DAAM1 and PREP are involved in human spermatogenesis

During differentiation of the male gamete, there is a massive remodelling in the shape and architecture of all the cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The cytoskeleton, as well as many associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in this process. To better characterise the factors involved, we analys...

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Published inReproduction fertility and development Vol. 32; no. 5; p. 484
Main Authors Venditti, Massimo, Fasano, Chiara, Minucci, Sergio, Serino, Ismene, Sinisi, Antonio Agostino, Dale, Brian, Di Matteo, Loredana
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Australia 01.03.2020
Subjects
Adult
Asthenozoospermia - enzymology
Asthenozoospermia - physiopathology
Case-Control Studies
Humans
Male
Microfilament Proteins - analysis
Mitochondrial Proteins - analysis
rho GTP-Binding Proteins - analysis
Serine Endopeptidases - analysis
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility
Spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa - enzymology
Testis - chemistry
Testis - physiopathology
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Summary:During differentiation of the male gamete, there is a massive remodelling in the shape and architecture of all the cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The cytoskeleton, as well as many associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in this process. To better characterise the factors involved, we analysed two proteins: the formin, dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1), which participates in the regulation of actin polymerisation, and the protease, prolyl endopeptidase (PREP), engaged in microtubule-associated processes. In our previous studies we demonstrated their involvement in cytoskeletal dynamics necessary for correct postnatal development of the rat testis. Here, we used samples of testicular tissue obtained from infertile men by testicular sperm extraction and the spermatozoa of asthenoteratozoospermic patients. By western blot and immunofluorescent analysis, we found that DAAM1 and PREP expression and localisation were impaired in both the testis and spermatozoa, and in particular in the midpiece as well as in the principal and end-pieces of the flagella, as compared with spermatozoa of normospermic men. Our results provide new knowledge of the dynamics of spermatogenesis, raising the possibility of using DAAM1 and PREP as new markers of normal fertility.
ISSN:1031-3613
DOI:10.1071/RD19172