title: Correlation of Sperm Associated Antigen 11 (SPAG11) and its Isoforms with Varicocele in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We undertook this study to investigate the variation relationship of sperm associated antigen 11 (Spag11) mRNA expression and SPAG11E protein in the epididymis and spermatozoa of experimental left varicocele (ELV) rats. These findings could contribute to the understanding of the role of epididymal proteins in sperm functions and the mechanism of male infertility induced by varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ELV model was established in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats. Four weeks after the operation, tissue distribution and changes in the expressions of Spag11 mRNA and SPAG11E protein caused by ELV in the whole of left epididymis and spermatozoa were studied using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-QPCR), immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Significant differences were identified using one-way ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test. Significance level (p) was fixed at 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expected product of Spag11 was 96 bp that amplified by RT-QPCR was detected in the epididymal tissue and spermatozoa. SPAG11E protein was confined mainly to the supranuclear region of the principal cells and the stereocilium of the epididymal epithelium, it was concentrated on the acrosome and the tail of spermatozoa except the terminal piece. Statistical analyses of the images and the data indicated that Spag11 mRNA and SPAG11E protein expressions in the left epididymis and spermatozoa of ELV rats presented a considerable decrease (p<0.001) compared with that of the corresponding control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expressions of Spag11 mRNA and SPAG11E protein declined markedly in ELV rats, which suggest that SPAG11E may not only play an important role in sperm maturation, but it may also be influenced by varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Li-Rong
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Yang
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Research Center of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Dong
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Qiu
keywords: Epididymis; Rat; Sperm associated antigen 11 protein; Spermatozoa; Varicocele