Journal of Andrology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Published-Ahead-of-Print November 8, 2005, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.05108

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

Polyol pathway in human epididymis and semen

Gilles Frenette , Michel Thabet , and Robert Sullivan *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. 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 to membranous vesicles called epididymosomes. Based on the distribution of these enzymes, it has been hypothesized that the polyol pathway can modulated sperm motility during the epididymal transit. In the present study, polyol pathway was investigated in semen and along the epididymis in human in order to determine if sperm maturation can be associated to this sugar pathway. Western blot analysis shows that both aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase are associated to ejaculated spermatozoa and prostasomes in human. These enzymes are also associated with epididymosomes collected during surgical vasectomy reversal. Western blot, Northern blot, and RT-PCR analysis show that aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase are expressed at the transcriptional and translational levels along the human epididymis. By opposition to the bovine, distribution of these enzymes is rather uniform along the human excurrent duct. Immunohistological studies together with Western blots analysis performed on epididymosomes preparation suggest that the polyol pathway enzymes are secreted by the epididymal epithelium. These results suggest that the polyol pathway plays a role in human sperm physiology.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Mol Cancer ResHome page
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]

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

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
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]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
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]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Andrology.