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Cited by 331Sperm and Testicular FunctionEpigenetics and DNA MethylationBirth, Development, and Health

Sperm epigenetics and influence of environmental factors

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Donkin, Ida, Barrès, Romain·2018·Molecular Metabolism
DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.02.006PMC PMC6034033
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Developmental programming of the embryo is controlled by genetic information but also dictated by epigenetic information contained in spermatozoa. Lifestyle and environmental factors not only influence health in one individual but can also affect the phenotype of the following generations. This is mediated via epigenetic inheritance i.e., gametic transmission of environmentally-driven epigenetic information to the offspring. Evidence is accumulating that preconceptional exposure to certain lifestyle and environmental factors, such as diet, physical activity, and smoking, affects the phenotype of the next generation through remodeling of the epigenetic blueprint of spermatozoa. SCOPE OF REVIEW: This review will summarize current knowledge about the different epigenetic signals in sperm that are responsive to environmental and lifestyle factors and are capable of affecting embryonic development and the phenotype of the offspring later in life. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Like somatic cells, the epigenome of spermatozoa has proven to be dynamically reactive to a wide variety of environmental and lifestyle stressors. The functional consequence on embryogenesis and phenotype of the next generation remains largely unknown. However, strong evidence of environmentally-driven sperm-borne epigenetic factors, which are capable of altering the phenotype of the next generation, is emerging on a large scale.

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  • The adoption of actual epigenetic assays by a large number of fertility laboratories will require robust research and clinical trials proving their value in diagnostic andrology.

    “These assays may have a use in the evaluation of male infertility, however, their adoption by a large number of fertility laboratories will require robust research and clinical trials proving their value in diagnostic andrology [11,38].”

    From The Sixth Edition of the WHO Manual for Human Semen Analysis: A Critical Review and SWOT Analysis (2021) · cites this paper as [38]

    The Introduction discusses sperm epigenetics as a possible mechanism of inheritance, and the Concluding remarks discuss confounders in that research. Neither section addresses adoption of epigenetic assays by fertility laboratories or a need for clinical trials to establish their diagnostic value in andrology. Searches for clinical validation, infertility diagnostics, and laboratory adoption found no passage making that point. (LLM, conf=0.72)

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Authors
Donkin, I., & Barrès, R.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Barrès, Romain
ORCID
Venue
Molecular Metabolism
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2018-08
Volume
14
Pages
1-11
ISSN
2212-8778 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.molmet.2018.02.006
PMC
PMC6034033
OpenAlex
W2791924680
Cited by
331
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 11
FWCI
5.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Molecular Metabolism (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Novo Nordisk Fonden
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
Keywords
sperm epigenetics, epigenetic inheritance, environmental factors, lifestyle factors, preconception exposure, diet, physical activity, smoking, embryonic development, developmental programming, transgenerational effects, spermatozoa
MeSH terms
Animals, Environment, Humans, Male, Spermatozoa, Stress, Physiological, DNA Methylation, Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly, Epigenesis, Genetic

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