Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40788945›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

Modulation of sperm function by estrogen and progesterone using in vitro experiments: A systematic review.

Muloongo C Sitali, Madalitso Chelenga

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Muloongo C SitaliDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4406-1115
Madalitso ChelengaDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9926-1603

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe steroid hormones progesterone (P4) and Estrogen (E2) are essential for reproduction in both male and female mammals. Steroid hormones can alter sperm function in vitro via several mechanisms, thereby facilitating fertilization of female germ cells. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the in vitro experimental models that are used to understand the functionality of sperm after receiving supplementation with E2 and P4 in samples obtained from animal species using sperm oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) co-cultures and cultures of sperm in culture media only without OECs. METHODOLOGY: A systematic literature search was conducted using Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed to examine in vitro experimental models involving E2 and P4, aiming to understand sperm functionality in animals with or without OECs in culture media. A total of 32 out of 660 retrieved articles met the inclusion criteria, from which data were extracted, synthesized, and presented in a descriptive format.

resultsSperm and oviducts from hamsters, mice, rats, monkeys, porcine, ovine, and bovine were used. Steroids E2 and P4 were administered at varying doses, either individually or in combination, with several studies observing dose-dependent effects on sperm function. In sperm-OECs co-cultures, P4 consistently promoted sperm hyperactivation, capacitation, and acrosome reaction (AR) via CatSper channel mechanisms, facilitating sperm release from OECs. Contrastingly, E2 delayed capacitation while enhancing sperm binding to the OECs. Similarly, supplementation of P4 in culture media alone without OECs induced sperm AR and capacitation, altered sperm motility, and improved in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates. Variations in motility and the binding ability of sperm to the isthmus and ampulla were reported in some studies.

conclusionThe in vitro studies revealed that E2 and P4 alter sperm behavior dependent on dose, and improve sperm fertilizing ability in IVF programs across species. Future studies should focus on investigating and clarifying the species-specific sperm mechanisms following steroid hormone supplementation to enhance our understanding and improve the assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

Indexed as

EstrogensProgesteroneSpermatozoaAnimalsCoculture TechniquesEpithelial CellsFemaleMaleRatsSperm CapacitationSperm MotilityEstrogensProgesterone

Identifiers

PMID40788945
PMCPMC12338804

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.