title: Histone acetylation level and histone acetyltransferase/deacetylase activity in ejaculated sperm from normozoospermic men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to evaluate nuclear histone acetylation level and total histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC) activity in ejaculated sperm and their relevance to conventional sperm parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three normozoospermic men were included in this study. Semen samples were processed by swim-up and then immunostained by six acetylation antibodies (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H4K5ac, H4K8ac, H4K12ac, and H4K16ac). Our preliminary study verified the expression of HAT/HDAC1 in mature human sperm. From vitrified-warmed sperm samples, total HAT/HDAC activity was measured by commercially available kits. Nuclear DNA integrity was also measured by TUNEL assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of six acetylation marks were not related with conventional sperm parameters including sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) as well as HAT/HDAC activity. However, sperm DFI was positively correlated with HAT activity (r=0.038 after adjustment, p<0.02). HAT activity showed a negative relationship with HDAC activity (r=-0.51, p<0.01). Strict morphology was negatively correlated with acetylation enzyme index (=HAT activity/HDAC activity) (r=-0.53, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our works demonstrated a significant relationship of acetylation-associated enzyme activity and strict morphology or sperm DFI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. blasto@snubh.org ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Jang Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Suk
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases
keywords: Acetylation; acetyltransferase; deacetylase; histone; sperm