This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 27/2/233    most recent Author Manuscript (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Frenette, G. Articles by Sullivan, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Frenette, G. Articles by Sullivan, R.

Polyol Pathway in Human Epididymis and Semen

MICHEL THABET

From the ^* Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction and the Département d'Obstétrique-Gynécologie et chirurgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.

Correspondence to: Robert Sullivan, Unité d'Ontogénie-Reproduction, Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, 2705 Blvd Laurier, Ste-Foy, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2 (e-mail: robert.sullivan{at}crchul.ulaval.ca).

Two enzymes are involved in the polyol pathway: an aldose reductase that reduces glucose in sorbitol followed by its oxidation in fructose by sorbitol dehydrogenase. It has been previously shown that both enzymes are presented in the bovine epididymis, where they are associated with membranous vesicles called epididymosomes. Based on the distribution of these enzymes, it has been hypothesized that the polyol pathway can modulate sperm motility during the epididymal transit. In the present study, polyol pathway was investigated in semen and along the epididymis in humans in order to determine if sperm maturation can be associated with this sugar pathway. Western blot analysis shows that both aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase are associated with ejaculated spermatozoa and prostasomes in humans. These enzymes are also associated with epididymosomes collected during surgical vasectomy reversal. Western blot, Northern blot, and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis show that aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase are expressed at the transcriptional and translational levels along the human epididymis. Unlike what occurs in the bovine model, distribution of these enzymes is rather uniform along the human excurrent duct. Immunohistological studies together with Western blot analysis performed on epididymosomes preparations indicate that the polyol pathway enzymes are secreted by the epididymal epithelium. These results indicate that the polyol pathway plays a role in human sperm physiology.

     Key words: Spermatozoa, sperm maturation, sperm motility

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Md. I. Hassan, A. Waheed, S. Yadav, T. P. Singh, and F. Ahmad Zinc {alpha}2-Glycoprotein: A Multidisciplinary Protein Mol. Cancer Res., June 1, 2008; 6(6): 892 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. T. Turner De Graaf's Thread: The Human Epididymis J Androl, May 1, 2008; 29(3): 237 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Girouard, G. Frenette, and R. Sullivan Seminal Plasma Proteins Regulate the Association of Lipids and Proteins Within Detergent-Resistant Membrane Domains of Bovine Spermatozoa Biol Reprod, May 1, 2008; 78(5): 921 - 931. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. K. Allen and A. C. Spradling The Sf1-related nuclear hormone receptor Hr39 regulates Drosophila female reproductive tract development and function Development, January 15, 2008; 135(2): 311 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]