The poly(A)-binding protein genes, EPAB, PABPC1, and PABPC3 are differentially expressed in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2016-03, Vol.33 (3), p.335-348
• Main Authors: Ozturk, Saffet, Sozen, Berna, Uysal, Fatma, Bassorgun, Ibrahim C., Usta, Mustafa F., Akkoyunlu, Gokhan, Demir, Necdet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Azoospermia - genetics; Biopsy; Embryos; Gamete Biology; Gene Expression Regulation; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Infertility; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Oligospermia - genetics; Oligospermia - pathology; Poly(A)-Binding Protein I - genetics; Poly(A)-Binding Protein I - metabolism; Poly(A)-Binding Proteins - genetics; Poly(A)-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Proteins; Reproductive Medicine; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome - genetics; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome - pathology; Sperm; Spermatogenesis; Testis - physiology; Testis - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-016-0654-z

Purpose Azoospermia is one of the major causes of male infertility and is basically classified into obstructive (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The molecular background of NOA still largely remains elusive. It has been shown that the poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) essentially play critical roles in stabilization and translational control of the mRNAs during spermatogenesis. Methods In the present study, we aim to evaluate expression levels of the PABP genes, EPAB , PABPC1 , and PABPC3 , in the testicular biopsy samples and in the isolated spermatocyte (SC) and round spermatid (RS) fractions obtained from men with various types of NOA including hypospermatogenesis (hyposperm), RS arrest, SC arrest, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO). Results In the testicular biopsy samples, both PABPC1 and PABPC3 mRNA expressions were gradually decreased from hyposperm to SCO groups ( P