Testicular expression of synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) messenger ribonucleic acid in 110 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expression of the synaptonemal complex protein-3 (SYCP3) gene in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Cross-sectional case study.


METHODS
Avesina Infertility Clinic, Tehran, Iran.


METHODS
One hundred and ten consecutive infertile men presenting nonobstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Testicular biopsies for histopathological assessment and analyses of SYCP3 expression level by semiquantitative nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The SYCP3 levels were normalized to expression of the housekeeping phosphoglucomutase 1 gene.


METHODS
Expression of SYCP3 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Correlation of the histopathological findings with SYCP3 expression levels.


RESULTS
Testicular SYCP3 mRNA expression was observed in 67/110 (60.9%) patients. The expression level correlated with the degree of spermatogenic failure. Although it was expressed in patients with spermatogenesis and maturation arrest, a lack of expression was seen in all of those men with spermatogonial arrest, Sertoli cell-only syndrome, and testicular atrophy.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that SYCP3 is expressed in human testis and is restricted to germ cells. Our findings, in association with those obtained in experimental animals, shows that lack of SYCP3 expression in human testis may have a negative effect on spermatogenesis and male fertility.
Aarabi
Mahmoud
M
Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
Modarressi
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Soltanghoraee
Haleh
H
Behjati
Reza
R
Amirjannati
Naser
N
Akhondi
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000473:pathology; D013079:Sperm Maturation; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C490060:SYCP3 protein, human