title: Expression of dysadherin in the human male reproductive tract and in spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study expression of dysadherin in human testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testis, epididymis, and testicular spermatozoa from patients under treatment and semen from volunteer donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and Western immunoblotting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dysadherin messenger RNA (mRNA) analysis in testis, epididymis, and ejaculated spermatozoa, immunohistochemistry of both tissues, Western immunoblotting of tissue/cell extracts, and immunocytochemistry of spermatozoa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dysadherin mRNA was found in testis, epididymis, and ejaculated spermatozoa. Whereas testis and spermatozoa exhibited a distinctive 91-kDa protein form, the epididymis showed a 50-kDa moiety, also found in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed >99% homology between testicular and somatic cell mRNA, suggesting differential protein glycosylation. Dysadherin was immunodetected in round spermatids and testicular/ejaculated spermatozoa. It localizes to the acrosomal region and flagellum and colocalized with E-cadherin in the head and with the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase α4 subunit in the flagellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report on expression of dysadherin in the male gonad and in spermatozoa. Its colocalization with E-cadherin and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase leads us to postulate a role for dysadherin as a modulator of sperm function.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, National Research Council of Argentina, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nieves María
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: María Florencia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: María Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chemes
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Mónica Hebe
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Levin
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C451410:FXYD5 protein, human; D007473:Ion Channels; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase