Cryopreservation of seminal fluid or spermatozoa from epididymary and testicular retrieval represents a crucial tool in managing conditions of permanent or temporary infertility, as well as in cases of secretory and excretory azoospermia. These pathologies often affect young men and children, making it essential to maintain fertility through cryopreservation methods such as vitrification or two-step cryopreservation of human semen. The burden of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has rapidly evolved. SARS-CoV-2 causes respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary infections, yet no studies have explored its effects on the reproductive system. Recent findings confirm the expression of the virus receptor (ACE2) on certain testicular cells, including Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and spermatogonia, which could significantly impact fertility and cryopreservation practices. This study aims to utilize semen samples from individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection to perform two different cryopreservation procedures, evaluating virus behavior and effects. The objective is to determine whether it is safer to cryopreserve the entire volume of the sample or perform gradient separation to isolate the virus from spermatozoa, potentially establishing a new cryopreservation protocol specific to SARS-CoV-2.
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nvestigation of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA Expression on Spermatozoa in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Semen Samples
Timeframe: through study completion, an average of 1 year