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Expression profile of PLC ζ, PAWP , and TR ‐ KIT in association with fertilization potential, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes in globozoospermic candidates for intra‐cytoplasmic sperm injection and artificial oocyte activation
Author(s) -
Tavalaee M.,
NasrEsfahani M. H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2047-2927
pISSN - 2047-2919
DOI - 10.1111/andr.12179
Subject(s) - oocyte activation , human fertilization , andrology , intracytoplasmic sperm injection , sperm , oocyte , embryo , biology , in vitro fertilisation , assisted reproductive technology , pregnancy , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , infertility
Summary Sperm‐mediated oocyte activation critically depends upon appropriate expression and assembly of sperm‐borne oocyte‐activating factors (SOAFs) during spermiogenesis. Several factors have been considered as candidate for SOAFs over the recent years. However, little is known about the expression profile of these candidates and their potential contribution to the clinical outcomes of intra‐cytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI ), particularly in globozoospermia. This study investigated the expression profile of PLC ζ, PAWP , and TR ‐ KIT and clinical outcomes of ICSI in 12 men with total globozoospermia and compared with 12 fertile individuals. Levels of PLC ζ, PAWP , and TR ‐ KIT mRNA in the spermatozoa of fertile men were significantly higher than the corresponding values of the globozoospermic subjects. Interestingly, at protein level, expressions of these factors in the cases assessed were low in globozoospermic individuals. Fertilization rates following artificial oocyte activation ( AOA ) in the majority of globozoospermic couples were higher than the expected 30% cut‐off value reported for individuals with failed or low fertilization rate. Clinical outcomes of ICSI ‐ AOA were dependent on inter‐individual variation in globozoospermic couples. None of the SOAF s assessed could provide a greater prediction value with respect to fertilization rate in globozoospermic couples which underwent ICSI ‐ AOA . High fertilization (56.06%) and pregnancy (41.7%) rates accomplished in this study following ICSI ‐ AOA indicated that expression profiles of PLC ζ, PAWP , and TR ‐ KIT were low in globozoospermic individuals, and ICSI combined with artificial oocyte activation could mimic physiological calcium changes which occur during fertilization.