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

Pasquale Perrone, Gennaro Lettieri, Carmela Marinaro, Valentina Longo, Simonetta Capone, Angiola Forleo, Sebastiana Pappalardo, Luigi Montano () and Marina Piscopo ()
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Pasquale Perrone: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
Gennaro Lettieri: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
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
Marina Piscopo: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia, 21, 80126 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-18

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.

Keywords: sperm nuclear basic proteins; human protamines; human spermatozoa; male fertility; spermatozoa morphology; volatile organic compounds; reproduction; protein–DNA binding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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