Related Gene Expression Profiles Of Human Sperm Spermatogenic Department Of Construction And Clinical Application

In our previous study, we compared gene expression profiles between adult and fetal testes by hybridizing cDNA probes prepared from adult and fetal testes to membranes dotted with gene clones derived from commercial human testis library. We identified 266 genes differentially expressed at higher levels in adult testes, indicating their potential roles in the spermatogenesis. In the present study, we applied the same cDNA microarray technique to the analysis of gene expression in spermatozoa of normal fertile men and found 149 genes that were identical as those expressed at higher levels in adult testis. The biological functions of these genes were divided into seven categories based on search of PUBMED and then the spermatogenesis related gene expression profile in human spermatozoa was formed.To verify the results of cDNA microarray assay, we selected 6 out of 149 spermatogenesis-related genes identified in ejaculate sperms for real-time PCR analysis. The hybridization signal intensities of 6 genes from microarray were in the order of TPX-1, ODF2, AKAP4, PAFAH1B1, LDHC and CLGN from strong to weak. The similar trend was observed in the results from real-time PCR except for AKAP4.Five sperm motility related genes (TPX-1, ODF2, AKAP4, LDHC and CLGN) were chosen for comparison in their levels of expression in ejaculate spermatozoa of normal (n=29) and motility impaired (n=24)semen samples. Of five genes analyzed, two (TPX-1 and LDHC) were expressed at significantly lower levels in motility impaired semen samples.In conclusion, we have constructed spermatogenesis-related gene expression profile in human spermatozoa and this profile could help us to elucidate the molecular events involved in spermatogenesis; Quantitative detection of five sperm motility related gene expression levels in normal and motility-impaired semen samples demonstrated that the clinical assessment of sperm quality could be done based on gene expression patterns. Our results will provide useful information for the future studies of molecular mechanisms during spermatogenesis and for the development of molecular diagnostic tools for clinical assessment of sperm health.