title: Ubiquitin Carboxy-Terminal HydrolaseL3 Correlates with Human Sperm Count, Motility and Fertilization.
abstract: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) belongs to the group of deubiquitinating enzymes and plays a part in apoptosis of germ cells and the differentiation of spermatocytes into spermatids. However, the exact role of UCHL3 in human spermatogenesis and sperm function remains unknown. Here we examined the level and activity of UCHL3 in spermatozoa from men with asthenozoospermia (A), oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) or normozoospermia (N). Immunofluorescence indicated that UCHL3 was mainly localized in the acrosome and throughout the flagella, and western blotting revealed a lower level in A or OA compared with N (p < 0.05). The catalytic activity of UCHL3 was decreased in spermatozoa from A or OA (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, respectively). The level and activity of UCHL3 were positively correlated with sperm count, concentration and motility. The UCHL3 level was positively correlated with the normal fertilization rate (FR) and percentage of embryos suitable for transfer/cryopreservation of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The UCHL3 activity was also positively correlated with FR, the percentage of embryos suitable for transfer/cryopreservation and high-quality embryos rate of IVF. Aforementioned correlations were not manifested in intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). These findings suggest that UCHL3 may play a role in male infertility.
authors: Department of Physiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.|Key Medical Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Meijiao
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Key Medical Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Tinghe
authors: T
authors: Yu
authors: Key Medical Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.|Center of Reproductive Medicine of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Hu
authors: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Cheng
authors: Center of Reproductive Medicine of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000201:enzymology; D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000201:enzymology*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005407:Flagella / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000201:enzymology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: C509806:UCHL3 protein, human; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases