REVIEW article

Front. Endocrinol.

Sec. Reproduction

Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1505213

This article is part of the Research TopicMale Reproduction and Oxidative Stress, Volume IIView all 15 articles

Deciphering the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Idiopathic Asthenozoospermia

Provisionally accepted
Zilong WangZilong Wang1*Dandan LiDandan Li2Guoyi ZhouGuoyi Zhou1Zhen XuZhen Xu1Xinkun WangXinkun Wang1Senbao TanSenbao Tan1Zhenghao LiZhenghao Li1Xiaoli LiXiaoli Li3*Changze SongChangze Song1*Song YuanSong Yuan3*
  • 1Department of Andrology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
  • 2Department of Radiation Therapy, Dongguan Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Dongguan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Dongguan, 523000, China, Dongguan, China
  • 3Anesthesia and surgery center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China, Shenzhen, China

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Asthenozoospermia is a severe condition characterized by abnormal sperm motility, contributing to 50% of male infertility cases. Idiopathic asthenozoospermia refers to a form of this condition with no identifiable causes through routine clinical examinations, potentially linked to apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). At low concentrations, ROS positively influence physiological processes, including sperm mature and motility. However, elevated ROS levels can harm human spermatozoa through oxidative stress, primarily due to the absence of effective DNA damage repair mechanisms and inadequate antioxidant defenses. In this review, we summarize the physiological and pathophysiological roles, endogenous and exogenous sources, and therapeutic strategies related to ROS in idiopathic asthenozoospermia. Ultimately, maintaining a proper balance between ROS concentrations and antioxidants is crucial for ensuring male reproductive health.

Keywords: Reactive Oxygen Species, Idiopathic asthenozoospermia, Oxidative Stress, Sperm Motility, Antioxidants, male infertility

Received: 02 Oct 2024; Accepted: 25 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Wang, Li, Zhou, Xu, Wang, Tan, Li, Li, Song and Yuan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Zilong Wang, Department of Andrology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
Xiaoli Li, Anesthesia and surgery center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China, Shenzhen, China
Changze Song, Department of Andrology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
Song Yuan, Anesthesia and surgery center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China, Shenzhen, China

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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