title: The decline of fertility in male uremic patients is correlated with low expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR) in human sperm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to investigate the possible association between infertility of male uremic patients and expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein in their sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen was collected and analyzed. Serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. The sperm CFTR expressions of 21 uremic patients and 15 renal transplant patients were measured and compared with those of 32 healthy and 33 infertile men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 9 ± 5.9% of sperm from uremic patients expressed CFTR, significantly less than those of the renal transplant patients (29 ± 14.3%, P< 0.001), the infertile men (42 ± 20.7%, P< 0.001) and the healthy men (51 ± 20.5%, P< 0.001). Furthermore, significantly fewer sperm from renal transplant patients expressed CFTR than those of the infertile men (P< 0.05) and the healthy men (P< 0.01). LH levels in uremic patients were significantly higher than in all other groups, whereas FSH levels in uremic patients were only significantly higher than in infertile and healthy men. There was no significant difference in testosterone level among the four categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm CFTR expression is depressed in uremic patients but recovers to some degree after renal transplant along with some improvement in fertility, indicating a 'reversible' change. These results suggest that the CFTR expression rate in sperm is correlated with the decline of uremic patients' fertility, and may be considered as a potential marker to assess the fertility of male uremic patients.
authors: Department of Andrology,  Zhejiang Family Planning Research Institute, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012,  People's of Republic China.
authors: Hui Ming
authors: HM
authors: Xu
authors: Hong Ge
authors: HG
authors: Li
authors: Long-Gen
authors: LG
authors: Xu
authors: Jun-Rong
authors: JR
authors: Zhang
authors: Wen-Ying
authors: WY
authors: Chen
authors: Qi-Xian
authors: QX
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000097:blood; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014511:Uremia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C505032:CFTR protein, human; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone