Semen samples with teratozoospermia show a lower percentage of spermatozoa with detectable adhesion molecules (AM).
Adhesion molecules (AM) are cell surface proteins which interact with ligands and mediate cell-cell bindings. Possibly, the AM are involved in the spermatozoal adhesion to oocytes. Human spermatozoa showed several adhesion molecules on their surface: the alpha chains of the beta 1-integrins VLA alpha 4 (CDw 49d), VLA alpha 5 (CDw 49e) and VLA alpha 6 (CDw 49f), the beta-chain of beta 2-integrins (CD 18) and the matrix proteins laminin and fibronectin. Semen samples with severe teratozoospermia were characterized by a significantly lower percentage (P < 0.01) of spermatozoa with VLA alpha 4, VLA alpha 5 and laminin. VLA alpha 5 (the alpha-chain of the fibronectin receptor) showed the most significant difference between the "normal" and teratozoospermic semen sample groups. This phenomenon could contribute to the explanation of a lower fertilizing capacity of teratozoospermic semen samples.
Glander
H J
HJ
Department of Dermatology/Andrology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
Schaller
J
J
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000737:chemistry
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules