Altered microRNA expression profiles of human spermatozoa in normal fertile men of different ages / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are mediators of the aging process. The purpose of this work was to analyze the miRNA expression profiles of spermatozoa from men of different ages with normal fertility. Twenty-seven donors were divided into three groups by age (Group A, n = 8, age: 20-30 years; Group B, n = 10, age: 31-40 years; and Group C, n = 9, age: 41-55 years) for high-throughput sequencing analysis. Samples from 65 individuals (22, 22, and 21 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively) were used for validation by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A total of 2160 miRNAs were detected: 1223 were known, 937 were newly discovered and unnamed, of which 191 were expressed in all donors. A total of 7, 5, and 17 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) were found in Group A vs B, Group B vs C, and Group A vs C comparisons, respectively. Twenty-two miRNAs were statistically correlated with age. Twelve miRNAs were identified as age-associated miRNAs, including hsa-miR-127-3p, mmu-miR-5100_L+2R-1, efu-miR-9226_L-2_1ss22GA, cgr-miR-1260_L+1, hsa-miR-652-3p_R+1, pal-miR-9993a-3p_L+2R-1, hsa-miR-7977_1ss6AG, hsa-miR-106b-3p_R-1, hsa-miR-186-5p, PC-3p-59611_111, hsa-miR-93-3p_R+1, and aeca-mir-8986a-p5_1ss1GA. There were 9165 target genes of age-associated miRNAs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the target genes identified revealed enrichment of protein binding, membrane, cell cycle, and so on. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of age-related miRNAs for target genes revealed 139 enriched pathways, such as signaling pathways regulating stem cell pluripotency, metabolic pathways, and the Hippo signaling pathway. This suggests that miRNAs play a key role in male fertility changes with increasing age and provides new evidence for the study of the mechanism of age-related male fertility decline.

CMTM2 is involved in spermiogenesis in mice / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate whether CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing protein 2 (CMTM2) is involved in spermatogenesis in mice. CMTM2 is highly expressed in testis, and could possibly be a potential spermagogenesis specific gene.@*METHODS@#CMTM2-deficient mouse model was generated. Northern, RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis were performed on total RNA derived from wild-type (WT, CMTM2+/+) and CMTM2+/- (heterozygote) and CMTM2-/-(homozygote) mice to examine the CMTM2 level. The number of litters and the number of pups were counted and pregnancy rates calculated. The motility and morphology of the sperm and the histology of testes were analyzed. Serum testosterone and FSH concentrations were also measured. Standard t-tests were used and standard error of means were calculated.@*RESULTS@#CMTM2 was highly expressed in a finely regulated pattern in the mouse testis during spermatogenesis. The body weight of adult mice with CMTM2 deficiency was not significantly different from that of wild type mice. No obvious anatomical or behavioral abnormalities were observed. The testis of CMTM2-/- was smaller than that of CMTM2+/+ mice. The testis diameter in wild mice and CMTM2 null mice were (11.32±1.21) mm vs. (8.29±1.92) mm (P<0.05), and the weights were (101.63±2.33) mg vs. (85.22±2.84) mg (P<0.05), respectively. Female CMTM2 null mice were fertile, indicating that CMTM2 was not required for female gametogenesis. The CMTM2-/- mice produced virtually no sperm, and CMTM2+/- mice sperm count showed a significant decline. In terms of sperm morphorlogy study, more round spermatids could be observed in the heterozygote group, compared with the wild type group; while in the homozygote group, a large amount of round spermatids could be observed because of complete arrest of spermiogenesis. The hormone levels were not significantly different. The CMTM2-/- male mice were sterile due to a late, complete arrest of spermiogenesis. The organized architecture of the seminiferous epithelium of the seminiferous tubules seen in CMTM2+/+ mice was lost in CMTM2-/- mice.@*CONCLUSION@#This study suggests CMTM2 is not required for embryonic development in the mouse but is essential for spermiogenesis, however, further studies are required for more detailed mechanism study.

Construction and analysis of gene expression profiles in the testes of patients with unilateral cryptorchidism using cDNA gene chips / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the differentially expressed genes in the testicular tissues of men with unilateral cryptorchidism using cDNA gene chips.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Probes were prepared with the mRNA extracted from the testes of 6 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and 3 normal fertile men. Then the differential gene expression profiles of the two groups were detected with cDNA gene chips containing 45 034 genes. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed with Pathway and GO in the MAS system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on the ratio of > 3.0 or < 0.33, 346 differentially expressed genes were detected in the testis tissues of the patients with unilateral cryptorchidism, among which 60 were up-regulated and 286 down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were distributed mainly on chromosomes 1, 15, 5 and 19, associated with cell cycles, sperm motility, flagellar movement, DNA replication, and chromatin modification, while the down-regulated genes, mainly on chromosomes 1, 19, 16 and 11, related with spermatogenesis and anti-apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unilateral cryptorchidism involves the variation of the expressions of multifunctional genes. The establishment of gene expression profiles of unilateral cryptorchidism in human testes may provide a new theoretical basis for analyzing the genetic factors of unilateral cryptorchidism and investigating the etiology of spermatogenic failure.</p>

CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity and regulates StAR expression in a transgenic mouse model / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of CMTM2 on cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced reproductive toxicity and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in the transgenic mouse model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty CMTM2 transgenic mice were equally divided into a CMTM2 + CP and a CMTM2 + NS group, the former intraperitoneally injected with CP at 50 mg per kg per d, while the latter with the equivalent dose of normal saline, both for 7 days. Another 20 wild C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a WT + CP and a WT + NS group, treated the same way above. After 30 days, all the mice were sacrificed and their epididymides and testes removed for measurement of the serum testosterone level by radioimmunoassay, determination of sperm concentration and motility by light microscopy and detection of the expression of StAR by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum testosterone, sperm concentration and sperm motility were significantly decreased in the CMTM2 + CP group as compared with the CMTM2 + NS group ([42.98 +/- 3.25] nmol/L vs [46.74 +/- 3.38] nmol/L, [16.89 +/- 1.17 ] x 10(6)/ml vs [24.68 +/- 0.95 ] x 10(6)/ml, [72.75 +/- 1.25]% vs [85.14 +/- 1.12]%, P < 0.05), but remarkably less than in the WT + CP group ([37.97 +/- 4.17] nmol/L, [12.75 +/- 1.02] x 10(6)/ml, [50.52 +/- 1.37] %) (P < 0.05). However, the expression of StAR was significantly higher in the CMTM2 + CP than in the WT + CP group (1.16 +/- 0.07 vs 0.69 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CMTM2 antagonizes cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity via regulating the expression of StAR, and hence plays a protective role in the reproductive system.</p>

Androgen replacement therapy improves psychological distress and health-related quality of life in late onset hypogonadism patients in Chinese population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Late onset hypogonadism negatively impacts on men's psychological well-being. This study was conducted to examine the interrelationship among symptoms of testosterone deficiency, psychological well-being, and quality of life.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eligible subjects were randomized into active treatment and control groups, and were asked to complete the following questionnaires at baseline and month 6: aging male's symptoms (AMS) rating scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), perceived stress scale (PSS) and the short form health survey-12 (SF-12). In this study, men were treated and monitored for 6 months with oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) capsules or vitamin E/C capsules in a single-blinded fashion. All in the active treatment group were administered a total of 120 - 160 mg TU orally on a daily basis. Total and free T levels between baseline and month 6 were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One hundred and sixty eligible subjects were recruited and followed up. In the active treatment group, total serum testosterone concentrations before and after intervention were (7.98 ± 0.73) nmol/L and (13.7 ± 1.18) nmol/L. The mean HADS anxiety subscale scores for the subjects at baseline and at month 6 were 3.47 ± 0.4 and 1.72 ± 0.2, respectively (t = 1.526, P < 0.05). Additionally, the mean HADS depression subscale scores were 4.91 ± 0.6 and 2.39 ± 0.3, respectively (t = 3.466, P < 0.05). The mean scores on PSS for the subjects at baseline and at month 6 were 12.88 ± 2.1 and 9.83 ± 1.7, respectively (t = 4.009, P < 0.05). Significantly improved SF-12 could be observed (t = 1.433 and 1.118, respectively; both P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the control group at month 6.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Androgen replacement not only improves androgen deficiency associated symptoms, but also enhances comprehensive improvement in psychological issues.</p>

A live birth of activated one-day-old unfertilized oocyte for a patient who experienced repeatedly near-total fertilization failure after intracytoplasmic sperm injection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Total or near-total fertilization failure after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a rare event, but it occurs repeatedly because of sperm defects in activating oocyte. The case presents a successful pregnancy and live birth after calcium ionophore A23187 (A23187) activation on one-day-old unfertilized oocytes in a patient whose husband suffered oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, and who had experienced repeated near-total fertilization failure after ICSI. In the second ICSI cycle, only one oocyte was fertilized while nine were unfertilized. Oocyte activation with A23187 were performed on the one-day-old unfertilized oocytes after ICSI and resulted in fertilization and embryo transfer. A clinical pregnancy was achieved and a healthy baby was born. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a healthy birth after oocyte activation on the one-day-old unfertilized oocyte. This indicates that "rescue oocyte activation" on one-day-old unfertilized oocytes after ICSI may be helpful for preventing total or near-total fertilization failure after ICSI.

Successful treatment of high-flow priapism by selective arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnosis and treatment of high-flow priapism (HFP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four cases of HFP following blunt trauma to the penis or perinea underwent diagnostic examination by colour-flow Doppler ultrasound and/or superselective pudendal arteriography, which revealed bilateral arteriocorporal fistula in 1 case and monolateral in the other 3. Penile detumescence was obtained in 2 cases by superselective bilateral/monolateral arteriographic embolization of the pudendal artery with absorbable gelatin</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The former 2 cases effected an immediate recovery of the sponge, while the other 2 cases received conservative treatment. Erectile function, able to perform normal sexual intercourse in approximately 2 months. But in the latter 2, follow-up revealed unsatisfactory potency.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Superselective arteriographic embolization with absorbable gelatin sponge can provide a safe, selective and effective treatment for HFP patients.</p>

Construction of an antisense RNA recombinant adenovirus vector of the human PDE5A1 gene promoter / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct an antisense RNA recombinant adenovirus vector of the human PDE5A1 promoter gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cDNA fragment containing the human PDE5A1 promoter and the human PDE5A1-specific exon was determined according to the gene bank. The antisense RNA fragment was synthesized artificially and subcloned into the pENTR. Then, the sequence of pENTR fragment was detected, and the recombinant adenovirus vector pAd/CMV/V5/antisense-PDE5A1 was constructed by LR reaction with the Gateway expression system. The identified recombinant adenovirus plasmid was digested with Pac I and transformed into 293A cells to package recombinant adenovirus particles. The recombinant adenovirus particles were tested with PCR technique and purified after acquisition by CsCl density gradient ultracentrifugation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sequencing result showed a 145 bp fragment in pENTR, which was proved to be the domain of the antisense RNA fragment. PCR confirmed that the antisense RNA fragment was cloned into the recombinant adenovirus vector pAd/CMV/V5/antisense-PDE5A1 successfully and could infect 293A cells. The titer of virus stocks was up to 10(8) - 10(10)/microl after purification.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the Gateway expression system, the culturing and reproduction of 293A cells can reproduce recombinant adenovirus pAd/CMV/V5-DEST successfully, and the recombinant adenovirus vector can meet the need of in vivo gene transfection in laboratory studies.</p>