Expression of p97/Valosin Containing Protein in Human Sperm and Its Correlation with Semen Parameters

Abstract

Valosin-containing protein (VCP), also called p97, is a AAA+ ATPase that has been shown to be involved in many cellular events. However, there exist no information about the involvement of p97/VCP in infertile human sperm and its expression is not correlated with semen parameters. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expressional differences of p97/VCP in fertile and infertile men and its correlation with semen parameters was observed.. We investigated the expression of p97/VCP in ejaculated spermatozoa with immunocytochemistry and Western blotting in semen samples from 20 men representing a broad spectrum of semen quality. We also used donor ejaculates (n:20 men), immunocytochemistry and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression and the localization of p97/VCP. p97/VCP was highly expressed in human spermatozoa. p97/VCP expression in infertile men was significantly different compared to fertile men (p<0,05). p97/VCP expression correlated with classical semen parameters (concentration, morphology and motility) and was significantly higher in infertile men. In conlusion, p97/VCP was expressed in human spermatozoa and the expression correlated negatively with the classical semen parameters. Therefore, p97/VCP expression seems related to quality of the spermatozoa. We suggest that higher expression of p97/VCP may lead to abnormal maturation and reduced functionality of spermatozoa.

Keywords: Human sperm, p97/Valosin containing protein (VCP), infertility, immunocytochemistry, Western blotting

Special Issue of Health Sciences

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-03-39