md-medicaldata

Authors

Danica Bakočević¹, Dušan Zbućnović¹, Dijana Travičić², Vanja Marić<sup>1

1</sup>Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Medicinski fakultet, Katedra za histologiju i embriologiju, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Srbija
²Univerzitet u Novom Sadu, Prirodno-matematički fakultet, Departman za biologiju i ekologiju, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Srbija

 

UDK: : 613.86:612.616.2

The paper was received / Rad 25.12.2025.

Accepted / Rad prihvaćen: 01.05.2026.

 

Nagrađeni studentski rad/awarded student paper

Mentor:

Prof. dr Dušan Lalošević
Medicinski fakultet, Katedra za histologiju i embriologiju,
Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad,
e-mail: dusan.lalosevic@mf.uns.ac.rs

 

 

Abstract

 

 

Introduction: Over the past 50 years in the Western Hemisphere, a global decline in sperm count has been recorded, indicating that the male reproductive system is a sensitive biomarker of the impact of modern lifestyle and environmental factors. Objective: To analyze the influence of stress, circadian dyssynchrony, endocrine disruptors like arsenic, and severe systemic diseases on the process of spermatogenesis and the histological structure of the testes. Materials and Methods: This paper includes a review of contemporary literature and the results of two studies: An experimental model using rats (Rattus norvegicus Wistar) exposed to a disrupted light regime for five months; A histopathological analysis of human testes (n=8) obtained during autopsies, categorized into groups based on the cause of death and the degree of morphological preservation. Results: In the animal model, circadian dyssynchrony led to a statistically significant reduction in the number of elongated spermatids during key stages (VII and XII) of spermatogenesis. Human sample analysis revealed that the most severe damage to the seminiferous epithelium and interstitial fibrosis was caused by severe cardiopulmonary diseases, while changes in cases of intoxication (methadone, alcohol) were more moderate or localized to Leydig cells. Literature review confirms that arsenic directly inhibits steroidogenic enzymes (3β-HSD and 17β-HSD), reducing testosterone levels and sperm motility. Conclusion: Spermatogenesis is a complex process susceptible to the negative impacts of exogenous toxins, disrupted biorhythms, and systemic diseases. The decline in sperm parameters represents a "vital sign" of impaired overall male health, necessitating an integrative approach to the prevention and treatment of infertility.

 

Keywords:

spermatogenesis, stress, circadian desynchrony, arsenic, testicular atrophy.

 

 

 

Sažetak

 

Uvod: U poslednjih 50 godina zabeležen je globalni pad broja spermatozoida kod muškaraca „zapadne hemisfere“, što ukazuje na to da je muško reproduktivno zdravlje osetljiv biomarker na uticaje modernog načina života i nepovoljne faktore životne sredine. Cilj ovog rada je analiza uticaja stresa, cirkadijalne desinhronije, endokrinih disruptora (arsena) i teških sistemskih oboljenja na proces spermatogeneze i histološku građu testisa. Materijal i metode: Rad obuhvata pregled savremene literature i rezultate dva istraživanja, eksperimentalni model na pacovima (Rattus norvegicus Wistar) izloženim poremećenom svetlosnom režimu tokom pet meseci; kao i histopatološku analizu humanih testisa (n=8) dobijenih obdukcijom, podeljenih u grupe prema uzroku smrti i stepenu očuvanosti morfologije. Rezultati: Kod animalnog modela, cirkadijalna desinhronija dovela je do statistički značajnog smanjenja broja elongiranih spermatida u ključnim fazama (VII i XII) spermatogeneze. Analiza humanih uzoraka pokazala je da najteža oštećenja seminifernog epitela i fibrozu intersticijuma izazivaju teška kardiopulmonalna oboljenja, dok su kod intoksikacija (metadon, alkohol) promene bile umerenije ili lokalizovane na Lajdigove ćelije. Pregled literature potvrđuje da arsen direktno inhibira steroidogene enzime (3β-HSD i 17β-HSD), smanjujući nivo testosterona i pokretljivost spermatozoida. Zaključak: Spermatogeneza je kompleksan proces podložan negativnom uticaju egzogenih toksina, narušenog bioritma i sistemskih bolesti. Pad parametara spermiograma predstavlja „vitalni znak“ narušenog opšteg zdravlja muškaraca, što zahteva integrativni pristup u prevenciji i lečenju infertiliteta.

 

Ključne reči:

spermatogeneza, stres, cirkadijalna desinhronija, arsen, atrofija testisa.

 

 

 

 

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