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Study of the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm proteins expression in patients with varicocele and poor sperm quality by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To compare proteomic profiles of spermatozoa from patients with varicocele and poor sperm quality before and after varicocelectomy.

Methods

This work was designed as a prospective and observational study. The study was based on 20 men with varicocele grade 3 and poor sperm quality undergoing varicocelectomy at the Fertility Unit of Royan institute in 2009. Two semen samples were collected, one before varicocelectomy and the other after surgery. Protein separation was done by two-dimensional protein electrophoresis, and analyzed by gel densitometry and mass spectrometry. Differential sperm protein expression levels were measured by gel densitometry.

Results

Comparison of the sperm parameters showed that sperm motility and concentration were increased after varicocelectomy. At the level of protein, a total of 3 protein spots were identified whose expression was significantly lower in sperm samples before varicocelectomy compared with after surgery including heat shock protein A5 (HSPA5), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and δ-subunit of the catalytic core of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase (ATP5D).

Conclusions

High grade varicocoele affects sperm protein expression presumably because of increasing testicular temperature. These proteins play essential roles in sperm production, DNA integrity protection, and sperm motility. This novel study demonstrates that varicocelectomy can improve both sperm quality and proteins expression.

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Acknowledgments

We thank those patients who have participated in this study.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Andrology at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Hani Hosseinifar, Marjan Sabbaghian, Tahereh Modarresi & Mohmmad Ali Sadighi Gilani

  2. Department of Genetics at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Hamid Gourabi

  3. Department of Molecular Systems Biology at Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Davood Nasrabadi

  4. Department of Reproductive Imaging at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Ahmad Vosough Taqi Dizaj

  5. Department of Urology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohmmad Ali Sadighi Gilani

Authors
  1. Hani Hosseinifar
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  2. Marjan Sabbaghian
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  3. Davood Nasrabadi
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  4. Tahereh Modarresi
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  5. Ahmad Vosough Taqi Dizaj
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  6. Hamid Gourabi
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  7. Mohmmad Ali Sadighi Gilani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohmmad Ali Sadighi Gilani.

Additional information

Capsule In this study, it was demonstrated different expression in three proteins before and after varicocelectomy by 2-DE. These proteins play essential roles in sperm production, DNA integrity protection, and sperm motility.

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Hosseinifar, H., Sabbaghian, M., Nasrabadi, D. et al. Study of the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm proteins expression in patients with varicocele and poor sperm quality by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 725–729 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0209-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0209-0

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