OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mRNA expression of the HSPA2 gene in ejaculated spermatozoa in adolescents with and without varicocele. DESIGN: Controlled prospective study. SETTING: Patients in an academic research environment. PATIENTS: Adolescent patients with clinical diagnosed bilateral varicocele grades II and III, and adolescent patients without varicocele. INTERVENTION: Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of HSPA2 gene expression in adolescents with and without varicocele. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparative RT-PCR expression analysis of HSPA2 gene mRNA, compared to the housekeeping beta-actin gene. RESULTS: Sperm from adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia had significantly lower levels of HSPA2 gene expression than both adolescents without varicocele (controls) and adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration (P<.05). The latter group had a nonsignificant increase in gene expression compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on HSPA2 gene expression in ejaculated spermatozoa from adolescents and its relationship with varicocele pathology. Results demonstrated that HSPA2 expression was down-regulated in adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia compared to controls. There was a higher, albeit nonsignificant, gene expression in adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration than in controls. We speculate that expression levels of this gene might be used as a molecular marker for the acquisition of thermal tolerance in ejaculated spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mRNA expression of the HSPA2 gene in ejaculated spermatozoa in adolescents with and without varicocele. DESIGN: Controlled prospective study. SETTING:Patients in an academic research environment. PATIENTS: Adolescent patients with clinical diagnosed bilateral varicocele grades II and III, and adolescent patients without varicocele. INTERVENTION: Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of HSPA2 gene expression in adolescents with and without varicocele. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Comparative RT-PCR expression analysis of HSPA2 gene mRNA, compared to the housekeeping beta-actin gene. RESULTS: Sperm from adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia had significantly lower levels of HSPA2 gene expression than both adolescents without varicocele (controls) and adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration (P<.05). The latter group had a nonsignificant increase in gene expression compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on HSPA2 gene expression in ejaculated spermatozoa from adolescents and its relationship with varicocele pathology. Results demonstrated that HSPA2 expression was down-regulated in adolescents with varicocele and oligozoospermia compared to controls. There was a higher, albeit nonsignificant, gene expression in adolescents with varicocele and normal sperm concentration than in controls. We speculate that expression levels of this gene might be used as a molecular marker for the acquisition of thermal tolerance in ejaculated spermatozoa.
Authors: Paula Intasqui; Mariana Camargo; Paula T Del Giudice; Deborah M Spaine; Valdemir M Carvalho; Karina H M Cardozo; Agnaldo P Cedenho; Ricardo P Bertolla Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2013-07-27 Impact factor: 3.412
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