title: Role of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during human spermatogenesis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Study of Fertility, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Batia Bar-Shira
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Maymon
authors.forename: Malka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen-Armon
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yavetz
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yogev
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lifschitz-Mercer
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kleiman
authors.forename: Amnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botchan
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Gedalia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paz
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D011064:Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases