Elucidation of New Male Infertility Mechanisms and Development of Bacterial Flora Targeted Therapy Focusing on Seminal Microflora

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20974
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0906:Surgery related to the biological and sensory functions and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Tsujimura Go 大阪大学, 医学部附属病院, 医員 (20964406)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 男性不妊 / 精液細菌叢 / 精索静脈瘤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Social interest in infertility treatment has increased, partly because infertility treatment is now covered by insurance in Japan. Half of all infertility cases are caused by male infertility, but the cause is unknown in the majority of cases. In recent years, there have been reported on the relationship between seminal flora and male infertility, but only cross-sectional studies have been conducted, and there are many unknowns regarding seminal flora. In this study, we focused on varicocele and seminal flora and examined changes in seminal flora in the same patient using a next-generation sequencer. We recruited patients with varicocele from our facility and our affiliated cooperative male infertility centers, and analyzed the seminal flora before and after varicocele surgery. In the future, we plan to develop personalized medicine for male infertility through therapeutic intervention in the seminal microflora.

Free Research Field

男性不妊

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

精索静脈瘤による不妊の原因は、その他の男性不妊と同様に活性酸素による酸化ストレスが原因と報告されており、精索静脈瘤手術により酸化ストレスが改善され、精液所見の改善につながるとされている。そこで術前の酸化ストレスがある状態と、術後酸化ストレスが改善した状態での細菌叢の変化を解明することにより、精索静脈瘤だけでなく、男性不妊に関わる精液細菌叢の新たな知見を得ることができると考える。また、精索静脈瘤術後に追跡調査を行うことにより、妊孕性を獲得した症例、獲得していない症例での精液細菌叢の比較を行い、精液所見だけでなく妊孕性の改善に寄与する細菌叢の同定が可能と考える。