title: [Expression of heme oxygenase enzyme in the testis tissue and azoospermia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the location of heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme in the human testis, and explore the correlation of the expression of HO enzyme with azoospermia by analyzing its different expression levels in the testes of nonobstructive azoospermia, obstructive azoospermia and normal men.
  
  
  METHODS
  We detected the location of the cells expressing HO enzyme in the human testis tissue using immunohistochemistry, determined the mRNA and protein expression levels of HO-1 and HO-2 in the testes of azoospermia patients and normal healthy men by RT-fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-FQ-PCR) and Western blot, and explored the correlation of HO expressions with the pathogenesis of azoospermia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HO-1 enzyme was expressed mainly in the Sertoli cells and HO-2 enzyme chiefly in the germ cells of the testis tissue. RT-FQ-PCR showed that the expression of HO-1 in the testis tissue was significantly lower in the nonobstructive azoospermia than in the normal and obstructive azoospermia groups (P < 0.05), with no significant difference between the latter two. Western blot revealed no obvious difference between the expression level of HO-1 protein and that of HO-1 mRNA. There were no differences in the expression level of HO-2 protein among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression level of HO enzyme is significantly decreased in the testis tissue of nonobstructive azoospermia patients, and the expression of HO-1 protein is consistent with that of HO-1 mRNA. As HO-1 protects the testis tissue against various stress injuries through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, its decreased expression level may be correlated with spermatogenic dysfunction, and therefore considered as a possible mechanism of nonobstructive azoospermia.
authors: Research Institute of Family Planning/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongli Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Chi
authors: Xiang-Ming
authors: XM
authors: Mao
authors: Xin-Zong
authors: XZ
authors: Zhang
authors: Feng-Bin
authors: FB
authors: Zhang
authors: Yu-Chun
authors: YC
authors: Gu
authors: Cheng-Liang
authors: CL
authors: Xiong
mesh_terms: D053713:Azoospermia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C105245:heme oxygenase-2