The coronavirus could invade cells through the combination of spike protein (S protein) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), causing tissue damage.
As well as the lungs, many other organs of the human body, such as the testes, small intestine, kidney, heart, and thyroid are affected by the ACE2, the team said.
The male reproductive function could be affected, as a large amount of ACE2 shows up in testes, mainly concentrated in testicular spermatogonia.
Although no research has confirmed that novel coronavirus damages the testes and affects male fertility, it is highly similar to the SARS virus and these infections invade the same cell receptor, namely ACE2. The SARS virus infection can cause severe immune damage to the testes, causing orchitis and dysfunction of some reproductive-related cells.
Theoretically speaking, the COVID-19 infection may cause testicular damage, affecting sperm production and androgen synthesis, the team experts said.
The obstructed sperm production and androgen synthesis would then affect male fertility and eventually lead to infertility. The quality of sex life would be affected due to fading male secondary sexual characteristics and sexual function.
Coronavirus may cause testicular damage, male infertility, research finds
