title: [Expressions of chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in human sperm].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression patterns of the chemokine CXCL12 and its receptor CXCR4 in human sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected semen samples from 10 fertile men, performed density gradient centrifugation, and then determined the expressions of both CXCL12 and CXCR4 in the sperm by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT-PCR revealed the mRNA expressions of CXCL12 (0.641 +/- 0.180) and CXCR4 (0.464 +/- 0.100) in the sperm. However, only CXCR4 rather than CXCL12 was expressed at the protein level, and the positive staining for CXCR4 was observed mainly in the posterior part of the acrosome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CXCL12 and CXCR4 are involved as important molecules in regulating the function of human sperm.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.forename: Wen-hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4