title: The poly(A)-binding protein genes, EPAB, PABPC1, and PABPC3 are differentially expressed in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Azoospermia is one of the major causes of male infertility and is basically classified into obstructive (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). The molecular background of NOA still largely remains elusive. It has been shown that the poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) essentially play critical roles in stabilization and translational control of the mRNAs during spermatogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, we aim to evaluate expression levels of the PABP genes, EPAB, PABPC1, and PABPC3, in the testicular biopsy samples and in the isolated spermatocyte (SC) and round spermatid (RS) fractions obtained from men with various types of NOA including hypospermatogenesis (hyposperm), RS arrest, SC arrest, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the testicular biopsy samples, both PABPC1 and PABPC3 mRNA expressions were gradually decreased from hyposperm to SCO groups (P < 0.05), whereas there was no remarkable difference for the EPAB expression among groups. The expression levels of cytoplasmically localized PABPC1 and PABPC3 proteins dramatically reduced from hyposperm to SCO groups (P < 0.05). In the isolated SC and RS fractions, the EPAB, PABPC1, and PABPC3 mRNA expressions were gradually decreased from hyposperm to SC arrest groups (P < 0.05). Similarly, both PABPC1 and PABPC3 proteins were expressed at higher levels in the SC and RS fractions from hyposperm group when compared to the SC and RS fractions from either RS arrest or SC arrest group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that observed significant alterations in the PABPs expression may have an implication for development of different NOA forms.
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Saffet
authors: S
authors: Ozturk
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Berna
authors: B
authors: Sozen
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Uysal
authors: Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Ibrahim C
authors: IC
authors: Bassorgun
authors: Department of Urology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa F
authors: MF
authors: Usta
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Gokhan
authors: G
authors: Akkoyunlu
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey. ndemir@akdeniz.edu.tr.
authors: Necdet
authors: N
authors: Demir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000235:genetics*; D001706:Biopsy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D039122:Poly(A)-Binding Protein I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054331:Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: C531188:PABPC1L protein, human; C467335:PABPC3 protein, human; D039122:Poly(A)-Binding Protein I; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins
keywords: EPAB; Male infertility; Non-obstructive azoospermia; PABPC1; PABPC3