Study On The Different Expression Of Heme Oxygenase Enzyme In Human Testis Of Fertile And Infertile Males

PartⅠStudy on distribution of heme oxygenase enzyme in human testisObjectives: To investigate the location of heme oxygenase (HO)enzyme in human testis, in order to serve for the further study.Methods: Using immunohistochemistry technique to detect the location of HO enzyme in the cellular of human testis.Results: In human testis, HO-1 enzyme exclusively present in sertoli cell and HO-2 enzyme widely express in germ cell.Conclusion:The expression of HO-1 and HO-2 were located in different cells, and this was consistent with the conclusions of animal experiments. The distribution maybe closely related to its participation in regulation of spermatogenic function. This result will provide useful information for further study of HO.PartⅡStudy on the different expression of heme oxygenase enzyme in human testis of fertile and infertile malesObjectives: To explore the correlation between expression of heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme and azoospermatism by detecting the expressions of HO enzyme in human testis of nonobstructive azoospermia group,obstructive azoospermia group and normal group and assessing their different expression levels. Methods: Using Reverse transcription-fluorescence quantitative PCR to measure HO-1 and HO-2 gene expression levels in human testis of azoospermatism patient and normal people. Western blotting method was used to detect protein levels of HO-1 and HO-2 in testis of azoospermatism patient and normal people.Results:The results from PCR indicated that the expression of HO-1 and HO-2 enzyme mRNA in nonobstructive azoospermia group were both significantly lower (P<0.05) than that in the normal group and obstructive azoospermia group; there was no significant difference between the obstructive azoospermia group and normal group. At protein level, HO-1 protein in nonobstructive azoospermia group was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that in the normal group and obstructive azoospermia group. No significant differences in HO-2 protein levels were observed among all groups.Conclusion:The HO-1 enzyme expression level in the testicular tissue of nonobstructive azoospermia patients is significantly decreased. Heme oxygenase (HO)enzyme through its antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects to protect testicular tissue and to maintain its normal functions. The decrease of HO-1 enzyme expression level may be probably related to spermatogenic dysfunction and considered as a possible mechanism of nonobstructive azoospermia.