| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sperm protamine deficiency is observed in a subset of infertile men suggesting that the relative histone to protamine ratio may be altered in the spermatozoa of these men. We measured the ratio of nuclear histones to protamines in the spermatozoa of fertile (n=10) and infertile men (n=20). Sperm nuclear proteins were extracted and subsequently separated by acid-urea (AU) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative histone (H2B) to protamine (PRM1+ PRM2) and PRM1 to PRM2 ratios were estimated by densitometric analysis of the AU gels. Immunoblotting experiments (using H2B, PRM1 and PRM2 antibodies) were conducted to confirm the specificity of the bands. The pattern and intensity of H2B staining in human spermatozoa was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Sperm samples from the infertile men in this study had a significantly higher proportion of histone H2B to protamine (PRM1+ PRM2) than did samples from the fertile men in this study (0.38 vs. 0.08, P<0.001). Immunocytochemistry experiments demonstrated a punctuated staining pattern (with strong, intermediate or weak H2B staining intensity) throughout the sperm head. Infertile men had a higher proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting strong and intermediate staining than did samples from fertile men. These findings suggest that infertile men possess a higher proportion of spermatozoa with an increased histone to protamine ratio than fertile controls.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  L. Ramos, G.W. van der Heijden, A. Derijck, J.H. Berden, J.A.M. Kremer, J. van der Vlag, and P. de Boer Incomplete nuclear transformation of human spermatozoa in oligo-astheno-teratospermia: characterization by indirect immunofluorescence of chromatin and thiol status Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2008; 23(2): 259 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Steger, J. Wilhelm, L. Konrad, T. Stalf, R. Greb, T. Diemer, S. Kliesch, M. Bergmann, and W. Weidner Both protamine-1 to protamine-2 mRNA ratio and Bcl2 mRNA content in testicular spermatids and ejaculated spermatozoa discriminate between fertile and infertile men Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2008; 23(1): 11 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. L. Brackett, E. Ibrahim, J. A. Grotas, T. C. Aballa, and C. M. Lynne Higher Sperm DNA Damage in Semen From Men With Spinal Cord Injuries Compared With Controls J Androl, January 1, 2008; 29(1): 93 - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. T. Carrell, B. R. Emery, and S. Hammoud Altered protamine expression and diminished spermatogenesis: what is the link? Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2007; 13(3): 313 - 327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Singleton, A. Zalensky, G.F. Doncel, M. Morshedi, and I.A. Zalenskaya Testis/sperm-specific histone 2B in the sperm of donors and subfertile patients: variability and relation to chromatin packaging Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 22(3): 743 - 750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. W. Aoki, B. R. Emery, L. Liu, and D. T. Carrell Protamine Levels Vary Between Individual Sperm Cells of Infertile Human Males and Correlate With Viability and DNA Integrity J Androl, November 1, 2006; 27(6): 890 - 898. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. V. Zubkova and B. Robaire Effects of ageing on spermatozoal chromatin and its sensitivity to in vivo and in vitro oxidative challenge in the Brown Norway rat Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2006; 21(11): 2901 - 2910. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Zini and J. Libman Sperm DNA damage: clinical significance in the era of assisted reproduction. Can. Med. Assoc. J., August 29, 2006; 175(5): 495 - 500. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
