An association between sperm PLCζ levels and varicocele?
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to compare the expression of phospholipase C ζ (PLCζ), as one of the main sperm factors involved in oocyte activation, at both RNA and protein levels in fertile men and those with varicocele.


METHODS
This study included 35 individuals with male factor infertility presenting primary infertility with grade II and III unilateral varicocele and 20 fertile men without varicocele. Semen parameters were assessed according to WHO 2010. Sperm DNA fragmentation, relative expression of PLCζ at messenger RNA, and protein levels were evaluated by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), real-time PCR, and Western blot analysis, respectively.


RESULTS
The results of this study reveal that the mean relative expression of PLCζ was significantly lower in individuals with varicocele compared to fertile men at both transcription and translation levels. In addition, the percentage of DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in infertile men with varicocele compared to fertile men.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study illustrate that one of the etiologies of reduced fertility associated with varicocele is the low expression of PLCζ. This effect could subsequently reduce the sperm ability to induce oocyte activation. Therefore, these results hold promise to modify our understanding of reproductive physiology of varicocele state.
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.|Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran.
Elham
E
Janghorban-Laricheh
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.|Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran.
Nasim
N
Ghazavi-Khorasgani
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.
Marziyeh
M
Tavalaee
Department of Biology, Nourdanesh Institute of Higher Education, Meymeh, Isfahan, Iran.
Dina
D
Zohrabi
Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran.
Homayon
H
Abbasi
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran. mh.nasr-esfahani@royaninstitute.org.|Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran. mh.nasr-esfahani@royaninstitute.org.
Mohammad H
MH
Nasr-Esfahani
D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
C499235:PLCZ1 protein, human; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C
DNA fragmentation; PLCζ; Sperm parameters; Varicocele