title: Apoptosis-inhibitor Aven is downregulated in defective spermatogenesis and a novel estrogen target gene in mammalian testis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression and localization of Aven in rat and human testis from azoospermic patients with different etiologies and its regulation by estrogens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research center and private IVF clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six men with obstructive azoospermia, five with hypospermatogenesis, and six with Sertoli cell-only syndrome; male Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular biopsies and rat seminiferous tubules (SeT) cultured in the presence or absence of 17β-estradiol (E(2)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Testicular cell localization of Aven protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of Aven in testicular biopsies and cultured SeT, in the presence or absence of 17β-estradiol, were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aven is expressed in Sertoli cells, spermatocytes, and spermatogonia of both rat and human testis. Aven is underexpressed in the testis of men with nonobstructive azoospermia, and its expression levels correlate with severity of spermatogenic status. Aven expression is regulated by E(2) in rat SeT cultured ex vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that deregulation of the expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Aven may be related to male factor infertility. Moreover, Aven is an estrogen target gene and may be involved in the mechanism of testicular apoptosis control by estrogens.
authors: CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences (CICS), University of Beira Interior (UBI), Covilhã, Portugal.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Laurentino
authors: João
authors: J
authors: Gonçalves
authors: José Eduardo
authors: JE
authors: Cavaco
authors: Pedro Fontes
authors: PF
authors: Oliveira
authors: Marco G
authors: MG
authors: Alves
authors: Mário
authors: M
authors: de Sousa
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Barros
authors: Sílvia
authors: S
authors: Socorro
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001706:Biopsy; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D054331:Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C412506:AVEN protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C516992:aven protein, rat; D004958:Estradiol