Glycation is the non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars, such as glucose, and proteins, lipids or nucleic acids, producing Advanced Glycation End (AGE) products. AGEs, produced during natural senescence as well as through lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking, are key pathogenic compounds in the initiation and progression of diabetes. Importantly, many of these factors and conditions also have influence on male fertility, affecting sperm count and semen quality, contributing to the decreasing trend in male fertility. This study investigated the impact of AGEs on sperm damage. In vitro sperm glycation assays were used to determine the levels and localization of the potent AGE compound, carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) in response to treatment with the glycating compounds glucose, glyoxal and methylglyoxal. Sperm function assays were then used to assess the effects of glycation on motility and hyaluronan binding, and levels of oxidative DNA damage were analyzed through measurement of the marker, 8-oxoguanine. Results showed that glyoxal, but not glucose or methylglyoxal, induced significant increases in CML levels on sperm and this correlated with an increase in 8-oxoguanine. Immunocytochemistry revealed that AGEs were located on all parts of the sperm cell and most prominently on the head region. Sperm motility and hyaluronidase activity were not adversely affected by glycation. Together, the observed detrimental effects of the increased levels of AGE on DNA integrity, without an effect on motility and hyaluronidase activity, suggest that sperm may retain some fertilizing capacity under these adverse conditions.

Background: Many studies have demonstrated that lifestyle factors can affect sperm quality and fertility. Sperm telomere length (STL) has been reported as potential biomarker or sperm quality. However, no studies have investigated how lifestyle factors can affect STL and associated clinical outcomes.Objectives: The purpose of this manuscript is to investigate any association between STL with lifestyle factors, semen parameters and clinical outcomes.Materials and methods: Sperm telomere length was measured using real‐time PCR in normozoospermic male partners (n = 66) of couples undergoing ART treatment. Each participant also completed a detailed questionnaire about general lifestyle. Linear regression univariate analysis and ANCOVA were performed to respectively determine correlations between STL and study parameters or identify statistically significant differences in STL while controlling for age, BMI and other factors.Results: Using a linear regression model, STL is positively correlated with in vitro fertilization success (n = 65, r = 0.37, P = .004) but not with embryo cleavage rates and post‐implantation clinical outcomes including gestational age‐adjusted birth weight. No associations were observed between STL and sperm count, concentration or progressive motility. We further found that STL did not associate age, BMI, health or lifestyle factors.Discussion: In somatic cells, the rate of telomere shortening is influenced by a number of lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and occupation. However, little is known about how lifestyle factors affect STL and subsequently reproductive outcome. Out data suggest that STL might have an important role mechanistically for fertilization rate regardless of sperm parameters and lifestyle factors.Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that STL is associated with in vitro fertilization rates, but not with semen parameters nor lifestyle factors. Further investigations are warranted to identify the potential variation of STL overtime to clarify its significance as a potential biomarker in ART.

While many scholars have noted workplace inequalities generated by the presence of pregnancy and parenthood, this paper shifts the focus to explore the question: how do childless subjects negotiate between work identities and desired identities of parenthood? Drawing from empirical research interviews about navigating complex fertility journeys alongside work and employment, we show how themes of pregnancy and parenthood play out in the form of (non‐)potential rather than actual achievement, and where identity threats arise paradoxically from both too close and too distant an association with the maternal body.

Fertilisation in ascidians triggers a series of periodic rises in cytosolic Ca²⁺ that are essential for release from metaphase I arrest and progression through meiosis II. These sperm-triggered Ca²⁺ oscillations are switched off at exit from meiosis II. Ascidian zygotes provided the first demonstration of the positive feedback loop whereby elevated Cdk1 activity maintained these Ca²⁺ oscillations. Since then it has been reported that Cdk1 sensitises the type I inositol trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P₃] receptor in somatic cells, and that sperm-triggered Ca²⁺ oscillations in mouse zygotes stop because the forming pronuclei sequester phospholipase C zeta that was delivered to the egg by the fertilising sperm.

A relatively recent development in the field of work and employment is organisational provisions around employee fertility – notably policies and benefits related to assisted reproductive technologies, also known as fertility treatment. Work, employment and organisation scholars have only scratched the surface of this issue. This Debates and Controversies article takes an intersectional political economy approach to explore the opportunities, challenges and dilemmas at the interface between assisted reproductive technologies, society, employment and work. We consider how ‘stratified reproduction’ may be affected by employer interest in assisted reproductive technologies; what employers may gain, risk or lose by developing provisions; how assisted reproductive technologies-related ‘reproductive work’ intersects with paid employment; and the possible consequences, including occupational stratification due to assisted reproductive technologies-related career penalty. We call for further research, especially focusing on the most disadvantaged in society and employment, and approaches to workplace support led by compassion over cost-benefit calculation.

Sperm DNA contains a range of DNA base damage that can arise, in part, from exposure to methylating agents. However, the effects are not fully characterized and so the aim of this study was to investigate associations between semen quality and the levels of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG), a marker of exposure to methylating agents, and other markers of DNA damage and DNA methylation. Sperm samples were collected from 105 men attending an assisted reproduction clinic as part of a couple undergoing treatment for infertility and semen quality assessed manually according to WHO guidelines. Semen levels of N7-MedG, quantified by immunoslotblot, were significantly higher in men with sperm concentration < 15 × 10⁶/ml (p ≤ 0.01), semen volume < 1.5 ml (p ≤ 0.05) and also in men with any aspect of semen quality below WHO reference levels (p ≤ 0.001). Measures of neutral Comet DNA damage were correlated with semen quality in a univariate analysis but not after adjustment for N7-MedG levels. Sperm concentration was negatively associated with % methylation at the gene for DAZL but no other marker of global or gene-specific DNA methylation. Results support the hypothesis that the known toxic and DNA damaging properties of alkylating agent exposure may have direct deleterious consequences on semen quality.