title: Expression and significance of Rap1A in testes of azoospermic subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710033, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Kang
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bao-Qi
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuan-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: He-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Rong-Liang
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins