[Expression of telomerase gene hTERT in testes of infertile male and its significance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression and the significance of telomerase gene hTERT in testes of infertile male.


METHODS
By using in situ hybridization(ISH) techniques, the expression of telomerase gene hTERT mRNA in testes of 47 infertile male and 10 normal testicular tissues were observed.


RESULTS
In male testes, there was a positive correlation between the expression of hTERT and the quantity and density of germ cells(spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid). The expression of hTERT in some germinal cell of maturation arrest patients were not significantly different with those of normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the deficiency of telomerase might be a factor for germinal cell maturation arrest and there might be some other etiological factors in these patients. Our study provides experimental groundwork for the gene therapy of male infertility.
Ye
Zhe-Wei
ZW
Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China. Zhewei@public.wh.hb.cn
Chen
Xiao-Chun
XC
Ping
Hao
H
Yang
Xiu-Ping
XP
Yang
Yu
Y
Hou
Lin
L
Lu
Gong-Cheng
GC
D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D013087:Spermatids; D013090:Spermatocytes; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia; D019098:Telomerase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology
D019098:Telomerase