title: Identification of human spermatogenesis-related proteins by comparative proteomic analysis: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify human spermatogenesis-related proteins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three fertile men with normal spermatogenesis, 3 azoospermic patients with sloughing and disorganization of germ cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular tissue samples were collected by biopsy after informed consent.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protein expressional profiles of human testes of fertile men and azoospermic patients were compared using a proteomic approach by combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analyses and mass spectrometry. Bioinformatic analysis helped to reveal the regulation pathway. Expression of some selected proteins in normal and pathological testes was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten protein spots were identified as expressing differentially between the normal testes and pathological testes with sloughing and disorganization of germ cells; these included the phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27), and cathepsin D (CTSD). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that many differentially expressed proteins participate in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and cell death and helped us to focus on a few of them. Immunohistochemical analysis of Prx4, HSP27, and CTSD confirmed the results obtained by proteomic analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These 10 proteins may help in elucidating the pathways involved in human spermatogenesis.
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Ran
authors: R
authors: Huo
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: He
authors: Chun
authors: C
authors: Zhao
authors: Xue-jiang
authors: XJ
authors: Guo
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Lin
authors: Jia-hao
authors: JH
authors: Sha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome