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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
Published on: October 11, 2018
Effect of chronic sleep deprivation on acrosomal integrity and functional parameters of murine sperm
Luana Nayara Gallego Adami1, Guilherme Luiz Fernandes2, Renata Cristina de Carvalho1
1Disciplina de Urologia, Setor de Reprodução Humana, Departamento de Cirurgia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of chronic sleep deprivation on sperm function quality in mice.
Design:
Experimental study.
Setting:
Not applicable.
Animals:
Spermatozoa from twenty-four 10-week-old C57BL/6J male mice.
Intervention(S):
The sleep deprivation group underwent gentle handling for 6 hours for 5 consecutive days. The mice in the sleep recovery group were allowed to sleep during the 24-hour period after the sleep deprivation protocol.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
After euthanasia, the spermatozoa were collected for analysis. Sperm motility was evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analyzer. Intracellular superoxide anion (O2-) activity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and DNA fragmentation assays were conducted afterward.
Result(S):
Sleep deprivation and sleep recovery groups presented a lower percentage of spermatozoa with an intact acrosome, compared with the respective control groups. Regarding DNA fragmentation, a decreased proportion of spermatozoa with Comet I class intact DNA was observed in the sleep recovery group, compared with the recovery control group. Beat cross frequency was increased in the sleep recovery group.
Conclusion(S):
Sleep deprivation can reduce sperm quality, impairing acrosome integrity. Sleep recovery decreased DNA integrity and increased beat cross frequency.
Insights
Chronic sleep deprivation negatively impacts sperm quality, reducing acrosome integrity. Sleep recovery further impaired sperm DNA integrity and increased beat cross frequency in mice.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Chronobiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Chronic sleep deprivation is a growing health concern with potential reproductive implications.
- Sperm quality is a critical factor in male fertility and can be influenced by environmental stressors.
- Understanding the impact of sleep disruption on male reproductive health is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of chronic sleep deprivation on sperm function in a mouse model.
- To assess the reversibility of sleep deprivation-induced changes in sperm quality after a recovery period.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a 5-day sleep deprivation protocol.
- Spermatozoa were collected post-euthanasia for analysis of motility, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and DNA fragmentation.
- Computer-assisted sperm analysis and specific assays were employed to quantify sperm parameters.
Main Results:
- Sleep deprivation significantly reduced the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in both sleep-deprived and sleep-recovered groups compared to controls.
- Sleep recovery led to decreased DNA integrity (increased fragmentation) and increased beat cross frequency.
- No significant changes were reported in sperm motility or mitochondrial activity.
Conclusions:
- Chronic sleep deprivation impairs sperm quality by compromising acrosome integrity.
- While some parameters may recover, sleep deprivation can lead to lasting negative effects on sperm DNA integrity and function.
