Maternal sleep deprivation (SD) during pregnancy is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes. However, the effect of SD on reproductive development in postpubertal male offspring remains incompletely understood. We investigated the effects of maternal SD during mid-gestation (gestational day 8 to delivery) and late gestation (gestational day 15 to delivery) on reproductive development in a 8-week-old male offspring of C57BL/6J mice. We analyzed the underlying oxidative stress mechanisms implicated in these effects. SD was induced for 16 h per day using the modified multiple platform method. Sperm parameters of the offspring (n = 8 per group) were analyzed, including serum reproductive hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone), testicular oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde), and key proteins in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of the rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway. Among the offspring, the mid-gestation SD (MSD) group showed significantly lower sperm count, sperm motility, and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations than the respective control groups (all P < 0.05). The late-gestation SD (LSD) group showed lower luteinizing hormone concentrations than the control group (P < 0.05). Testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone concentrations were lower in the MSD group than those in the LSD group (all P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity was lower in the MSD group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway protein expression. In conclusion, maternal SD, particularly from mid-gestation to delivery, impairs spermatogenesis in postpubertal male offspring, which may be mediated through sex hormone dysregulation and testicular oxidative stress.

Keywords: embryonic and fetal development; hormones; oxidative stress; pregnancy; semen; sleep disorders