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Molecular Alterations and Severe Abnormalities in Spermatozoa of Young Men Living in the “Valley of Sacco River” (Latium, Italy): A Preliminary Study

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  • Pasquale Perrone

    (Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
    Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gennaro Lettieri

    (Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Carmela Marinaro

    (Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy)

  • Valentina Longo

    (Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Simonetta Capone

    (Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Angiola Forleo

    (Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Sebastiana Pappalardo

    (Reproduction and Fertility Center, Via A. Vitozzi, 50, 00128 Rome, Italy)

  • Luigi Montano

    (Andrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in UroAndrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, Coordination Unit of the Network for Environmental and Reproductive Health (EcoFoodFertility Project), Oliveto Citra Hospital, 84020 Oliveto Citra, Italy
    PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Marina Piscopo

    (Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy)

Abstract

The Valley of Sacco River (VSR) (Latium, Italy) is an area with large-scale industrial chemical production that has led over time to significant contamination of soil and groundwater with various industrial pollutants, such as organic pesticides, dioxins, organic solvents, heavy metals, and particularly, volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the present study, we investigated the potential impact of VOCs on the spermatozoa of healthy young males living in the VSR, given the prevalent presence of several VOCs in the semen of these individuals. To accomplish this, spermiograms were conducted followed by molecular analyses to assess the content of sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) in addition to the protamine-histone ratio and DNA binding of these proteins. We found drastic alterations in the spermatozoa of these young males living in the VSR. Alterations were seen in sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm count, and protamine/histone ratios, and included significant reductions in SNBP–DNA binding capacity. Our results provide preliminary indications of a possible correlation between the observed alterations and the presence of specific VOCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Pasquale Perrone & Gennaro Lettieri & Carmela Marinaro & Valentina Longo & Simonetta Capone & Angiola Forleo & Sebastiana Pappalardo & Luigi Montano & Marina Piscopo, 2022. "Molecular Alterations and Severe Abnormalities in Spermatozoa of Young Men Living in the “Valley of Sacco River” (Latium, Italy): A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:17:p:11023-:d:905749
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Salvatore Raimondo & Mariacira Gentile & Giusy Esposito & Tommaso Gentile & Ida Ferrara & Claudia Crescenzo & Mariangela Palmieri & Felice Cuomo & Stefania De Filippo & Gennaro Lettieri & Marina Pisco, 2021. "Could Kallikrein-Related Serine Peptidase 3 Be an Early Biomarker of Environmental Exposure in Young Women?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Luigi Montano & Francesco Donato & Pietro Massimiliano Bianco & Gennaro Lettieri & Antonino Guglielmino & Oriana Motta & Ian Marc Bonapace & Marina Piscopo, 2021. "Air Pollution and COVID-19: A Possible Dangerous Synergy for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Saher Sue Hammoud & David A. Nix & Haiying Zhang & Jahnvi Purwar & Douglas T. Carrell & Bradley R. Cairns, 2009. "Distinctive chromatin in human sperm packages genes for embryo development," Nature, Nature, vol. 460(7254), pages 473-478, July.
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