Localization of aquaporin-7 in human testis and ejaculated sperm: Possible involvement in maintenance of sperm quality
Localization of aquaporin-7 in human testis and ejaculated sperm: Possible involvement in maintenance of sperm quality
复制标题
DOI：
10.1097/01.ju.0000141499.08650.ab
复制
发表时间：
2004-11-01
影响因子：
6.6
通讯作者：
Sasaki, S
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Saito, K;Kageyama, Y;Sasaki, S
目的：我们此前报道了水通道蛋白-7 （AQP7）在大鼠睾丸中的表达，并从睾丸cDNA文库中克隆了人类AQP7。然而，据我们所知，AQP7在人类中的空间表达模式和生物学作用仍有待阐明。材料与方法：研究AQP7在人类睾丸、可育男性和不孕症患者射精精子中的表达。结果：AQP7在人睾丸精细胞和精子尾部均有表达。AQP7蛋白也存在于射精的中间和前部。然而，尽管所有有生育能力的男性都表达AQP7蛋白，但一些不育患者的射精精子中缺乏AQP7蛋白的表达。AQP7阴性精子的活动力率显著低于AQP7阳性精子，而AQP7阳性和阴性受试者的精子浓度无差异。结论：AQP7在人睾丸中具有空间表达模式。AQP7可能参与精子活力的维持。此外，精子中AQP7表达不足可能是男性不育的潜在机制。
Purpose: We have previously reported the expression of aquaporin-7 (AQP7) in the rat testis and cloned human AQP7 from the testicular cDNA library. However, to our knowledge the spatial expression pattern and biological roles of AQP7 remain to be elucidated in humans.Materials and Methods: We investigated AQP7 expression in the human testis and ejaculated sperm from fertile men and from infertile patients.Results: AQP7 was expressed at the tail of spermatids and spermatozoa in the human testis. AQP7 protein was also detected at the middle piece and the anterior tale portion of ejaculated sperm. However, some infertile patients lacked AQP7 expression in ejaculated sperm, although all fertile men expressed AQP7 protein. The motility rate of AQP7 negative sperm was significantly lower than that of AQP7 positive sperm, while the sperm concentration was not different between AQP7 positive and negative subjects.Conclusions: AQP7 shows a spatial expression pattern in the human testis. AQP7 may be involved in the maintenance of sperm motility. Furthermore, a lack of AQP7 expression in sperm may be an underlying mechanism of male infertility.