Original Article

You have free access to this content

RNASET2 in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma: a novel relevant indicator for asthenozoospermia

  1. Y. Liu1,
  2. G. Chen2,
  3. L. Lu3,
  4. H. Sun4,
  5. Q. Guo1,
  6. K. Xue1,
  7. Y. Fan1,
  8. Z. Ding1,*

Article first published online: 9 OCT 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2012.00022.x

Issue

Andrology

Andrology

Volume 1, Issue 1, pages 75–84, January 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Liu, Y., Chen, G., Lu, L., Sun, H., Guo, Q., Xue, K., Fan, Y. and Ding, Z. (2013), RNASET2 in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma: a novel relevant indicator for asthenozoospermia. Andrology, 1: 75–84. doi: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2012.00022.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

  2. 2

    Shanghai Jiai Genetics and IVF Institute-China USA Center, Shanghai, China

  3. 3

    Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai, China

  4. 4

    Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

* Correspondence:
Zhide Ding, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.280, Chongqing Road (South), Shanghai 200025, China. E-mail: zding@shsmu.edu.cn

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 NOV 2012
  2. Article first published online: 9 OCT 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 4 SEP 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 21 AUG 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 16 JAN 2012

Funded by

  • Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. Grant Number: 12ZZ108
  • Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality. Grant Numbers: 09ZR1416300, 10DZ2270600
  • Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau. Grant Numbers: 2010058, S30201

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (494K)

Keywords:

  • asthenozoospermia;
  • human spermatozoa;
  • ribonuclease T2;
  • seminal plasma;
  • sperm motility

Summary

Adequate sperm motility is requisite for human fertilization, whereas the underlying causes or mechanisms of impaired sperm motility, asthenozoospermia, still remain largely unknown. RNASET2 (Ribonuclease T2) may be one of the effectors modulating human sperm motility. We determined if there is a correlation between RNASET2 expression levels in human semen from asthenozoospermia and fertile individuals. Thus, RNASET2 expression levels in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of healthy and asthenozoospermia individuals were evaluated using Western blot, laser scanning confocal microscope analysis, ELISA and flow cytometry. The results revealed that RNASET2 expression was identified in both human spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In spermatozoa from fertile individuals, it was localized to the acrosome, neck and the middle piece of tail regions. However, in spermatozoa from asthenozoospermia individuals (n = 67), RNASET2 staining was especially more frequent and evident in the neck and middle piece than that in fertile individuals (n = 59, p < 0.01). Similarly, higher RNASET2 expression was also apparent in seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia than in fertile individuals (p < 0.01). Moreover, purified RNASET2 had an inhibitory effect on sperm motility, especially on progressive motility (n = 23, p < 0.05). In conclusion, higher expression of RNASET2 in the semen of asthenozoospermia individuals may contribute to sperm motility impairment.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (494K)