title: Lipocalin type prostaglandin D-synthase: which role in male fertility?
abstract: Lipocalin type prostaglandin-D-synthase (L-PGDS), also called beta-trace, is an extracellular protein very abundant in compartments beyond blood-tissue barriers, such as the cerebrospinal fluid, the aqueous humor, the amniotic fluid and the seminal fluid. In the latter fluid the major function of L-PGDS does not seem to be the synthesis of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) from its precursor PGH(2), which is very unstable in aqueous solution. Instead, seminal L-PGDS, an important carrier of bile pigments, retinoids, thyroid hormones and essential fatty acids, would contribute to providing, beyond the blood-testis barrier, thyroid hormones and retinoids to the developing germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and the maturing spermatozoa in the epididymis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Hanin Abdel
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Haq
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saso
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000201:enzymology; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000502:physiology*; D054834:Lipocalins; D008297:Male; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054834:Lipocalins; D012176:Retinoids; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase