Galdiero, Giacomo (2021) GENETICS AND ENVIRONMENT: IMPACT ON MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

Aim of this doctorate has been to explore the links between environment, genetics and characteristics of spermatozoa in mammals and in particular three species have been studied: humans, dogs and horses. This study was in fact conceived following the collaboration of two important research areas: human reproduction and the genetic improvement of livestock species. We started from the premise of wanting to fill gap of information concerning semen quality of men living in the high environmental pressure area of the "Land of Fires" (LF), and to investigate the potential association withenvironmental pollutants, such as cadmium (Cd). Specific aims included the assessment of the potential epigenetic changes induced by heavy metals exposure, particularly Cd, and to correlate these changes to semen quality and spermatozoa charachteristics (in humans and dogs). The study included two different cohorts of subjects comprising 730 (C1) and 512 (C2) participants belonging to the LF. All subjects in C1 were offered a diagnostic clinical examination in their domestic dogs. The dogs recruited (N=30) for the study had to be clinically healthy and with at least one litter in the last 12 months. In C2 subjects a strict correlation was demonstrated between seminal parameters, particularly sperm total count, and Cd burden in semen samples, testifying a potential harmful effect on reproductive health in humans. Moreover, reduced SDGM was associated to reduced semen quality, demonstrating an overall similar relationship between epigenetic changes and seminal parameters in men and their dogs. This is the first report demonstrating a correlation between SGDM percentage and conventional seminal parameters in dogs; this epigenetic finding could be of considerable interest also in the zootechnical field, due to the possible reproductive and economic repercussions. Lastly, a further specific aim was to assess the effects of healthy lifestyle, particularly the supplementation with nutraceuticals, on semen quality, in order to identify natural substances as alternative treatments for seminal impairment in stallions. Four stallions were food supplemented with maca (Lepidium meyenii) during the breeding season. Maca food supplementation in stallions during breeding season reduced the percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA, significantly increased sperm concentration and lengthened spermatozoa head, suggesting that food supplementation of maca could be useful in horse breeding.

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