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Table 2 Effects of tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and drug addiction on spermatogenesis and sperm parameters

From: Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and male fertility

 

Studies in humans

Animal studies

Tobacco smoking

Reduction of sperm concentration [26, 27]

Impairment of sperm motility [17]

Increase in ultra-structural abnormalities (axonemal microtubules and tail alterations) [28, 29]

Impairment of mitochondrial activity and chromatin structure [17, 33, 34]

Impairment of acrosome reaction and capacitation [30, 31]

Increase of DNA methylation patterns [49]

Alterations in ERK1/2, nuclear factor-κB signal pathway [44]

Reduction of creatine kinase activity in sperm [55,56,57]

Increase in apoptosis via extrinsic (FAS, FASL) or mitochondrial processes (BCL, caspase-3) in rats [39, 40]

Reduction of antioxidant activity in rats [40]

Increase in DNA damage in sperm rats [41, 42]; of DNA methylation patterns PEBP1 gene in rats [44]

Reduction of sperm count and motility in rats [45]

Alcohol consumption

Reduction of seminal volume and sperm concentration [58, 61, 62]

Impairment of sperm motility and morphology [60, 61]

Increased sperm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon DNA adducts [72]

Increase in apoptosis (by upregulation of Fas) of spermatogenic cells in rats [68]

Alteration of nuclear maturity and DNA integrity in sperm cells of rats [70]

Increase in ROS generation and depletion of glutathione pool in testicular tissue of rats [71]

Impairment of sperm motility in rats [70]

Drug addiction

 Marijuana

Decrease in sperm count [82,83,84]

Impairment of sperm morphology and motility [85, 102, 103]

Reduction of spontaneous acrosome reactions [102, 103]

Impaired sperm concentration and morphology in rats [91]

Inhibition of sperm ATP production in rats [104]

Reduction of fructose and citric acid contents in testis and prostate of male rats [95]

 Cocaine

Impairment of sperm counts and motility [86]

Vasoconstriction of testicular blood vessels in rats resulting in ischemic and reperfusion injuries [96]

Reduction of diameter of seminiferous tubules [97]

Decrease in number of total germ cells [97]

Increase in oxidative stress in mice [98]

 Opioids

Impaired spermatogenesis [76]

Increased rates of DNA fragmentation in humans [89]

Reduced expression of catalase-like and superoxide dismutase-like activity [89]

Increase of rates of DNA damage and tubular degeneration in rats [100, 101]

 Amphetamines and Ecstasy

No data available

Vasoconstriction of testicular blood vessels in rats [96]

Increase in rates of DNA damage and tubular degeneration in rats [99]