OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Fas protein on the surface of ejaculated spermatozoa of normozoospermic and nonnormozoospermic men. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Twenty-three volunteer normozoospermic men (controls) and 43 men undergoing infertility evaluation (cases). INTERVENTION(S): Analysis of ejaculated spermatozoa by indirect immunofluorescence of Fas protein by flow cytometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of flow cytometric analysis of autofluorescence, control tests (secondary antibody and isotype control), and experimental tests (anti-Fas monoclonal antibody) in the spermatozoa of ejaculated samples. RESULT(S): No expression of Fas protein was found on the surface of ejaculated spermatozoa of controls and cases. CONCLUSION(S): The Fas molecules are not present in substantial amounts in the ejaculated spermatozoa of normozoospermic and nonnormozoospermic men. Therefore, our results do not support the "abortive apoptosis" theory.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Fas protein on the surface of ejaculated spermatozoa of normozoospermic and nonnormozoospermic men. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Twenty-three volunteer normozoospermic men (controls) and 43 men undergoing infertility evaluation (cases). INTERVENTION(S): Analysis of ejaculated spermatozoa by indirect immunofluorescence of Fas protein by flow cytometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Comparison of flow cytometric analysis of autofluorescence, control tests (secondary antibody and isotype control), and experimental tests (anti-Fas monoclonal antibody) in the spermatozoa of ejaculated samples. RESULT(S): No expression of Fas protein was found on the surface of ejaculated spermatozoa of controls and cases. CONCLUSION(S): The Fas molecules are not present in substantial amounts in the ejaculated spermatozoa of normozoospermic and nonnormozoospermic men. Therefore, our results do not support the "abortive apoptosis" theory.
Authors: Ina O Specht; Marcello Spanò; Karin S Hougaard; Gian C Manicardi; Davide Bizzaro; Gunnar Toft; Aleksander Giwercman; Jens-Peter E Bonde Journal: Asian J Androl Date: 2012-10-15 Impact factor: 3.285