Expression and significance of Rap1A in testes of azoospermic subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Rap1A mRNA expression and its significance in the testes of normal and azoospermic subjects.


METHODS
A cDNA microarray that contained Rap1A and some other genes such as RBM, EIF1AY was used to identify the differential gene expression profiles between the normal and azoospermic testes. cDNA probes were prepared by labeling mRNA from azoospermic and normal testicular tissues through reverse transcription with Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP, respectively. The mixed cDNA probes were then hybridized with cDNA microarray (each containing 4096 unique human cDNA sequences). The fluorescent signals were scanned and the values of Cy5-dUTP and Cy3-dUTP on each spot were analyzed and calculated. In situ hybridization was employed to detect the expression of Rap1A in the testes of 10 fertile and 39 azoospermic subjects.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-eight differentially expressed genes were found to be possibly related to azoospermia, of which 56 were up-regulated and 72, down-regulated genes. The mRNA expression of Rap1A in the spermatogenic cells of azoospermic was stronger than that in those of the fertile testes.


CONCLUSIONS
Rap1A may play certain roles in the development of azoospermia.
Yang
Bo
B
Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710033, China.
Wang
He
H
Gao
Xiao-Kang
XK
Chen
Bao-Qi
BQ
Zhang
Yuan-Qiang
YQ
Liu
He-Liang
HL
Wang
Yong
Y
Qin
Wei-Jun
WJ
Qin
Rong-Liang
RL
Shao
Guo-Xing
GX
Shao
Chen
C
D000328:Adult; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins