Researchers at UNAM’s Institute of Biotechnology (IBt) have revealed that diabetes significantly alters sperm’s ability to fertilize an egg, a key finding in the search for treatments for male infertility associated with this disease.
The study, led by Dr. Ma. del Carmen Beltrán Núñez and doctoral student Hiram Pacheco Castillo, focuses on how diabetes affects the movement and function of these reproductive cells.
Research has identified that diabetes alters crucial processes such as hyperactivation—the vigorous and essential swimming of sperm—and the acrosomal reaction, which allows sperm to penetrate the egg.
The findings suggest that the decreased fertilization rate in men with diabetes could be due to their sperm’s inability to carry out these processes correctly.
UNAM investigates male infertility and the impact of diabetes
Ma. del Carmen Beltrán Núñez, a researcher at IBt, explains that sperm are unique cells that must function outside the body. To fertilize, they must swim through the female genital tract and undergo biochemical and morphological changes known as capacitation.
Diabetes interferes with these processes, since hyperglycemia disrupts the control of various organs, including the testicles, where these cells are produced.
The UNAM team has used laboratory specimens to model the disease and evaluate its effects.
They have observed that diabetes not only reduces sperm motility but also causes a premature acrosomal reaction, an event that should only occur upon contact with the egg. This dysfunction, along with a premature alteration in membrane potential, severely compromises the ability to fertilize.
The ultimate goal of this study is to identify proteins that don’t function properly due to diabetes. Once identified, these proteins could become targets for drugs that help treat infertility in men with this condition.
The importance of glucose control for reproductive health
Diabetes, a systemic and degenerative disease, is characterized by high blood glucose levels. Hiram Pacheco Castillo, a doctoral student in Biomedical Sciences, highlights that in Mexico, it is one of the diseases most associated with cardiovascular and reproductive complications.
“All cells in the body need glucose for energy, but diabetes causes it to accumulate in the blood, affecting organ function,” he explains.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility is a disease. Studies cited by researchers indicate that approximately 53% of male patients with type 1 diabetes have abnormalities in their semen analysis, the basic test for assessing sperm quantity and quality.
To prevent diabetes and its complications, Dr. Beltrán suggests maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption.