title: In‑depth mapping of human testicular and epididymal proteins and their functional association with spermatozoa.
abstract: The mammalian testis and epididymis are responsible for spermatozoa production and maturation, which contributes to male fertility. Predominantly expressed proteins in the testis and epididymis were suggested to be involved in the key functions or pathways in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. To further investigate these proteins and their associations with sperm, large protein profiles of human testis and epididymis were mapped. Predominantly‑expressed testicular (173) and epididymal (244) secreted proteins were further screened and functionally characterized. Differential expression levels of solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 3, solute carrier family 25 (carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase), member 20, WAP‑type four‑disulfide core domain protein 8 and prostate and testis expressed 1 were validated using western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. The results may provide novel insight into the understanding of testicular and epididymal physiology and function, and facilitate sperm maturation research.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuexia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu Huang Ding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fujun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000235:genetics; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C452641:PATE1 protein, human; D020543:Proteome; C495687:SLC2A3 protein, human; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor; C000603991:WAP-type four-disulfide core domain protein 8, human; C120109:SLC25A20 protein, human