title: Changes in the seminal plasma proteome of adolescents before and after varicocelectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare seminal plasma protein profiles before and after varicocele correction to assess if surgical intervention alters the protein profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen adolescent boys with varicocele grades II or III.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two semen samples were collected before bilateral subinguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy, and two semen samples were collected 3 months after surgery. Seminal plasma protein profiles were determined with the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins were separated in 18-cm 3-10 pH strips and 10%-17.5% gradient gels. Gels were stained, scanned, and compared with the use of Imagemaster 2D platinum 7.0. Spots of interest were removed from gels, and protein digestion was performed with the use of trypsin. Digests were identified with the use of electrospray ionization-quadrupole/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF MS/MS), and spectra were analyzed with the use of the Mascot software.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proteins uniquely or overexpressed in each period (before or after varicocelectomy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen spots were differentially expressed between pre- and postsurgery samples. Identified proteins were albumin, proteasome subunit alpha type 6, alpha-1-antitrypsin, fibronectin, CD177, prostatic acid phosphatase, specific prostatic antigen, alpha-2-antiplasmin, vitamin D-binding protein, gastricsin, clusterin, semenogelin-1, semenogelin-2, superoxide dismutase, protein-glutamine gamma glutamyltransferase-4, and prolactin-inducing protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicocelectomy is associated with changes in the seminal plasma protein profile. Understanding specific pathways leading to male infertility may further assist physicians in demonstrating deviation from homeostasis in male infertility. In addition, it may be possible to observe if surgical intervention does indeed revert altered pathways toward a homeostatic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. paula.tdg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paula Toni
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.forename: Barbara Ferreira
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Edson Guimarães
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lo Turco
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fraietta
authors.forename: Deborah Montagnini
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Spaine
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando Arruda
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Eduardo Jorge
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Pilau
authors.forename: Fabio Cesar
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Gozzo
authors.forename: Agnaldo Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cedenho
authors.forename: Ricardo Pimenta
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bertolla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins
keywords: Adolescents; proteome; seminal plasma; varicocele; varicocelectomy