Novel Insights into the Biology of Spermatozoa

Dear Colleagues,

For this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, we invite you to contribute either an original research article or a review article on the topic “Novel Insights into the Biology of Spermatozoa”. Male infertility affects 7% of the global population. Semen analysis is currently considered a key tool in routine assessment; however, it is poorly predictive of fertility status and does not evaluate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, at present, there are only a few pharmacological treatments available and clinicians must rely on assisted reproduction to treat male infertility. For such reasons, it is mandatory for the scientific community to identify new sperm biomarkers/pharmacological targets through a deep characterization of the molecular pathways involved in sperm functions (spermatogenesis, epididymal maturation, capacitation, hyperactivation, etc.) that are necessary for reaching and fertilizing the oocyte, as well as sperm dysfunctions (DNA fragmentation, oxidative stress, chromatin alterations, etc.) that compromise such processes. Thanks to the currently available high-throughput technologies coupled with bioinformatic analysis, genetic and epigenetic sperm modifications, proteins and their post-translational modifications, and the metabolism and its products, the signaling pathways governing sperm functions can be deeply investigated. In addition, studying the relationship between spermatozoa and the genital tract microenvironment and its possible role in couple infertility also appears promising. Articles aimed at a multidisciplinary investigation of the different molecular aspects of sperm biology, through both in vivo and in vitro studies, are welcome.

Dr. Elisabetta Baldi
Dr. Sara Marchiani
Dr. Lara Tamburrino
Guest Editors

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