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RNASET 2 in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma: a novel relevant indicator for asthenozoospermia
Author(s) -
Liu Y.,
Chen G.,
Lu L.,
Sun H.,
Guo Q.,
Xue K.,
Fan Y.,
Ding Z.
Publication year - 2013
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/j.2047-2927.2012.00022.x
Subject(s) - asthenozoospermia , andrology , semen , motility , sperm , sperm motility , biology , western blot , male infertility , semen analysis , infertility , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , genetics , gene , pregnancy
Summary Adequate sperm motility is requisite for human fertilization, whereas the underlying causes or mechanisms of impaired sperm motility, asthenozoospermia, still remain largely unknown. RNASET 2 (Ribonuclease T2) may be one of the effectors modulating human sperm motility. We determined if there is a correlation between RNASET 2 expression levels in human semen from asthenozoospermia and fertile individuals. Thus, RNASET 2 expression levels in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of healthy and asthenozoospermia individuals were evaluated using Western blot, laser scanning confocal microscope analysis, ELISA and flow cytometry. The results revealed that RNASET 2 expression was identified in both human spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In spermatozoa from fertile individuals, it was localized to the acrosome, neck and the middle piece of tail regions. However, in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermia individuals ( n = 67), RNASET 2 staining was especially more frequent and evident in the neck and middle piece than that in fertile individuals ( n = 59, p < 0.01). Similarly, higher RNASET 2 expression was also apparent in seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia than in fertile individuals ( p < 0.01). Moreover, purified RNASET 2 had an inhibitory effect on sperm motility, especially on progressive motility ( n = 23, p < 0.05). In conclusion, higher expression of RNASET 2 in the semen of asthenozoospermia individuals may contribute to sperm motility impairment.