Tian Hong, Qiu Shu-Dong, Zhang Qiu-Yang, Xue Xia, Ge Ling, Wang Li-Rong
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2008 Mar;14(3):200-5.
To investigate the effects of experimental left varicocele (ELV) on the expression of sperm associated antigen 11 (SPAG11) mRNA and its protein isomer SPAG11E in the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats, and to explore the mechanism of infertility caused by varicocele.
The experimental left varicocele model was established in the adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats. Two and 4 weeks after the operation, the changes of SPAG11 mRNA and SPAG11E expression in the testis and epididymis were detected using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
The expected product of SPAG11 367 bp amplified by RT-PCR was detected only in the epididymis. SPAG11E protein was observed mainly in the acrosomal vesicles and acrosome of round and elongating spermatids of the seminiferous epithelium, in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells, and in the supranuclear region of principle cells and stereocilia of the epididymal epithelium. Imaging and statistical analysis showed that SPAG11 mRNA and SPAG11E protein expressions in the left epididymis of the 2- and 4-week ELV groups presented a remarkable decrease (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) compared with the right side and the corresponding control group, and the same decreased change in the left epididymis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and an obvious reduction of SPAG11E immunopositive reaction in the right epididymis (P < 0.01) were noted in the 4-week group as compared with the 2-week group. No statistical difference of SPAG11E expression in the bilateral testes was found (P > 0.05) between the ELV group and the control, as well as between the 2- and 4-week ELV groups.
SPAG11 is a specific gene expressed in the epididymis. The localization and expression of SPAG11E exhibited a region- and cell-specific pattern in both the testis and epididymis of adolescent rats. The expression levels of both SPAG11 mRNA and SPAG11E protein altered obviously in ELV rats. The results suggest that SPAG11 may not only play an important role in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, but also be associated with varicocele-induced male infertility or subfertility.
研究实验性左侧精索静脉曲张（ELV）对青春期大鼠睾丸和附睾中精子相关抗原11（SPAG11）mRNA及其蛋白异构体SPAG11E表达的影响，探讨精索静脉曲张导致不育的机制。
在青春期雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠中建立实验性左侧精索静脉曲张模型。术后2周和4周，采用免疫组织化学和逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测睾丸和附睾中SPAG11 mRNA和SPAG11E表达的变化。
RT-PCR扩增出的SPAG11 367 bp预期产物仅在附睾中检测到。SPAG11E蛋白主要在生精上皮的圆形和伸长精子细胞的顶体小泡和顶体、睾丸间质细胞的细胞质以及附睾上皮主细胞和静纤毛的核上区域观察到。成像和统计分析表明，与右侧及相应对照组相比，2周和4周ELV组左侧附睾中SPAG11 mRNA和SPAG11E蛋白表达显著降低（P<0.05或P<0.01），4周组与2周组相比，左侧附睾出现相同的降低变化（P<0.05或P<0.01），右侧附睾中SPAG11E免疫阳性反应明显减少（P<0.01）。ELV组与对照组之间以及2周和4周ELV组之间，双侧睾丸中SPAG11E表达无统计学差异（P>0.05）。
SPAG11是在附睾中表达的特异性基因。SPAG11E在青春期大鼠睾丸和附睾中的定位及表达呈现区域和细胞特异性模式。ELV大鼠中SPAG11 mRNA和SPAG11E蛋白的表达水平均明显改变。结果表明，SPAG11不仅可能在精子发生和精子成熟中起重要作用，还可能与精索静脉曲张引起的男性不育或生育力低下有关。
