title: Characterization and localization of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP-3) in the human male reproductive tract.
abstract: Mammalian members of the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) family are expressed predominantly in the male reproductive tract and are implicated in the process of reproduction from spermiogenesis, posttesticular sperm maturation, and capacitation to oocyte-sperm fusion, and possibly also penetration of the zona pellucida. Rodents express only 2 CRISPs (CRISP-1 and CRISP-2) in their male reproductive system, whereas humans and horses express an additional third member named CRISP-3. We have previously demonstrated that this protein is present in human seminal plasma as well as in other exocrine secretions, in blood plasma, and in neutrophilic granulocytes. To characterize the protein in seminal plasma and localize the production of CRISP-3 in the human male reproductive tract, we performed immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurements of seminal plasma and immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of tissue specimens. We were able to show that human CRISP-3 is a quantitatively minor seminal plasma protein not associated with prostasomes. Furthermore, CRISP-3 expression was found in the secretory epithelium throughout the male genital tract, with particularly high expression in the cauda epididymis and ampulla vas deferens. Examination of seminal plasma from vasectomized males indicates that organs downstream of the epididymis are probably the major sources of seminal plasma CRISP-3.
authors.affiliation: Granulocyte Research Laboratory 9322, Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. L.UDBY@rh.dk
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Udby
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjartell
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malm
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egesten
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lundwall
authors.forename: Jack B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cowland
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borregaard
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kjeldsen
mesh_terms: D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004822:Epididymis / Q000737:chemistry; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C489926:CRISP3 protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins