title: [Expression of SEPT4 protein in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermic men].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of the SEPT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men were separated and purified by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, the distribution and expression of SEPT4 in the sperm samples were determined by immunocytochemistry, and the expressions of SEPT4 mRNA and SEPT4 protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of SEPT4, located in the annulus, was significantly reduced in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients (t = 3.452, P < 0.01). RT-PCR revealed that the expression of SEPT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (t = 3.521, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (t = 5.872, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of SEPT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.
authors: Human Sperm Bank, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China. liyushanrun@126.com
authors: Yu-Shan
authors: YS
authors: Li
authors: Xiao-Xia
authors: XX
authors: Feng
authors: Xiao-Fei
authors: XF
authors: Ji
authors: Quan-Xian
authors: QX
authors: Wang
authors: Xue-Min
authors: XM
authors: Gao
authors: Xian-Feng
authors: XF
authors: Yang
authors: Zhou-Hui
authors: ZH
authors: Pan
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Kui
authors: K
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058112:Septins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C492027:SEPTIN4 protein, human; D058112:Septins