Absence of cyclic adenosine 3':5' monophosphate responsive element modulator expression at the spermatocyte arrest stage.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypotheses that variations in the expression of adenosine 3':5' monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element modulator are found in human seminiferous epithelium in men with impaired testicular function and subsequent infertility and that variations in apoptosis frequency are associated with differential cAMP responsive element modulator expression in male infertility states.


METHODS
Standard immunohistochemical staining using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against the tau isoform of the cAMP responsive element modulator protein was performed on 5-microM sections of Bouin's fixed, paraffin-embedded testicular tissue obtained from azoospermic or severely oligozoospermic men for routine clinical purposes. Histologic diagnosis was confirmed with computerized image analysis of Feulgen-stained sections.


METHODS
Tertiary male infertility referral center at a medical school.


METHODS
Forty-eight testis biopsies were performed in 38 azoospermic or severely oligozoospermic males.


METHODS
Rabbit polyclonal cAMP responsive element modulator tau antibody was applied to the paraffin-embedded testis sections.


METHODS
Testis immunoreactivity to polyclonal cAMP responsive element modulator tau antibody and apoptotic indices.


RESULTS
Although cAMP responsive element modulator immunoreactivity was present in the round spermatid stage of meiosis in testis biopsy specimens showing normal spermatogenesis, spermatid maturation arrest, and hypospermatogenesis, there was complete absence of expression in biopsy specimens from patients with Sertoli cell only and spermatocyte maturation arrest states. In addition, significantly increased apoptotic indices were observed in the spermatocyte maturation arrest state in comparison with normal spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell only pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that cAMP responsive element modulator may be important for spermatid development and a stage-specific regulator of human spermatogenesis. Absence of cAMP responsive element modulator may be a cause of testicular failure in various types of male infertility.
Lin
W W
WW
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Lamb
D J
DJ
Lipshultz
L I
LI
Kim
E D
ED
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D001706:Biopsy; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013087:Spermatids / Q000473:pathology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051786:Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator; D000242:Cyclic AMP