Evaluation of PLCζ and PAWP Expression in Globozoospermic Individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Globozoospermia is a rare type of teratozoospermia with incidence of 0.1% among infertile individuals. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and postacrosomal sheath WW domain binding protein (PAWP) are the main candidates in sperm taking responsibility for oocyte activation during fertilization. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the expression of these two genes at RNA and protein levels in globozoospermic individuals and compare the results with fertile individuals.


METHODS
In this experimental study, semen samples of 21 infertile men with globozoospermia and 25 fertile men were collected. Expression of PLCζ and PAWP at RNA and protein levels were assessed and compared between two groups by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot, respectively.


RESULTS
Expression of both PLCζ and PAWP were significantly reduced at RNA and protein levels in infertile men with globozoospermia compared to fertile men.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study that simultaneously assessing the respective factors in a large population of globozoospermia, suggested that intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) along with artificial oocyte activation may rescue failed fertilization in routine ICSI.
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.
Majid
M
Kamali-Dolat Abadi
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.
Marziyeh
M
Tavalaee
Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Abdolhossein
A
Shahverdi
Department of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran; Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran.
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Nasr-Esfahani
Globozoospermia; PAWP; PLCζ