptors, indicating increased sensitivity to embryo-induced apoptosis. Additionally, the increase in basal autophagy proteins suggests a significant role in the implantation process. Sdc1 is potentially involved in regulating apoptosis and autophagy, demonstrating its possible role in modulating implantation-related cell activities. These findings suggest a complex interplay between apoptosis and autophagy in regulating human embryo implantation. The changes in the expression of apoptotic and autophagic proteins in ESCs after decidualization and upon contact with the embryo provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms that underlie successful implantation. These results have potential implications for understanding the pathophysiology of implantation disorders and improving assisted reproductive technologies. The first results of this pilot study need to be verified with a larger sample size in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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13 pages, 481 KiB  
Review
Comparative Analysis of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Next-Generation Sequencing in Sperm Evaluation: Implications for Preimplantation Genetic Testing and Male Infertility
by Efthalia Moustakli, Antonios Gkountis, Stefanos Dafopoulos, Athanasios Zikopoulos, Sotirios Sotiriou, Athanasios Zachariou and Konstantinos Dafopoulos
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011296 - 21 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2433
Abstract
Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) is a crucial process for selecting embryos created through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Couples with chromosomal rearrangements, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, advanced maternal age, known single-gene disorders, a family history of genetic conditions, previously affected pregnancies, poor embryo quality, or [...] Read more.
Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) is a crucial process for selecting embryos created through assisted reproductive technology (ART). Couples with chromosomal rearrangements, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, advanced maternal age, known single-gene disorders, a family history of genetic conditions, previously affected pregnancies, poor embryo quality, or congenital anomalies may be candidates for PGT. Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) enables the selection and transfer of euploid embryos, significantly enhancing implantation rates in assisted reproduction. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the preferred method for analyzing biopsied cells to identify these abnormalities. While FISH is a well-established method for identifying sperm aneuploidy, NGS offers a more comprehensive assessment of genetic material, potentially enhancing our understanding of male infertility. Chromosomal abnormalities, arising during meiosis, can lead to aneuploid sperm, which may hinder embryo implantation and increase miscarriage rates. This review provides a comparative analysis of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in sperm evaluations, focusing on their implications for preimplantation genetic testing. This analysis explores the strengths and limitations of FISH and NGS, aiming to elucidate their roles in improving ART outcomes and reducing the risk of genetic disorders in offspring. Ultimately, the findings will inform best practices in sperm evaluations and preimplantation genetic testing strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1540 KiB  
Review
Impacts of Maternal Preeclampsia Exposure on Offspring Neuronal Development: Recent Insights and Interventional Approaches
by He Zhang, Jinju Lin and Huashan Zhao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011062 - 15 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2946
Abstract
Preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, frequently correlates with adverse neurological outcomes in offspring, including cognitive impairments, autism spectrum disorder, depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and cerebral palsy. Despite these known consequences, the understanding of neuronal damage in the offspring of preeclamptic [...] Read more.
Preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy, frequently correlates with adverse neurological outcomes in offspring, including cognitive impairments, autism spectrum disorder, depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and cerebral palsy. Despite these known consequences, the understanding of neuronal damage in the offspring of preeclamptic mothers remains insufficient. Here, we review the neuronal abnormalities resulting from maternal preeclampsia exposure, which include disrupted neurogenesis, loss of neuronal cell integrity, accumulation of cellular debris, decreased synaptogenesis and myelination, and increased neurite growth stimulated by maternal preeclampsia serum. The underlying mechanisms potentially driving these effects involve microglial activation, inflammatory responses, and reduced angiogenesis. Intervention strategies aimed at improving fetal neuronal outcomes are also discussed, encompassing pharmacological treatments such as pravastatin, tadalafil, and melatonin, as well as non-pharmacological approaches like dietary modifications, maternal exercise, and standard care for children. These interventions hold promise for clinical application, offering avenues to address early neuronal abnormalities and prevent the onset of long-term neurological disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Molecular Perspective on Reproductive Health, 2nd Edition)
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