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Evaluation of seminal plasma proteomics and relevance of FSH in identification of nonobstructive azoospermia: A preliminary study
Author(s) -
Cui Z.,
Agarwal A.,
da Silva B. F.,
Sharma R.,
Sabanegh E.
Publication year - 2018
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.12999
Subject(s) - azoospermia , andrology , follicle stimulating hormone , spermatogenesis , proteomics , biology , medicine , endocrinology , infertility , hormone , luteinizing hormone , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics , gene
Summary Nonobstructive azoospermia ( NOA ) patients present with high levels of serum FSH . At the protein level, the aetiology and pathways underlying different subtypes of NOA are unclear. The aim was to evaluate quantitatively differences in proteomic profiles of NOA patients presenting with normal serum FSH and normal testicular volume and high serum FSH and small testicular volume. The study comprised of 14 nonobstructive azoospermic men ( N = 4; normal FSH and normal testicular volume and N = 10; high FSH and small testicular volume) and seven normozoospermic men. Proteomic analysis was done using LC ‐ MS . GSTM 3 and PGK 2 were less abundant in the normal and high FSH group compared to controls. HSPA 4L and HSPA 4 were exclusively present in control group whereas HSP 90 AB 1, HSPA 1B, HSP 90 AA 1 and HSPA 2 were less abundant and exclusive to the normal and high FSH group. We have identified six heat‐shock proteins that may have a role in the pathology of NOA . FSH and testicular volume by itself are not good markers of NOA . The inverse association of GSTM 3 and PGK 2 regulation with FSH levels along with 12 proteins exclusively in NOA groups suggests further evaluation of their predictive potential in a larger cohort of patients.