title: Comparative analysis of the seminal plasma proteomes of oligoasthenozoospermic and normozoospermic men.
abstract: A comparative proteomic study of oligoasthenozoospermic and normozoospermic seminal plasmas was conducted to establish differences in protein expression. Oligoasthenozoospermia (when semen presents with a low concentration and reduced motility of spermatozoa) is common in male infertility. Two-dimensional protein maps from seminal plasma samples from 10 men with normozoospermia and 10 men with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia were obtained by isoelectric focusing followed by sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Map images were analysed using dedicated software involving normalization, spot-to-spot volume comparison and statistical treatment of the results to establish the significance of differences between normal and oligoasthenozoospermic samples. Six out of 1028 spots showed over 1.5-fold relative intensity differences (P < 0.05, analysis of variance). Four proteins were identified by nano liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry of their tryptic peptides and database searches. Two proteins were more than three-fold under-expressed in oligoasthenozoospermia, namely epididymal secretory protein E1 and galectin-3-binding protein; the other (lipocalin-1 and a prolactin-inducible protein form) were over-expressed. The identity and differential expression of epididymal secretory protein E1 was verified by Western-blotting. The statistically significant differential expression of these four proteins in oligoasthenozoospermia compared with normozoospermia provides a molecular basis for further investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste 34149, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacomini
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
authors.forename: Blendi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ura
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giolo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Area Science Park, Padriciano 99, Trieste 34149, Italy. Electronic address: garciazucconi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodolfo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Ospedale di Cattinara, Strada di Fiume 447, Trieste 34149, Italy; Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via dell'Istria 65/1, Trieste 34137, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D020543:Proteome; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome
keywords: oligoasthenozoospermia; protein expression; quantitative analysis; two-dimensional protein separation