title: Semen proteomics and male infertility.
abstract: Semen is a complex body fluid containing an admixture of spermatozoa suspended in secretions from the testes and epididymis which are mixed at the time of ejaculation with secretions from other accessory sex glands such as the prostate and seminal vesicles. High-throughput technologies have revealed that, contrary to the idea that sperm cells are simply a silent delivery vehicle of the male genome to the oocyte, the sperm cells in fact provide both a specific epigenetically marked DNA together with a complex population of proteins and RNAs crucial for embryogenesis. Similarly, -omic technologies have also enlightened that seminal fluid seems to play a much greater role than simply being a medium to carry the spermatozoa through the female reproductive tract. In the present review, we briefly overview the sperm cell biology, consider the key issues in sperm and seminal fluid sample preparation for high-throughput proteomic studies, describe the current state of the sperm and seminal fluid proteomes generated by high-throughput proteomic technologies and provide new insights into the potential communication between sperm and seminal fluid. In addition, comparative proteomic studies open a window to explore the potential pathogenic mechanisms of infertility and the discovery of potential biomarkers with clinical significance.
  
  
  
  The review updates the numerous proteomics studies performed on semen, including spermatozoa and seminal fluid. In addition, an integrative analysis of the testes, sperm and seminal fluid proteomes is also included providing insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate the generation, maturation and transit of spermatozoa. Furthermore, the compilation of several differential proteomic studies focused on male infertility reveals potential pathways disturbed in specific subtypes of male infertility and points out towards future research directions in the field.
authors: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: m.jodar.bifet@gmail.com.
authors: Meritxell
authors: M
authors: Jodar
authors: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Soler-Ventura
authors: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: roliva@ub.edu.
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: Oliva
authors: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clínic, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Epigenetics; Infertility; Proteomics; Seminal fluid; Seminal parameters; Sperm