Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on October 1, 2004
Molecular Human Reproduction 2004 10(11):825-834; doi:10.1093/molehr/gah099
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Somatic cell apoptosis markers and pathways in human ejaculated sperm: potential utility as indicators of sperm quality
1The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia and 2Center for Pediatric Research and Department of Physiological Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School and the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Center for Pediatric Research, 855 W. Brambleton Ave. Norfolk, VA 23510, USA. Email: sbeebe{at}chkd.com
In this study we extended earlier work to determine whether sperm respond to somatic cell apoptotic stimuli and whether apoptotic phenotypes are significant indicators of human sperm quality. We evaluated ejaculated sperm from fertile donors and subfertile patients following purification of fractions of high and low motility. In unstimulated conditions, caspase enzymatic activity was higher in motile fractions from subfertile patients than in donors, and was higher in low motility fractions from both groups. Staurosporine, but not a Fas ligand or H2O2, significantly increased caspase activity, but only in high motility fractions. Procaspase-3, -7 and -9 and low levels of active caspase-3, -7 and -9 were identified by immunoblot analysis. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was present in all samples but poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1) was not detected. Phosphatidylserine translocation was significantly increased only with H2O2 treatment. In ejaculates of both subfertile and fertile men, we demonstrated the presence and activation of several proteins that are key constituents of apoptosis-related pathways in somatic cells, which may serve as markers for sperm quality.
Key words: caspase activity/apoptosis/apoptosis-inducing factor/infertility/phosphatidylserine translocation/sperm
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