Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Science Advance: Zika virus causes testicular atrophy

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Science Advance: Zika virus causes testicular atrophy

    Zika virus causes testicular atrophy
    • Ryuta Uraki1,
    • Jesse Hwang1,
    • Kellie Ann Jurado2,
    • Sarah Householder1,
    • Laura J. Yockey2,
    • Andrew K. Hastings1,
    • Robert J. Homer3,4,
    • Akiko Iwasaki2,5 and
    • Erol Fikrig1,5,*






    + See all authors and affiliations
    Science Advances 22 Feb 2017:
    Vol. 3, no. 2, e1602899
    DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602899 Abstract

    Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus that has recently been found to cause fetal infection and neonatal abnormalities, including microcephaly and neurological dysfunction. ZIKV persists in the semen months after the acute viremic phase in humans. To further understand the consequences of ZIKV persistence in males, we infected Ifnar1−/− mice via subcutaneous injection of a pathogenic but nonlethal ZIKV strain. ZIKV replication persists within the testes even after clearance from the blood, with interstitial, testosterone-producing Leydig cells supporting virus replication. We found high levels of viral RNA and antigen within the epididymal lumen, where sperm is stored, and within surrounding epithelial cells. Unexpectedly, at 21 days post-infection, the testes of the ZIKV-infected mice were significantly smaller compared to those of mock-infected mice, indicating progressive testicular atrophy. ZIKV infection caused a reduction in serum testosterone, suggesting that male fertility can be affected. Our findings have important implications for nonvector-borne vertical transmission, as well as long-term potential reproductive deficiencies, in ZIKV-infected males.

    full article




Working...
X