title: Characterization of Prohibitins in Male Reproductive System and their Expression under Oxidative Stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the expression and location of prohibitin 1 and 2 of the prohibitin family in the male reproductive system and their potential roles during the oxidative stress response in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence were performed to examine the expression and localization of prohibitins. Oxidative damage was evaluated using a commercially available malondialdehyde kit. Histological damage induced by doxorubicin injection was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prohibitin 1 and 2 were ubiquitously expressed in various human tissues with distinct high expression in the epididymis. In the human testis and epididymis they were localized in the cytoplasm of diverse cell types. Prohibitin 1 was located on the entire tail region of human ejaculated spermatozoa while prohibitin 2 was specifically localized on the equatorial region. In spermatozoa from young men with asthenozoospermia the percent of spermatozoa with positive staining as well as the fluorescence intensity of prohibitin 2 was much lower than in the spermatozoa of healthy donors. Uniform expression of prohibitins in the testis and epididymis of the rat during postnatal development suggested conserved and vital biological functions. Moreover under oxidative stress induced by doxorubicin injection the expression of prohibitin 1 and 2 was significantly down-regulated in the rat testis with significant histomorphological changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge this research represents the first systematic study of prohibitins in the male reproductive system. It lays the foundation for further functional studies and provides potential therapeutic targets for infertility induced by oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Yantai Yu-Huang-Ding Hospital, Yantai, People's Republic of China; College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai, People's Republic of China; Research Institute for Family Planning, Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: sdscljy@126.com.
authors.forename: Jian Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000091402:Prohibitins; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000091402:Prohibitins; D012097:Repressor Proteins
keywords: asthenozoospermia; oxidative stress; prohibitin; spermatozoa; testis