Carotenoids in female and male reproduction

Rolando Pasquariello; Polina Anipchenko; Georgia Pennarossa; Martina Crociati; Massimo Zerani; Tiziana Al Brevini; Fulvio Gandolfi; Margherita Maranesi

doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113459

Carotenoids in female and male reproduction

Phytochemistry. 2022 Dec:204:113459. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113459. Epub 2022 Sep 29.

Authors

Rolando Pasquariello¹, Polina Anipchenko², Georgia Pennarossa³, Martina Crociati⁴, Massimo Zerani², Tiziana Al Brevini⁵, Fulvio Gandolfi¹, Margherita Maranesi²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133, Milan, Italy.
² Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy.
³ Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 26900, Lodi, Italy. Electronic address: georgia.pennarossa@unimi.it.
⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy; Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, University of Perugia, 06129, Perugia, Italy.
⁵ Laboratory of Biomedical Embryology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 26900, Lodi, Italy.

PMID: 36183866
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113459

Abstract

Carotenoids are among the best-known pigments in nature, confer color to plants and animals, and are mainly derived from photosynthetic bacteria, fungi, algae, plants. Mammals cannot synthesize carotenoids. Carotenoids' source is only alimentary and after their assumption, they are mainly converted in retinal, retinol and retinoic acid, collectively known also as pro-vitamins and vitamin A, which play an essential role in tissue growth and regulate different aspects of the reproductive functions. However, their mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic effects are still unclear. This review aims to clarify the role of carotenoids in the male and female reproductive functions in species of veterinary interest. In female, carotenoids and their derivatives regulate not only folliculogenesis and oogenesis but also steroidogenesis. Moreover, they improve fertility by decreasing the risk of embryonic mortality. In male, retinol and retinoic acids activate molecular pathways related to spermatogenesis. Deficiencies of these vitamins have been correlated with degeneration of testis parenchyma with consequent absence of the mature sperm. Carotenoids have also been considered anti-antioxidants as they ameliorate the effect of free radicals. The mechanisms of action seem to be exerted by activating Kit and Stra8 pathways in both female and male. In conclusion, carotenoids have potentially beneficial effects for ameliorating ovarian and testes function.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Embryo development; Fertility; Folliculogenesis; Mammals; Oogenesis; Retinoic acid; Retinol; Spermatogenesis; Steroidogenesis; Veterinary species.

Publication types

Review