Decreased expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 is associated with the pathogenesis of male infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2, and the possible relationship with the pathogenesis of male infertility.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Reproductive testing laboratory in a university hospital.


METHODS
Men undergoing testicular biopsy during an investigation of subfertility.


METHODS
Testicular tissues were obtained from biopsies of men undergoing infertility evaluation and subdivided into three groups: normal testes, maturational arrest and Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Immunostaining and Western blotting techniques determined expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2


METHODS
Expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 in the testes.


RESULTS
The experimental data demonstrated that the heat shock protein hsp70-2 was expressed in the normal and maturation arrest testicular specimens. The heat shock protein hsp70-2 was strongly present in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes and spermatides in the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium in normal testis. However, maturation arrest testis tissue demonstrated light staining in spermatocytes and spermatides, and Sertoli-only specimens demonstrated no staining for the heat shock protein hsp70-2. The Western blotting data showed a 70-kDa heat shock protein in the normal and maturation arrest testicular tissues, but not in the Sertoli-only tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the heat shock protein hsp70-2 is expressed in spermatocytes and spermatides in normal and maturation arrest tissues. However, the expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 was low in maturation arrest, and no heat shock protein hsp70-2 was demonstrated in Sertoli-only specimens. Therefore the decreased expression of the heat shock protein hsp70-2 is associated with the pathogenesis of male infertility.
Feng
H L
HL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital, New York University Medical College, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA. hfeng@nshs.edu
Sandlow
J I
JI
Sparks
A E
AE
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; C091879:HSPA2 protein, human