Role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during human spermatogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
Genomic stability of cells is known to be linked to their poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation capacity. We aimed to demonstrate, for the first time, the patterns of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during human spermatogenesis.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital.


METHODS
Azoospermic men who underwent testicular biopsy for sperm recovery.


METHODS
Testicular biopsy evaluation by immunohistochemistry for the expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) enzyme and of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) (an indicator for PARP activity.)


METHODS
The subcellular localization of both markers in testes with full spermatogenesis (obstructive azoospermia), spermatocyte maturation arrest, or Sertoli cell-only syndrome.


RESULTS
Expression of both markers was localized in germ cell nuclei in full spermatogenesis: PAR expression, indicating PARP activity, was exhibited in round and elongating spermatids and in a subpopulation of primary spermatocytes. Strong immunoreactivity for PAR was identified in all of the spermatocytes in maturation arrest at the spermatocyte level. Sertoli cells lacked immunoreactivity for both markers, whereas other somatic testicular cells were rarely immunostained.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of PAR expression in germ-line cells and its subcellular localization in meiotic and postmeiotic prophases demonstrates chromatin modifications occurring during spermatogenesis and establishes a key role for poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in germ cell differentiation, presumably to safeguard DNA integrity.
Maymon
Batia Bar-Shira
BB
Institute for the Study of Fertility, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Cohen-Armon
Malka
M
Yavetz
Haim
H
Yogev
Leah
L
Lifschitz-Mercer
Beatriz
B
Kleiman
Sandra E
SE
Botchan
Amnon
A
Hauser
Ron
R
Paz
Gedalia
G
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011064:Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose / Q000378:metabolism*; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D011064:Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases