Expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta [GSK3-beta] gene in azoospermic men

ABSTRACT

The Wnt/beta- The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is involved in many developmental processes in both fetal and adult life; its abnormalities can lead to disorders including several types of cancers and malfunction of specific cells and tissues in both animals and humans. Its role in reproductive processes has been proven. This study was designed to evaluate the expression of the key regulator of this signaling pathway GSK3-beta and its presumed role in azoospermia. WNT3[a] protein concentration and GSK3-beta gene expression levels were measured and compared between two groups of infertile men. The test groups consisted of 10 patients with obstructive and 10 non-obstructive azoospermia. The control group was selected among healthy men after vasectomies that were willing to conceive a child using a testicular biopsy technique. Samples were obtained by testicular biopsy and screened for the most common mutations [84, 86 and 255] in the SRY region before analyzing. GSK3-beta gene expression was assessed quantitatively by real time-PCR. The WNT3[a] protein concentration had no significant difference between the two test groups and controls. Expression of GSK3-beta was down-regulated in non-obstructive azoospermia [3.10 +/- 0.19] compared with normal [7.12 +/- 0.39] and obstructive azoospermia [6.32 +/- 0.42] groups [p=0.001]. Down-regulation of GSK-3beta may cause to non-obstructive azoospermia. Regulation and modification of GSK-3beta gene expression by drugs could be used as a therapeutic solution