The other side of COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on male fertility

Abstract

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major pandemic threat worldwide. According to the existing clinical data, this virus not only causes respiratory diseases and affects the lungs but also induces histopathological or functional changes in various organs like the testis and also the male genital tract. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS), also ACE 2 and TMPRSS2 play an important role in the cellular entry for SARS-CoV-2. Because the male genital system presents high ACE 2 expression, the importance of this pathway increases in COVID-19 cases. As the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the male genital system in direct or indirect ways and showed a negative impact on male reproduction, this paper focuses on the possible mechanisms underlying the damage caused by COVID-19 to the testis and also other components of the male genital tract.

Keywords: coronavirus; genital tract; pandemics.

Figure 1

Summary of RAS

Figure 2

Summary of SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor function of ACE 2. ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Figure 3

Comechanism of TMPRSS2 and ACE 2 in the fusion process of the testis. ACE, angiotensin‐converting enzyme; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TMPRSS2, transmembrane serine protease 2