Can Coronavirus Disease 2019 Effect on Human Reproduction? Publisher

Summary: Investigating COVID-19's impact on male and female fertility reveals potential links to ACE2 receptors. This raises urgent questions about the virus’s reproductive implications. #COVID19 #Fertility

Abdolrazaghnejad A ; Miraj S
Source: Advanced Biomedical Research Published:2022

Abstract

Since the main role in the pathogenesis of the coronavirus is attributed to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) receptor, it could possibly be a hypothesis in the differential sex-based pathogenesis of the coronavirus. The virus inserts its genetic material into the cell through its ACE2 receptors and replicates it by intracellular proteins. ACE2 receptors are highly expressed in cell membranes of various tissues in the body, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, macrophage cells, and especially on the surface of type 2 pneumocytes in the lungs, ovaries, uterus, vagina, placenta, and testes. Therefore, cells having a higher expression of the ACE2 may be a specific target for coronavirus binding and infectivity. Due to the increase of infections in males, concerns have been appeared about the potential impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on their fertility and reproductive organs. Thus, it is necessary to investigate if COVID-19 disturbs female and male fertility, so this review aimed to study the comprehensive evidences on the association of COVID-19 with human reproduction. © 2022 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.