Oxidant-Sensitive Inflammatory Pathways and Male Reproductive Functions

Male component is the major contributing factor in over half of all cases of infertility, with over 25% of infertile males having no recognised underlying cause of infertility. In around 40–50% of male infertility cases, oxidative stress (OS)-related processes have been found to be responsible for fertility impairment. Inflammation is a major stress signal leading to OS. Redox imbalance occurs when endogenous antioxidant network fails to curb the excess generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to activation of stress-sensitive intracellular signalling pathways directed to cellular damage. Oxidant-sensitive-inflammatory pathways are intricate vicious intracellular networking loops that initiate and exaggerate cellular damage, including chronic impact on male reproductive tissues. These mechanisms, however, are poorly known in connection to male reproductive abnormalities. Thus, the goal of this chapter is to explain the oxidant-sensitive-inflammatory pathways in male reproductive organs in a succinct manner, as well as their potential influence on male fertility.