Autophagy: A Double-Edged Sword in Male Reproduction

Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cell reprogramming mechanism, exists in all eukaryotic organisms. It is a fundamental and vital degradation/recycling pathway that removes undesirable components, such as cytoplasmic organelles, misfolded proteins, viruses, and intracellular bacteria, to provide energy and essential materials for organisms. The success of male reproduction depends on healthy testes, which are mainly composed of seminiferous tubules and mesenchyme. Seminiferous tubules are composed of Sertoli cells (SCs) and various germ cells, and the main functional part of mesenchyme are Leydig cells (LCs). In recent years, a large amount of evidence has confirmed that autophagy is active in many cellular events associated with the testes. Autophagy is not only important for testicular spermatogenesis, but is also an essential regulatory mechanism for the ectoplasmic specialization (ES) integrity of SCs, as well as for the normal function of the blood–testes barrier (BTB). At the same time, it is active in LCs and is crucial for steroid production and for maintaining testosterone levels. In this review, we expanded upon the narration regarding the composition of the testes; summarized the regulation and molecular mechanism of autophagy in SCs, germ cells, and LCs; and concluded the roles of autophagy in the process of spermatogenesis and testicular endocrinology. Through integrating the latest summaries and advances, we discuss how the role of autophagy is a double-edged sword in the testes and may provide insight for future studies and explorations on autophagy in male reproduction.