Abstract
The study of sperm cellular components at molecular level is crucial for the diagnosis of male unexplained infertility. The aim of the study was to compare the molecular profile of steroid receptors and aromatase in spermatozoa obtained from two normozoospermic groups of patients issued from couples treated for infertility. We investigated 46 male patients from unexplained infertility couples and from men, 38 where female partners presented with tubal infertility. Sperm ERs (estrogen receptors: alpha and beta), GPER (G protein-coupled estrogen receptor), AR (androgen receptor) and aromatase mRNA expression levels by TaqMan qPCR were analyzed. AR transcript level was significantly lower in sperm of men from unexplained infertility couples vs. men from couples with tubal factor infertility (P = 0.04). Although the AR mRNA expression level did not had any effect on embryo development and its implantation, a significant correlation between AR mRNA levels and clinical pregnancy in unexplained infertility patients was observed. Taken together, AR transcript presence in ejaculated spermatozoa could be a potential marker for unexplained infertility.
Highlights
The role of different RNA molecules in human mature ejaculated spermatozoa still remains unexplored
Our aim was to compare the molecular profile of selected transcripts of steroid receptors: classical ERs, membrane ER known as G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), AR and CYP19A1 coding aromatase in spermatozoa obtained from normozoospermic men suffering from unexplained infertility and from a group of men, where their female partners presented with tubal factor infertility
ERα transcripts were presented in 99.9% of studied samples
Summary
The role of different RNA molecules in human mature ejaculated spermatozoa still remains unexplored. The previous dominant claim was that a population of residual mRNAs without any embryological and diagnostic values is presented in mature human sperm. Current evidence strongly suggests that gene transcripts in ejaculated spermatozoa may help to determine the male fertility potential [1]. Routine diagnostics for infertility do not indicate any functional or organic pathology responsible for infertility in about 10% - 15% of couples in reproductive age. Most of these causes are defined as unexplained infertility. The unknown cause of pregnancy failure has recently been linked to molecular male factor but unrelated to sperm count, motility or morphology [2]
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