title: Protein phospholipase C Zeta1 expression in patients with failed ICSI but with normal sperm parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine if expression of the testis-specific phospholipase C Zeta1 (PLCZ1) correlated with low success or fertilization failure after ICSI in patients with normal parameters after standard semen analysis (SA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Couples <43 years with one or two failed or low fertilization ICSI cycles. Standard Semen Analysis (SA) was performed to determine sperm parameters in male partners, whereas females were evaluated for antral follicle counts (AFC), day 3 FSH levels and peak Estradiol (E2) levels. The presence of PLCZ1 in sperm was ascertained using Western blotting and Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis. The ability of sperm to initiate changes in the intracellular concentrations of free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i), which is characteristic of mammalian sperm, was performed after injection of human sperm into mouse eggs loaded with the Ca(2+) sensitive dye fura-2 AM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male partners of couples with failed or low success ICSI fertilization but with normal SA parameters showed low expression levels of PLCZ1 as determined by western blotting and reduced fluorescent signal during IF studies. In addition, fewer of these males' sperm showed PLCZ1 expression and were able to initiate robust [Ca(2+)]i oscillations upon injection into eggs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that in patients with normal SA parameters but with repeated low fertilization or outright failed fertilization results after ICSI, abnormal PLCZ1 function should be considered as the underlying mechanism responsible for the failure of fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Animal Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Hoi Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arny
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grow
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dumesic
authors.forename: Rafael A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fissore
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jellerette-Nolan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055101:Semen Analysis; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C499235:PLCZ1 protein, human; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C
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