title: Effects of aging on the male reproductive system.
abstract: The study aims to discuss the effects of aging on the male reproductive system. A systematic review was performed using PubMed from 1980 to 2014. Aging is a natural process comprising of irreversible changes due to a myriad of endogenous and environmental factors at the level of all organs and systems. In modern life, as more couples choose to postpone having a child due to various socioeconomic reasons, research for understanding the effects of aging on the reproductive system has gained an increased importance. Paternal aging also causes genetic and epigenetic changes in spermatozoa, which impair male reproductive functions through their adverse effects on sperm quality and count as, well as, on sexual organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Hormone production, spermatogenesis, and testes undergo changes as a man ages. These small changes lead to decrease in both the quality and quantity of spermatozoa. The offspring of older fathers show high prevalence of genetic abnormalities, childhood cancers, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, the latest advances in assisted reproductive techniques give older men a chance to have a child even with poor semen parameters. Further studies should investigate the onset of gonadal senesce and its effects on aging men.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey. sgunes@omu.edu.tr.|Health Sciences Institute, Department of Multidisciplinary Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. sgunes@omu.edu.tr.
authors: Sezgin
authors: S
authors: Gunes
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Gulgez Neslihan Taskurt
authors: GN
authors: Hekim
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey.|Health Sciences Institute, Department of Multidisciplinary Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Alper
authors: MA
authors: Arslan
authors: Health Sciences Institute, Department of Multidisciplinary Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.|Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Ramazan
authors: R
authors: Asci
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006066:Gonads / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Aging; Gonads; Hormone; Oxidative stress; Telomeres