Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 11, 984-991,
November 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Testis and spermatogenesis |
Caspase activity and apoptotic markers in ejaculated human sperm
1 The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 2 The Center for Pediatric Research, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA and 3 Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
The objectives of this study were to determine if human ejaculated sperm exhibit active caspases and if caspase-dependent apoptosis markers are identifiable. Sperm from fertile donors and infertile patients were examined after gradient separation into leukocyte-free fractions of high and low motility. Sperm were evaluated for motion parameters, morphology, caspase activation, and apoptosis markers including phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation (annexin V binding) and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL). Active caspase-3 was detected by immunofluorescent microscopy in a small proportion of sperm in situ, in fractions of high and low motility sperm of patients and donors, but low motility fractions had significantly higher numbers of positive sperm. Immunoblot analysis detected inactive procaspase-3 (32 kDa) in all fractions of low sperm motility from patients and donors, while active caspase-3 (17 kDa) was only detected by immunoblotting in a limited number of low motility fractions from patients and in even fewer fractions from donors. Caspase enzymatic activity, as measured using the fluorogenic substrate DEVD-afc, was higher in patients than in donors in both low and high motility fractions. Annexin V staining and DNA fragmentation were detected in a proportion of sperm, with a higher frequency in the low motility fractions. A significant positive correlation between in-situ active caspase-3 in the sperm midpiece and DNA fragmentation was observed in the low motility fractions of patients, suggesting that caspase-dependent apoptotic mechanisms could originate in the cytoplasmic droplet or within mitochondria and function in the nucleus. These data suggest that in some ejaculated sperm populations, caspases are present and may function to increase PS translocation and DNA fragmentation.
apoptosis/caspase-3/DNA fragmentation/phosphatidylserine translocation/sperm
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, 601 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA. E-mail: oehninsc{at}evms.edu
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C. L.R. Barratt, R. J. Aitken, L. Bjorndahl, D. T. Carrell, P. de Boer, U. Kvist, S. E.M. Lewis, S. D. Perreault, M. J. Perry, L. Ramos, et al. Sperm DNA: organization, protection and vulnerability: from basic science to clinical applications--a position report Hum. Reprod., February 6, 2010; (2010) dep465v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R.J. Aitken and G.N. De Iuliis On the possible origins of DNA damage in human spermatozoa Mol. Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2010; 16(1): 3 - 13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Ramalho-Santos, S. Varum, S. Amaral, P. C. Mota, A. P. Sousa, and A. Amaral Mitochondrial functionality in reproduction: from gonads and gametes to embryos and embryonic stem cells Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2009; 15(5): 553 - 572. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Espinoza, U. Paasch, and J. V. Villegas Mitochondrial membrane potential disruption pattern in human sperm Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2009; 24(9): 2079 - 2085. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.K. Thomson, S.D. Fleming, R.J. Aitken, G.N. De Iuliis, J.-A. Zieschang, and A.M. Clark Cryopreservation-induced human sperm DNA damage is predominantly mediated by oxidative stress rather than apoptosis Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2009; 24(9): 2061 - 2070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. Martinez-Pastor, E. Aisen, M. R. Fernandez-Santos, M. C Esteso, A. Maroto-Morales, O. Garcia-Alvarez, and J J. Garde Reactive oxygen species generators affect quality parameters and apoptosis markers differently in red deer spermatozoa Reproduction, February 1, 2009; 137(2): 225 - 235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. M. Said, A. Agarwal, M. Zborowski, S. Grunewald, H.-J. Glander, and U. Paasch Utility of Magnetic Cell Separation as a Molecular Sperm Preparation Technique J Androl, March 1, 2008; 29(2): 134 - 142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Marchiani, L. Tamburrino, A. Maoggi, G.B. Vannelli, G. Forti, E. Baldi, and M. Muratori Characterization of M540 bodies in human semen: evidence that they are apoptotic bodies Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 13(9): 621 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Aziz, T. Said, U. Paasch, and A. Agarwal The relationship between human sperm apoptosis, morphology and the sperm deformity index Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2007; 22(5): 1413 - 1419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Perticarari, G. Ricci, M. Granzotto, R. Boscolo, C. Pozzobon, S. Guarnieri, A. Sartore, and G. Presani A new multiparameter flow cytometric method for human semen analysis Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2007; 22(2): 485 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Hakimi, I. Geary, A. Pacey, and A. Eley Spermicidal Activity of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide Is Only Partly Due to Lipid A J Androl, November 1, 2006; 27(6): 774 - 779. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Torregrosa, D. Dominguez-Fandos, M. I. Camejo, C. R. Shirley, M. L. Meistrich, J. L. Ballesca, and R. Oliva Protamine 2 precursors, protamine 1/protamine 2 ratio, DNA integrity and other sperm parameters in infertile patients Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2006; 21(8): 2084 - 2089. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Smith, H. Kaune, D. Parodi, M. Madariaga, R. Rios, I. Morales, and A. Castro Increased sperm DNA damage in patients with varicocele: relationship with seminal oxidative stress Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2006; 21(4): 986 - 993. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Muriel, M. Meseguer, J. L. Fernandez, J. Alvarez, J. Remohi, A. Pellicer, and N. Garrido Value of the sperm chromatin dispersion test in predicting pregnancy outcome in intrauterine insemination: a blind prospective study Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2006; 21(3): 738 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
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]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Said, A. Agarwal, S. Grunewald, M. Rasch, T. Baumann, C. Kriegel, L. Li, H.-J. Glander, A. J. Thomas Jr., and U. Paasch Selection of Nonapoptotic Spermatozoa As a New Tool for Enhancing Assisted Reproduction Outcomes: An In Vitro Model Biol Reprod, March 1, 2006; 74(3): 530 - 537. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Z. Chen, R. Hauser, A. M. Trbovich, J. L. Shifren, D. J. Dorer, L. Godfrey-Bailey, and N. P. Singh The Relationship Between Human Semen Characteristics and Sperm Apoptosis: A Pilot Study J Androl, January 1, 2006; 27(1): 112 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Sergerie, G. Laforest, L. Bujan, F. Bissonnette, and G. Bleau Sperm DNA fragmentation: threshold value in male fertility Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2005; 20(12): 3446 - 3451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Martin, O. Sabido, P. Durand, and R. Levy Phosphatidylserine externalization in human sperm induced by calcium ionophore A23187: relationship with apoptosis, membrane scrambling and the acrosome reaction Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2005; 20(12): 3459 - 3468. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Eley, S. Hosseinzadeh, H. Hakimi, I. Geary, and A.A. Pacey Apoptosis of ejaculated human sperm is induced by co-incubation with Chlamydia trachomatis lipopolysaccharide Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2005; 20(9): 2601 - 2607. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Almeida, M. F.Cardoso, M. Sousa, P. Viana, A. Goncalves, J. Silva, and A. Barros Quantitative study of caspase-3 activity in semen and after swim-up preparation in relation to sperm quality Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2005; 20(5): 1307 - 1313. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
U. Paasch, R. K. Sharma, A. K. Gupta, S. Grunewald, E. J. Mascha, A. J. Thomas Jr, H.-J. Glander, and A. Agarwal Cryopreservation and Thawing Is Associated with Varying Extent of Activation of Apoptotic Machinery in Subsets of Ejaculated Human Spermatozoa Biol Reprod, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 1828 - 1837. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.L. Taylor, S.L. Weng, P. Fox, E.H. Duran, M.S. Morshedi, S. Oehninger, and S.J. Beebe Somatic cell apoptosis markers and pathways in human ejaculated sperm: potential utility as indicators of sperm quality Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2004; 10(11): 825 - 834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Muratori, I. Porazzi, M. Luconi, S. Marchiani, G. Forti, and E. Baldi Annexin V Binding and Merocyanine Staining Fail to Detect Human Sperm Capacitation J Androl, September 1, 2004; 25(5): 797 - 810. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Lambard, I. Galeraud-Denis, G. Martin, R. Levy, A. Chocat, and S. Carreau Analysis and significance of mRNA in human ejaculated sperm from normozoospermic donors: relationship to sperm motility and capacitation Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2004; 10(7): 535 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Martin, O. Sabido, P. Durand, and R. Levy Cryopreservation Induces an Apoptosis-Like Mechanism in Bull Sperm Biol Reprod, July 1, 2004; 71(1): 28 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Cayli, D. Sakkas, L. Vigue, R. Demir, and G. Huszar Cellular maturity and apoptosis in human sperm: creatine kinase, caspase-3 and Bcl-XL levels in mature and diminished maturity sperm Mol. Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2004; 10(5): 365 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Marchetti, M.-A. Gallego, A. Defossez, P. Formstecher, and P. Marchetti Staining of human sperm with fluorochrome-labeled inhibitor of caspases to detect activated caspases: correlation with apoptosis and sperm parameters Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2004; 19(5): 1127 - 1134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. M. Said, U. Paasch, H.-J. Glander, and A. Agarwal Role of caspases in male infertility Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2004; 10(1): 39 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Stouffs, W. Lissens, G. Verheyen, L. Van Landuyt, A. Goossens, H. Tournaye, A. Van Steirteghem, and I. Liebaers Expression pattern of the Y-linked PRY gene suggests a function in apoptosis but not in spermatogenesis Mol. Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2004; 10(1): 15 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. H. Moustafa, R. K. Sharma, J. Thornton, E. Mascha, M. A. Abdel-Hafez, A. J. Thomas, and A. Agarwal Relationship between ROS production, apoptosis and DNA denaturation in spermatozoa from patients examined for infertility Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2004; 19(1): 129 - 138. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.J. de Vries, T. Wiedmer, P.J. Sims, and B.M. Gadella Caspase-Independent Exposure of Aminophospholipids and Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Bicarbonate Responsive Human Sperm Cells Biol Reprod, June 1, 2003; 68(6): 2122 - 2134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E.H. Duran, M. Morshedi, S. Taylor, and S. Oehninger Sperm DNA quality predicts intrauterine insemination outcome: a prospective cohort study Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2002; 17(12): 3122 - 3128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|