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Sperm protection in the male reproductive tract by Toll‐like receptors
Author(s) -
Saeidi S.,
Shapouri F.,
Amirchaghmaghi E.,
Hoseinifar H.,
Sabbaghian M.,
Sadighi Gilani M. A.,
Pacey A. A.,
Aflatoonian R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12149
Subject(s) - biology , sperm , tlr2 , spermatogenesis , innate immune system , female reproductive tract , receptor , reproductive tract , andrology , reproductive system , immune system , immunology , genetics , anatomy , endocrinology , medicine
Summary Sperm function can be affected by infection. Our understanding of innate immune system molecular mechanisms has been expanded, by the discovery of ‘Toll‐like receptors’ ( TLRs ). It seems that these receptors could play a critical role in the protection of spermatozoa. This study seeks to examine the presence and distribution of TLR s in different parts of the human male reproductive tract and spermatozoa. So, TLR gene expression was examined by RT ‐ PCR . Quantitative real‐time PCR (Q‐ PCR ) analysis used to compare the expression of TLR s in all sections of the male reproductive tract and TLR s 2, 3 and 4 in testicular sperm extraction ( TESE ) samples, which contained spermatozoa ( TESE +) and those that did not ( TESE −). Results showed that all TLR genes were expressed in different parts of the human male reproductive tract and spermatozoa. Moreover, Q‐ PCR indicated that the relative expression of TLR s did not significantly change in different parts of the male reproductive tract but this technique has shown only relative TLR 2 expression in TESE − is lower than TESE + samples. It could be concluded that TLR s may provide a broad spectrum of protection from infection in the male reproductive tract. Furthermore, TLR s may influence on the developmental process during spermatogenesis.