Volume 2025, Issue 1 6663110
Research Article
Open Access

Relationship of Early Embryonic Development In Vitro Fertilization With Sperm Zinc Homeostasis and Seminal Plasma Antioxidation

Meiyang Du

Meiyang Du

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Yizhen Hu

Yizhen Hu

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Dan Yang

Dan Yang

College of Clinical Medical , North China University of Science and Technology , Tangshan , China , ncst.edu.cn

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Shiwei Luan

Shiwei Luan

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Xiaowei Luo

Xiaowei Luo

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Haoyang Dai

Haoyang Dai

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Yasong Geng

Yasong Geng

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Bo Zheng

Corresponding Author

Bo Zheng

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Xingtai Meihe Reproductive and Genetic Hospital , Xingtai , China

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Shusong Wang

Corresponding Author

Shusong Wang

Department of Reproductive Medicine , Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine , Hebei Institute of Reproductive Health Science and Technology , Shijiazhuang , China

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First published: 28 January 2025
Academic Editor: Raul Sanchez

Abstract

The study aims to explore the sperm parameters that affect early embryo development in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to study their relationship with sperm zinc homeostasis and seminal plasma antioxidation. The semen samples were incubated at 37°C for 1, 2, 3, and 4 h, and the sperm progressive motility (PR) was analyzed. We found that the sperm PR significantly decreased after 3 h of incubation (p < 0.01) and further decreased after 4 h (p < 0.001). The correlation analysis showed that sperm PR was significant positively correlated with transferable embryo rate (r = 0.155, p = 0.026) and blastocyst formation rate (r = 0.140, p = 0.044) after incubation for 4 h, while its decline rate was significant negatively correlated with transferable embryo rate (r = −0.151, p = 0.030) and blastocyst formation rate (r = −0.220, p = 0.002). Additionally, the ELISA assay indicated that patients with PR > 32% and decline rate < 30% had significantly higher levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the seminal plasma compared to patients with PR < 32% and decline rate > 30% (p < 0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05). The results of the zinc fluorescence probe showed that the level of free zinc ion in sperm in the high motility and low decline rate group was significantly higher than that in the low motility and high decline rate group (p < 0.05). The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence results showed that the group with high motility and low decline rate had significantly higher relative expression levels of G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39), anoctamin 1 (ANO1), and zinc transporter protein 13 (ZIP13) mRNA (p < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with low PR and high PR decline rate after 4 h of incubation had poor early embryo development results in IVF. This may be through the reduction of zinc homeostasis-associated protein expression to accelerate the oxidative stress process, thereby reducing sperm quality and ultimately affecting embryonic development.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (Zheng Bo) upon reasonable request.

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