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. 2012 Jan;29(1):3-10.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-011-9644-3. Epub 2011 Oct 12.

Sperm transcriptome profiling in oligozoospermia

Debbie Montjean  1 , Pierre De La Grange, David Gentien, Audrey Rapinat, Stéphanie Belloc, Paul Cohen-Bacrie, Yves Menezo, Moncef Benkhalifa
Affiliations

Sperm transcriptome profiling in oligozoospermia

Debbie Montjean et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Investigate in what extent sperm transcriptome of infertile men is different from that of fertile individuals.

Methods: Semen samples were collected for determination of sperm parameters as well as for RNA isolation. Gene expression profile was investigated in spermatozoa of 8 infertile and 3 fertile men by microarray analysis using the Affymetrix Chip HG-U133 Plus 2.0.

Result(s): We observed up to 33-fold reduction expression of genes involved in spermatogenesis and sperm motility. Furthermore, there is an important decrease in expression of genes involved in DNA repair as well as oxidative stress regulation. In this study, we also show a striking drop in expression of histone modification genes.

Conclusion(s): We found that transcription profile in germ cells of men with idiopathic infertility is different from that of fertile individuals. Interestingly, about 15% of the regulated genes (Eddy Rev Reprod 4:23-30, 1999) play a role in spermatogenesis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Scatter plot showing transcripts level within the normospermic fertile group (a) and within the oligozospermic infertile cohort (b). c Correlation coefficients for the transcripts levels detected in 3 normospermic fertile individuals and 8 oligozoospermic infertile men. Red characters: correlation coefficients for the transcripts level detected in spermatozoa of men with different fertility status
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Dendogram of the 157 regulated genes clusters differentially expressed between infertile and fertile men. Up-regulated genes are marked in red and down-regulated genes in green. Controls:1-5-8. Infertile men: 6-7-10-18-19-20-21-22. b–c List of some differentially expressed transcripts, gene function and fold difference
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Validation of microarray data by quantitative RT-PCR. qRT-PCR assay confirmed that SAP130 is equally expressed in oligozoospermic and normospermic samples (Fold change, oligo vs. Normo = 1.1). PRM2, TPD52L3, JMJD1A and NIPBL proved to be 14.1, 28.4, 8.0 and 12.7 fold down regulated in oligozoospermic men as compared to normospermic men, respectively, p-values < 0.001. Oligo Oligozoospermic samples. Normo Normospermic samples
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