The association of exposure to multiple metals with the risk of idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: The mediating role of sperm chromatin

作者：Tao Yin, Sen Liang, Xinyu Zhou, Xueting Lai, Xun Su, Jiajing Tao, Shiwei Ren, Danyang Li, Yunxia Cao, Dongmei Ji, Chunmei Liang · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118543 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Sperm and Testicular Function、Selenium in Biological Systems、Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species

BACKGROUND: The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is a crucial marker of single- or double-stranded DNA breaks, whereas the sperm high DNA stainability (HDS) indicates immature sperm nuclei accompanied with aberrant protein expression or altered protamine-to-histone ratios. Thus, sperm DFI and HDS constitute non-classical semen parameters that may serve as surrogate indicators of male fertility beyond what classical semen parameters (sperm motility, concentration and morphology) can offer. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated the impact of metal exposure on high sperm DFI and sperm HDS risk, especially their potential mediating roles in the association between metal exposure and risk of idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT). Against this background, this study was designed to explore the association of metal exposure in seminal plasma with the risk of high sperm DFI, high sperm HDS, and iOAT, as well as determine whether sperm DFI and sperm HDS mediate the relationship of metals with the risk of iOAT. METHODS: A case-control study comprising 590 male participants (317 controls and 273 cases) was performed. Thirteen metals in seminal plasma (Fe, Ni, Cu, Co, Se, Sr, Cd, Cr, Pb, V, Mn, Tl, and Ba) were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The individual effect of each metal on high sperm DFI, high sperm HDS, and iOAT risk was explored using multivariate logistic regression models. Quantile g-computation (Qgcomp) an...