title: Repression of hspA2 messenger RNA in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of hspA2 in testes of infertile men with azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Pundang Je-Saeng General Hospital, Dae-Jin Medical Center, Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Azoospermic patients (n = 15) undergoing testicular biopsy for pathologic evaluation were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  After pathologic evaluation, testicular biopsy specimens were subdivided into three groups: group 1, normal spermatogenesis (n = 5); group 2, spermatocyte arrest (n = 5); and group 3, Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 5). The levels of hspA2 mRNA expression were compared in testes of group 1, group 2, and group 3 with the use of a competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of hspA2 mRNA levels in testes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On competitive RT-PCR analyses for hspA2 mRNA, significant hspA2 expression was observed in group 1, whereas a very low level of hspA2 was expressed in groups 2 and 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that hspA2 gene expression is down-regulated in human testes with abnormal spermatogenesis, which in turn suggests that the hspA2 gene might play a specific role during meiosis in human testes.
authors.affiliation: Pundang Je-Saeng General Hospital, Dae-jin Medical Center, Kyungki-do, Korea, USA. sonyoung@dmc.or.kr
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; C091879:HSPA2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger