The Effect of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs) in Male Fertility

Nowadays, infertility is one of the most common problems in the world. Statistics show that about 20.2% of Iranian couples are infertile, which is higher than the global average (12-15 percent); and according to the reports, 70% of these disabilities had male factors. New approaches are available to diagnose male infertility problems; one of them is the study of nuclear receptors. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor super family that have been implicated in energy homeostasis, and modulate lipid and glucose metabolism. Although several studies have been confirmed the pivotal roles of these receptors on fatty acid metabolism and female fertility, fewer information exist on PPARs roles in male fertility. Thus, in this review, we at first illustrated the role of PPARs in reproductive tissues. Then, specific studies on the effect of these receptors and their ligands in male reproductive tissues were described. Regarding the crucial role of sperm metabolism and producing sufficient energy for sperm motility in male fertility, the regulation of PPARs expression, particularly the PPARγ isotype on spermatogenesis and sperm movement parameters were investigated, in the following. It seems that the study of these receptors and their role in sperm metabolism, may afford novel research opportunities for the recognition of these receptors and their interactions with other nuclear receptors role in male infertility disorders imputable to metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.