Expression analysis of MND1/GAJ, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR genes in testicular biopsies from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients

Abstract

BackgroundHigh-throughput studies provide a wide spectrum of genes for use as predictive markers during testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in combination with ICSI. In this work, we used the specimens from testicular biopsies of men with non-obstructive azoospermia who underwent TESE to investigate the expression of spermatogenesis-related genes MND1, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR.MethodsTesticular biopsy specimens were subdivided into three groups: hypospermatogenesis (HS); maturation arrest (MA); and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO). The levels of expression of the spermatogenesis-related genes MND1, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR in the testes were compared among these three groups using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.ResultsAnalysis of the expression of spermatogenic genes in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis showed different expression patterns in patients from different groups. Fertilization rate for studied set of patients was 66% and pregnancy rate 29%. For HS group fertilization rate was 72% and pregnancy rate 32%, while for MA group fertilization and pregnancy rates were 54% and 26%, respectively. Fertilization rates in relation to the studied genes were uniformly around 70%, pregnancy rates for ACR and GAPDHS genes were surprisingly low at 6% and 8% correspondingly.ConclusionsAnalysis of the expression of genes involved in spermatogenesis can be a fast additional test for the level of spermatogenesis in testicular samples.

Comparative whole genome DNA methylation profiling of cattle sperm and somatic tissues reveals striking hypomethylated patterns in sperm

“…Genes such as SYCE1 and SYCP3 encode structural components of the synaptonemal complex, which is involved in synapsis, recombination, and segregation of meiotic chromosomes [ 72 , 73 ]. MND1 and SPATA22 encode proteins required for homologous recombination in meiosis [ 74 , 75 ]. DDX4 , a DEAD box protein, characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), encodes a putative RNA helicase, which is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage in both sexes and functions in germ cell development [ 76 ].…”

Sperm glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene expression in asthenozoospermic spermatozoa

“…Specifically, GAPD2 gene expression could be a good marker for the analysis of spermatogenesis as its transcription and translation products are temporarily separated and form a complex with RNA binding protein, which induces the translation and delays mRNA degradation. This was demonstrated by Dorosh et al 27. through analysis of the expression of the spermatogenesis-related genes MND1, SPATA22, GAPD2 , and ACR in 47 testicular biopsies of men with nonobstructive azoospermia.…”

Neutral alpha-1,4-glucosidase and fructose levels contribute to discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia in Chinese men with azoospermia

“…Potential biomarkers associated with testicular histological changes have previously been reported (Fietz et al ., ; Dorosh et al ., ). However, whether NAG and fructose could be served as the potential biomarkers is unknown.…”