Integrative analysis of GTEx data reveals that systemic transcriptomes correlate with human spermatogenic dysfunction

Abstract

Declining of male fertility may stem from intrinsic testicular dysfunction or systemic influences from other tissues. However, beyond the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis axis, little is known about which organs interact with the testes or whether they affect spermatogenic capacity. To investigate this, we analyzed GTEx open-access data, comparing transcriptomic profiles across various tissues in men with high and low testicular spermatogenic activity. Our findings reveal significant associations between testicular function and the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, lungs, liver, and key brain regions involved in neuroendocrine regulation, including the amygdala, substantia nigra, anterior cingulate cortex, and frontal cortex. These results suggest potential extragonadal pathways that modulate male fertility, highlighting candidate biomarkers for testicular dysfunction and novel therapeutic targets for infertility intervention.