2029 SPERM PROTAMINE MRNA RATIO AS A CLINICAL PARAMETER TO ESTIMATE THE FERTILIZING POTENTIAL OF MEN TAKING PART IN AN IVF/ICSI PROGRAM

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Basic Research, Physiology, Pathophysiology1 Apr 20132029 SPERM PROTAMINE MRNA RATIO AS A CLINICAL PARAMETER TO ESTIMATE THE FERTILIZING POTENTIAL OF MEN TAKING PART IN AN IVF/ICSI PROGRAM Nina Rogenhofer, Temuujin Dansranjavin, Martin Schorsch, Andrej Spiess, Hongxiang Wang, von Schönfeldt Viktoria, Heike Cappallo-Obermann, Vera Baukloh, Hao Yang, Agnieszka Paradowska, Bin Chen, Christian Thaler, Wolfgang Weidner, Hans-Christian Schuppe, and Klaus Steger Nina RogenhoferNina Rogenhofer Munich, Germany More articles by this author , Temuujin DansranjavinTemuujin Dansranjavin Giessen, Germany More articles by this author , Martin SchorschMartin Schorsch Wiesbaden, Germany More articles by this author , Andrej SpiessAndrej Spiess Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author , Hongxiang WangHongxiang Wang Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author , von Schönfeldt Viktoriavon Schönfeldt Viktoria Munich, Germany More articles by this author , Heike Cappallo-ObermannHeike Cappallo-Obermann Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author , Vera BauklohVera Baukloh Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author , Hao YangHao Yang Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author , Agnieszka ParadowskaAgnieszka Paradowska Giessen, Germany More articles by this author , Bin ChenBin Chen Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author , Christian ThalerChristian Thaler Munich, Germany More articles by this author , Wolfgang WeidnerWolfgang Weidner Giessen, Germany More articles by this author , Hans-Christian SchuppeHans-Christian Schuppe Giessen, Germany More articles by this author , and Klaus StegerKlaus Steger Giessen, Germany More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.2448AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Production of competent sperm requires replacement of DNA-binding histones by protamines. In man, the relative proportion of protamine-1 to protamine-2 is regulated at approximately an 1:1 ratio. Numerous studies reported a correlation between an aberrant protamine ratio and male infertility. We performed a multicentre study to analyse prognostic value and clinical utility of the protamine ratio in ejaculated spermatozoa for the discrimination between fertile and subfertile men. Furthermore, it should be investigated whether the protamine ratio correlates with fertilization and pregnancy rates of infertile couples undergoing IVF or ICSI. METHODS Semen was obtained from 306 patients, whose female partners took part in an IVF (n=76, Hamburg, Shanghai) or an ICSI (n=230, Munich, Wiesbaden) program. 32 healthy volunteers revealing normozoospermia served as control. The protamine ratio was determined applying real-time quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS 1. The protamine ratio discriminates between fertile and subfertile men. While the protamine ratio in IVF patients is similar to that of normozoospermic healthy volunteers (0.98±0.3), it is significantly different from that of ICSI patients (Munich 0.81±0.1, Wiesbaden 0.78±0.2; p<0.001). (2) Normal protamine ratio was associated with a significantly higher total motile sperm count (TMSC) compared to semen samples with an aberrant protamine mRNA ratio (IVF, p=0.004; ICSI, p=0.027). Analysing single read-out parameters reflecting sperm quality in ejaculates from IVF patients, 58%±16% of sperm with a normal protamine ratio were progressive motile, while the respective proportion of sperm with an aberrant protamine ratio was only 33%±19% (p<0.001). (3) Sperm with normal protamine ratio reveal higher fertilization capacity in both IVF and ICSI. 53.6% of IVF patients with a normal protamine mRNA ratio exhibited a fertilizing capacity of ≥80%, while 78.9% with an aberrant protamine ratio displayed a fertilizing capacity of <80% (p=0.017). In ICSI patients, 65.1% with a normal protamine ratio reveal a fertilizing capacity of ≥70%, whereas 56.0% with an aberrant protamine ratio display a fertilizing capacity of <70% (p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS The protamine mRNA ratio clearly discriminates between fertile and subfertile men and therefore represents an excellent prognostic marker to estimate the sperm fertilizing potential in patients with an infertile relationship in addition to standard semen parameters. © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e833 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Nina Rogenhofer Munich, Germany More articles by this author Temuujin Dansranjavin Giessen, Germany More articles by this author Martin Schorsch Wiesbaden, Germany More articles by this author Andrej Spiess Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author Hongxiang Wang Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author von Schönfeldt Viktoria Munich, Germany More articles by this author Heike Cappallo-Obermann Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author Vera Baukloh Hamburg, Germany More articles by this author Hao Yang Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author Agnieszka Paradowska Giessen, Germany More articles by this author Bin Chen Shanghai, China, People's Republic of More articles by this author Christian Thaler Munich, Germany More articles by this author Wolfgang Weidner Giessen, Germany More articles by this author Hans-Christian Schuppe Giessen, Germany More articles by this author Klaus Steger Giessen, Germany More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...