title: Effects of varicocele upon the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.
abstract: Varicocele-associated apoptosis has been recognised as a cause of male infertility. Thus, we assessed the expression of somatic apoptosis-related proteins (the typical protein-dependent apoptosis markers) in ejaculated sperm plasma from both patients with varicocele and normal donors. We evaluated the relationships between certain apoptosis-related proteins and normal semen quality. Semen samples were obtained from 25 patients with varicocele and from 10 normal fertile controls. These samples were compared using computer-assisted semen analysis for motion parameters and manual analysis for morphology, and were also assayed for apoptosis-related protein activation including caspase-3, poly-ACP-ribose polymerase (PARP), the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2, Bak) and p53 by means of immunoblot analysis. PARP, Bak and p53 were expressed substantially more in the sperm cells of the varicocele group when compared with the normal group (P < 0.05). The expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 did not appear to differ between these two study groups. An increased expression of PARP, Bak and p53 for varicocele-afflicted individuals indicated an increased participation by these agents in the regulating of apoptosis in the ejaculated semen from patients with varicocele, suggesting that certain protein-development apoptotic mechanisms might originate in the cytoplasmic droplet or within mitochondria of spermatocytes and then might function within the nucleus of the cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: F-W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: G-H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: I-C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H-H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: G-J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; D053148:Caspase 3