Epigenetics and male reproduction: the consequences of paternal lifestyle on fertility, embryo development, and children lifetime health

Clinical Epigenetics

Ivana Antonucci³  Valentina Gatta³  Patrizia Ballerini²  Marica Franzago¹  Liborio Stuppia³ 

[1] Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio University” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, 66013, Italy;Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio University” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, 66013, Italy;Ce.S.I.-MeT, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, Chieti, 66013, Italy

关键词: Transgenerational effect;    DNA methylation;    Epigenetics;    Gametogenesis;    Male infertility;   

Others  :  1234342
DOI  :  10.1186/s13148-015-0155-4

 received in 2015-06-03, accepted in 2015-11-05,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

The correlation between epigenetics and human reproduction represents a very interesting field of study, mainly due to the possible transgenerational effects related to epigenetic modifications of male and female gametes. In the present review, we focused our attention to the role played by epigenetics on male reproduction, evidencing at least four different levels at which sperm epigenetic modifications could affect reproduction: (1) spermatogenesis failure; (2) embryo development; (3) outcome of assisted reproduction technique (ART) protocols, mainly as concerning genomic imprinting; and (4) long-term effects during the offspring lifetime. The environmental agents responsible for epigenetic modifications are also examined, suggesting that the control of paternal lifestyle prior to conception could represent in the next future a novel hot topic in the management of human reproduction.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Stuppia et al.

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1.

Fig. 2.

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