Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (5)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stouffs, K.
Right arrow Articles by Liebaers, I.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stouffs, K.
Right arrow Articles by Liebaers, I.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 15-21, 2004
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 2004

Expression pattern of the Y-linked PRY gene suggests a function in apoptosis but not in spermatogenesis

Katrien Stouffs1,4, Willy Lissens1, Greta Verheyen2, Lisbet Van Landuyt2, Annieta Goossens3, Herman Tournaye2, André Van Steirteghem2 and Inge Liebaers1

1Center for Medical Genetics, 2Center for Reproductive Medicine and 3Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed: katrien.stouffs@az.vub.ac.be

In this study, we aimed at analysing the expression of the PRY (PTPN-13 like on the Y chromosome) gene, located on the Y chromosome, in order to define the function of this gene. Active copies of the PRY gene (PRY1 and PRY2) are located in the AZFb region. PCR amplification of PRY cDNA indicated that the PRY gene is expressed in testicular tissue and ejaculated sperm, but not in Percoll-treated sperm. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry on testicular tissue showed the expression of the PRY gene in a small number of spermatozoa and spermatids. In the ejaculate of the male partner of 18 infertile couples, the PRY protein was found in 1.5–51.2% of spermatozoa and in most of the sperm precursor cells. The percentage of spermatozoa showing DNA fragmentation was also determined in 13 of these samples, by using the TdT (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase)-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) reaction. These data correlated with the percentage of PRY-positive cells. When double labelling for PRY and DNA fragmentation was performed to assess whether PRY-positive cells also show DNA fragmentation, we saw that 27–48% of the PRY-positive spermatozoa were also positive for the TUNEL reaction. The overall data of RNA analysis, immunocytochemistry and the TUNEL reaction indicate that the role of the PRY gene in spermatogenesis can be questioned, but suggest its involvement in apoptosis of spermatids and spermatozoa.

Key words: Key words: apoptosis/male infertility/PRY/Y chromosome


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
S.E. Kleiman, L. Yogev, R. Hauser, A. Botchan, B.B.-S. Maymon, G. Paz, and H. Yavetz
Expression profile of AZF genes in testicular biopsies of azoospermic men
Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2007; 22(1): 151 - 158.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
F. Brugnon, E. Van Assche, G. Verheyen, B. Sion, D. Boucher, J.L. Pouly, L. Janny, P. Devroey, I. Liebaers, and A. Van Steirteghem
Study of two markers of apoptosis and meiotic segregation in ejaculated sperm of chromosomal translocation carrier patients
Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2006; 21(3): 685 - 693.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.