Edited by
Wei Yan et al.

Special Issue: Reproductive Health

Our latest Special Issue showcases research in reproductive biology and medicine.
Collection
Vivid Biology CC-BY-NC 4.0
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Research on the development, physiology and pathophysiology of reproductive disorders is important, as evidence suggests that many adult-onset diseases can be traced back to disruptions during early embryonic development or even during gametogenesis.

Over the past decade, significant technological advancements have propelled our understanding of these processes, leading to groundbreaking discoveries about the etiology and molecular mechanisms underlying various reproductive disorders.

Overseen by eLife Senior Editor Wei Yan, this Special Issue showcases the latest advancements in reproductive biology and medicine.

​​An accompanying Editorial introduces the articles that have been included and explores the motivations behind this Special Issue, highlighting the gaps in our understanding of the fundamental biology of reproduction and its associated disorders.

Collection

    1. Developmental Biology

    Special Issue: Reproductive health

    Wei Yan
    The articles in this special issue highlight the diversity and complexity of research into reproductive health, including the need for a better understanding of the fundamental biology of reproduction and for new treatments for a range of reproductive disorders.
    1. Developmental Biology

    The Slingshot phosphatase 2 is required for acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis in mice

    Ke Xu, Xianwei Su ... Hongbin Liu
    SSH2, a Slingshot phosphatase required for male fertility, participates in acrosome biogenesis via the control of actin remodeling during spermatid development.
    1. Cell Biology

    Identification of candidate mitochondrial inheritance determinants using the mammalian cell-free system

    Dalen Zuidema, Alexis Jones ... Peter Sutovsky
    Proteomic analysis in a novel cell-free system for the study of mitophagy, identifies candidate proteins involved in the enforcement of clonal, maternal inheritance of mitochondria and mitochondrial genes in mammals.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Identification of quiescent FOXC2+ spermatogonial stem cells in adult mammals

    Zhipeng Wang, Cheng Jin ... Wei Song
    The FOXC2+ quiescent spermatogonial stem cells are essential for the maintenance of spermatogenesis.
    1. Immunology and Inflammation
    2. Medicine

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling drives placental aging and can provoke preterm labor

    Erin J Ciampa, Padraich Flahardy ... Samir M Parikh
    The role of placental aging and metabolic stress in driving labor onset is demonstrated, with a novel mouse model of preterm labor in which injection of a prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor stabilizes placental hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and significantly shortens gestational length.
    1. Genetics and Genomics

    Novel axonemal protein ZMYND12 interacts with TTC29 and DNAH1, and is required for male fertility and flagellum function

    Denis Dacheux, Guillaume Martinez ... Charles Coutton
    Bi-allelic mutations in ZMYND12, encoding a novel axonemal protein interacting with TTC29 and DNAH1, cause male infertility and flagellum defects in human and Trypanosoma.
    1. Developmental Biology

    C-type natriuretic peptide improves maternally aged oocytes quality by inhibiting excessive PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy

    Hui Zhang, Chan Li ... Baohua Ma
    In vitro and in vivo data show that C-natriuretic peptide is significant for increasing mitochondrial bioenergetics by cAMP-PKA pathway and improving cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation of maternally aged oocyte.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Steroidogenesis and androgen/estrogen signaling pathways are altered in in vitro matured testicular tissues of prepubertal mice

    Laura Moutard, Caroline Goudin ... Christine Rondanino
    Although complete mouse in vitro spermatogenesis can be achieved, failure of adult Leydig cell development, with accumulation of progesterone and estradiol, androstenedione deficiency, deregulation of steroidogenic, and steroid target gene expression, were highlighted in organotypic cultures, even with hCG.
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Developmental Biology

    Cylicins are a structural component of the sperm calyx being indispensable for male fertility in mice and human

    Simon Schneider, Andjela Kovacevic ... Hubert Schorle
    Cylicin 1 and Cylicin 2 are essential components of the sperm perinuclear theca and their loss results in impaired spermiogenesis and thus in infertility in mice and men.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Microhomology-mediated circular DNA formation from oligonucleosomal fragments during spermatogenesis

    Jun Hu, Zhe Zhang ... Chao Liu
    Germline extrachromosomal circular DNAs are mainly formed by microhomology-mediated ligation of nucleosome-protected fragments and barely contribute to de novo genomic deletions at meiotic recombination hotspots.
    1. Genetics and Genomics
    2. Medicine

    Proteomic analysis shows decreased type I fibers and ectopic fat accumulation in skeletal muscle from women with PCOS

    Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Gustaw Eriksson ... Anna Benrick
    Elevated levels of ectopic fat and a decreased number of oxidative insulin-sensitive type I muscle fibers in skeletal muscle could lead to insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Developmental Biology

    Zn2+ is essential for Ca2+ oscillations in mouse eggs

    Hiroki Akizawa, Emily M Lopes, Rafael A Fissore
    Throughout oocyte maturation, there is a simultaneous elevation in the concentrations of Ca2+ and Zn2+, and the fertilization-induced Ca2+ oscillations cease under Zn2+-deficient conditions, implying an interplay between these ions, potentially at the IP3R1 level that harbors a Zn2+-binding domain.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Medicine

    Vertical transmission of maternal DNA through extracellular vesicles associates with altered embryo bioenergetics during the periconception period

    David Bolumar, Javier Moncayo-Arlandi ... Felipe Vilella
    In vitro analyses reveal how vertical DNA transmission from the mother to the pre-implantation embryo via endometrial extracellular vesicles can impact embryo bioenergetics.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

    Metabolic memory of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in pluripotent stem cells and primordial germ cells-like cells

    Roxane Verdikt, Abigail A Armstrong ... Patrick Allard
    Exposure of embryonic stem cells to physiological concentrations of Δ9-THC remodels cellular metabolism across differentiation.
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    LRRC23 truncation impairs radial spoke 3 head assembly and sperm motility underlying male infertility

    Jae Yeon Hwang, Pengxin Chai ... Jean-Ju Chung
    LRRC23 is a radial spoke 3 head component essential for normal sperm motility and fertility in mammals.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Differential susceptibility of male and female germ cells to glucocorticoid-mediated signaling

    Steven A Cincotta, Nainoa Richardson ... Diana J Laird
    Although developing oocytes and sperm of mice both harbor the glucocorticoid receptor, fetal oocytes are resistant to differing levels of gluocorcorticoid stress hormones, while spermatogonia alter RNA splicing.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Identification of CFAP52 as a novel diagnostic target of male infertility with defects of sperm head-tail connection and flagella development

    Hui-Juan Jin, Tiechao Ruan ... Su-Ren Chen
    CFAP52 is a candidate for genetic diagnosing male infertility with defects of sperm head-tail connection and flagella development.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Sperm induction of somatic cell-cell fusion as a novel functional test

    Nicolas G Brukman, Clari Valansi, Benjamin Podbilewicz
    The fertilizing potential of sperm correlates with their ability to induce viral-like fusion of somatic cells expressing JUNO.
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Lack of CCDC146, a ubiquitous centriole and microtubule-associated protein, leads to non-syndromic male infertility in human and mouse

    Jana Muroňová, Zine Eddine Kherraf ... Christophe Arnoult
    CCDC146 is a structural component of the flagellum in sperm, located in the doublet microtubules of the axoneme, whose absence leads to multiple morphological anomalies of the flagellum.
    1. Cancer Biology
    2. Microbiology and Infectious Disease

    Identification of fallopian tube microbiota and its association with ovarian cancer

    Bo Yu, Congzhou Liu ... David N Fredricks
    A prospective study of intraoperative swab collections from 187 patients identified a putative fallopian tube microbiota and a clear shift in ovarian cancer patients compared to non-cancer patients.
    1. Medicine

    Intermittent fasting promotes type 3 innate lymphoid cells secreting IL-22 contributing to the beigeing of white adipose tissue

    Hong Chen, Lijun Sun ... Yue Yin
    Intermittent fasting affects intestinal immunity through new interactions between macrophages and ILC3s, increasing ILC3 secretion of IL-22 and thus promoting white adipose tissue beigeing, and improving metabolism.
    1. Developmental Biology

    FBXO24 modulates mRNA alternative splicing and MIWI degradation and is required for normal sperm formation and male fertility

    Zhiming Li, Xingping Liu ... Shuiqiao Yuan
    Animal models and molecular data reveal how FBXO24 regulates mRNA expression and MIWI degradation in the round spermatids.
    1. Medicine

    Articular cartilage corefucosylation regulates tissue resilience in osteoarthritis

    Kentaro Homan, Tomohiro Onodera ... Norimasa Iwasaki
    Corefucosylation contributes to the maintenance of the articular cartilage phenotype and depletion of FUT8 inhibits recovery from cartilage damage and promotes cartilage degeneration.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Evolutionary Biology

    The rapidly evolving X-linked MIR-506 family fine-tunes spermatogenesis to enhance sperm competition

    Zhuqing Wang, Yue Wang ... Wei Yan
    The rapidly evolving X-linked MIR-506 family miRNAs function to enhance sperm competitiveness and male reproductive fitness in mice.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Affinity-tagged SMAD1 and SMAD5 mouse lines reveal transcriptional reprogramming mechanisms during early pregnancy

    Zian Liao, Suni Tang ... Martin Matzuk
    Mouse models reveal fundamental roles of SMAD1/5 in mediating both bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways and the transcriptional response to progesterone during decidualization.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Disruption in CYLC1 leads to acrosome detachment, sperm head deformity, and male in/subfertility in humans and mice

    Hui-Juan Jin, Yong Fan ... Su-Ren Chen
    Cylicin-1, a perinuclear theca protein, is critical for acrosome attachment and sperm head morphology.
    1. Medicine

    Fungal–bacteria interactions provide shelter for bacteria in Caesarean section scar diverticulum

    Peigen Chen, Haicheng Chen ... Xing Yang
    Local abnormal fungi in Caesarean section scar diverticulum can affect the abundance of bacteria through specific metabolites, thereby destroying the stability of bacteria and the entire microbial community.
    1. Developmental Biology

    FMNL2 regulates actin for endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria distribution in oocyte meiosis

    Meng-Hao Pan, Kun-Huan Zhang ... Shao-Chen Sun
    FMNL2 associates with Formin2 and Arp2/3 complex for actin assembly, which further regulates spindle migration and INF2/Cofilin-related organelle dynamics during mammalian oocyte maturation.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics

    Deep learning insights into the architecture of the mammalian egg-sperm fusion synapse

    Arne Elofsson, Ling Han ... Luca Jovine
    AlphaFold-Multimer was used to investigate extracellular protein interactions involved in mammalian egg-sperm recognition, suggesting a putative pentameric complex that includes TMEM81, a sperm protein not previously involved in gamete recognition.
    1. Developmental Biology

    SMAD4 promotes somatic-germline contact during murine oocyte growth

    Sofia Granados-Aparici, Qin Yang, Hugh J Clarke
    Depletion of the TGFβ signal-transducer, SMAD4, in granulosa cells of growing follicles reduces the number of filopodia, termed transzonal projections, that stably attach to and mediate communication with the oocyte.
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine

    Temporally resolved early bone morphogenetic protein-driven transcriptional cascade during human amnion specification

    Nikola Sekulovski, Jenna C Wettstein ... Kenichiro Taniguchi
    Analyses of transcriptomic dynamics in a new model of human amnion formation identify five continuous amniogenic transcriptional phases as well as a critical role of TFAP2A in amnion fate progression.
    1. Neuroscience

    Glutamate neurotransmission from leptin receptor cells is required for typical puberty and reproductive function in female mice

    Cristina Sáenz de Miera, Nicole Bellefontaine ... Carol F Elias
    Glutamate neurotransmission from hypothalamic ventral premammillary nucleus is indispensable for leptin action in pubertal development and typical reproduction.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in Sertoli cells regulates age-dependent changes in sperm DNA methylation

    Saira Amir, Olatunbosun Arowolo ... Alexander Suvorov
    For the first time, a molecular mechanism is identified, for experimental acceleration and deceleration (rejuvenation) of sperm epigenetic aging.
    1. Cell Biology

    TRIP13 localizes to synapsed chromosomes and functions as a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis

    Jessica Y Chotiner, N Adrian Leu ... P Jeremy Wang
    Mouse TRIP13 localizes to synapsed chromosomal axes and thus exhibits mutually exclusive localization with HORMAD1/HORMAD2, providing a cell biological explanation for dissociation of HORMAD1/2 from chromosomal axes upon synapsis.
    1. Developmental Biology

    FBXO24 deletion causes abnormal accumulation of membraneless electron-dense granules in sperm flagella and male infertility

    Yuki Kaneda, Haruhiko Miyata ... Masahito Ikawa
    FBXO24, a testis-enriched E3 ubiquitin ligase, is essential for sperm flagellum formation and male fertility in mice.
    1. Cell Biology

    Exceptional longevity of mammalian ovarian and oocyte macromolecules throughout the reproductive lifespan

    Ewa K Bomba-Warczak, Karen M Velez ... Francesca E Duncan
    Exceptionally long-lived macromolecules in mammalian ovaries and oocytes serve as pillars for lifelong reproductive health span.
    Version of Record
    Short Report
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Genetics and Genomics

    An in vitro approach reveals molecular mechanisms underlying endocrine disruptor-induced epimutagenesis

    Jake D Lehle, Yu-Huey Lin ... John R McCarrey
    The utility of an in vitro cell culture system for studies of molecular mechanisms underlying the initial induction and subsequent propagation of environmentally induced epimutations is demonstrated.
    1. Evolutionary Biology
    2. Medicine

    The conserved genetic program of male germ cells uncovers ancient regulators of human spermatogenesis

    Rion Brattig-Correia, Joana M Almeida ... Paulo Navarro-Costa
    An interdisciplinary research platform reveals that the transcriptional identity of metazoan male germ cells is built around a small network of deeply conserved gene interactions with an overarching functional impact.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Reorganization of the flagellum scaffolding induces a sperm standstill during fertilization

    Martina Jabloñski, Guillermina M Luque ... Mariano G Buffone
    The double helix actin network surrounding the mitochondrial sheath of the sperm midpiece undergoes structural changes prior to the motility cessation during sperm-egg fusion.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Partial rejuvenation of the spermatogonial stem cell niche after gender-affirming hormone therapy in trans women

    Emily Delgouffe, Samuel Madureira Silva ... Ellen Goossens
    Gender-affirming hormone therapy in trans women leads to a loss of mature characteristics in the spermatogonial stem cell niche, causes spermatogenic arrest, and triggers fibrotic processes.
    1. Computational and Systems Biology
    2. Neuroscience

    Estradiol elicits distinct firing patterns in arcuate nucleus kisspeptin neurons of females through altering ion channel conductances

    Jian Qiu, Margaritis Voliotis ... Martin J Kelly
    Kiss1ARH neurons transition from synchronous to burst firing under preovulatory levels of E2, causing a shift from peptidergic to glutamatergic transmission that drives the GnRH surge through enhanced glutamate neurotransmission.
    1. Genetics and Genomics
    2. Cancer Biology

    Rewiring of master transcription factor cistromes during high-grade serous ovarian cancer development

    Robbin A. Nameki, Heidi Chang ... Kate Lawrenson
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Fundamental
    • Convincing
    1. Developmental Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    ARID1A governs the silencing of sex-linked transcription during male meiosis in the mouse

    Debashish U Menon, Prabuddha Chakraborty ... Terry Magnuson
    ARID1A is implicated in BAF-A-governed meiotic sex chromosome gene regulation and sex-linked chromatin dynamics in DNA repair.
    1. Chromosomes and Gene Expression
    2. Developmental Biology

    Complex aneuploidy triggers autophagy and p53-mediated apoptosis and impairs the second lineage segregation in human preimplantation embryos

    Marius Regin, Yingnan Lei ... Claudia Spits
    Aneuploid human embryonic cells are eliminated by p53-mediated apoptosis in a gene dosage dependent manner.
    1. Developmental Biology

    Spinal neural tube formation and tail development in human embryos

    Chloe Santos, Abigail R Marshall ... Andrew J Copp
    Analysis of 108 human embryos aged 3–7 weeks reveals modes of primary and secondary neurulation, regulation of body elongation, somite formation rate, and common occurrence of a split neural tube.
    1. Cell Biology

    Human receptive endometrial organoid for deciphering the implantation window

    Yu Zhang, Rusong Zhao ... Han Zhao
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Valuable
    • Incomplete
    1. Genetics and Genomics

    Dynamics of transcriptional programs and chromatin accessibility in mouse spermatogonial cells from early postnatal to adult life

    Irina Lazar-Contes, Rodrigo G Arzate-Mejia ... Isabelle M Mansuy
    Revised
    Reviewed Preprint v2
    Updated
    • Useful
    • Incomplete
    1. Cell Biology

    N-cadherin mechanosensing in ovarian follicles controls oocyte maturation and ovulation

    Alaknanda Emery, Orest W. Blaschuk ... Darryl L Russell
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Convincing
    1. Cell Biology

    Progesterone induces meiosis through two obligate co-receptors with PLA2 activity

    Nancy Nader, Lama Assaf ... Khaled Machaca
    Progesterone mediates nongenomic signaling in Xenopus oocyte meiosis by activating a PLA2 activity that requires two membrane receptors ABDH2 and mPRß.
    1. Neuroscience

    Prolactin-mediates a lactation-induced suppression of arcuate kisspeptin neuronal activity necessary for lactational infertility in mice

    Eleni Hackwell, Sharon R Ladyman ... David R Grattan
    Lactational infertility in mice is dependent on prolactin action in kisspeptin neurons.
    1. Evolutionary Biology

    Pervasive relaxed selection on spermatogenesis genes coincident with the evolution of polygyny in gorillas

    Jacob D. Bowman, Neide Silva ... Vincent J. Lynch
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Incomplete
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Cancer Biology

    Changes in local mineral homeostasis facilitate the formation of benign and malignant testicular microcalcifications

    Ida Marie Boisen, Nadia Krarup Knudsen ... Martin Blomberg Jensen
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Valuable
    • Incomplete
    1. Cell Biology

    DHCR24-mediated sterol homeostasis during spermatogenesis is required for sperm mitochondrial sheath formation and impacts male fertility over time

    Sona Relovska, Huafeng Wang ... Jean-Ju Chung
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Useful
    • Incomplete
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Genetics and Genomics

    Assessment of the Epigenomic Landscape in Human Myometrium at Term Pregnancy

    San-Pin Wu, Elvis Quiroz ... Francesco J. DeMayo
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Valuable
    • Incomplete
    1. Cell Biology
    2. Developmental Biology

    Rediscovering the Rete Ovarii: a secreting auxiliary structure to the ovary

    Dilara N. Anbarci, Jennifer McKey ... Blanche Capel
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Important
    • Incomplete
    1. Developmental Biology

    Contribution of the epididymis beyond fertilization: relevance of CRISP1 and CRISP3 for sperm DNA integrity and early embryo development

    Sulzyk Valeria, Curci Ludmila ... Patricia S Cuasnicu
    Not revised
    Reviewed Preprint v1
    • Useful
    • Convincing
    • Incomplete

Contributors

  1. Wei Yan
    Senior Editor
  2. Jean-Ju Chung
    Reviewing Editor
  3. Rajan Dighe
    Reviewing Editor
  4. Sang Jun Han
    Reviewing Editor
  5. T Rajendra Kumar
    Reviewing Editor
  6. Christophe Arnoult
    Guest Editor
  7. Marisa Bartolomei
    Guest Editor
  8. Hefeng Huang
    Guest Editor
  9. Kate Lawrenson
    Guest Editor
  10. Isabelle Mansuy
    Guest Editor
  11. Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
    Guest Editor
  12. Darryl Russell
    Guest Editor
  13. Carlos Simon
    Guest Editor
  14. Hongmei Wang
    Guest Editor
  15. Carmen Williams
    Guest Editor
  16. Jun Wu
    Guest Editor