Figure 1.

Signs of the disease, changes of serum androgen level and morphology of sperms as well as the virus detection in ZIKV-infected AG6 mice. (A) Changes of body weights and survival rate post infected with 10⁵ pfu ZIKV in male AG6 mice (n = 5). (B) Clinical signs of reproductive system disorder were observed in male ZIKV-infected mice. Spermatorrhea (left, arrow), trichomadesis (left, in frame), and necrosis of scrotum (right, in frame). (C) Semen harvested from mice with spermatorrhea at 8 dpi was incubated at 37°C for 30 and 60 min, showing non-liquefied semen. (D) Representative image of testis dissected from control and ZIKV-infected mouse at indicated time points. (E) Changes of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in serum at indicated time points after ZIKV infection. Data are represented as mean ± SD (^*, p < 0.05; ^**, p < 0.01) (n = 5). (F) Morphology of sperms from ZIKV-infected mice at 8 dpi or control mice revealed by Papanicolaou staining. (G) Viral load determined by qRT-PCR in organs, serum and semen at 5 dpi. The standard curve was set up based on ZIKV RNA transcribed in vitro (n = 4–6).