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The epididymis-specific antimicrobial peptide β-defensin 15 is required for sperm motility and male fertility in the rat (Rattus norvegicus)

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Abstract

Spermatozoa acquire forward motility and fertilizing capacity during their transit through the epididymis. The maturation process involves modifications of the sperm surface by different proteins that are secreted by a series of specialized regions in the epididymal epithelium. Here we show that the rat epididymis-specific β-defensin 15 (Defb15) exhibits an androgen-dependent expression pattern, and it can bind to the acrosomal region of caput sperm. Coculture of caput spermatozoa with Defb15 antibody in vitro resulted in a significant decline in sperm motility. Moreover, the total and progressive motility of the spermatozoa dramatically decreased in rats when Defb15 was downregulated by lentivirus-mediated RNAi in vivo. Remarkably, knock down of Defb15 led to a reduction in fertility and embryonic development failure. In addition, the recombinant Defb15 showed antimicrobial activity in a dose-dependent fashion. These results suggest that Defb15 plays a dual role in both sperm maturation and pathogen defense in rat epididymis.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Aihua Liu for tissue section preparation and technical assistance in examining vaginal smears of female rats, and Drs. Yuchan Zhou and Wuzi Dong for advice concerning RNAi. This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Science Research and Development Project of China (2006CB504002 and 2006CB944002), the Chinese Academy of Sciences Knowledge Innovation Program (KSCX1-YW-R-54, KSCX2-YW-R-54), and the National Natural Science Foundation Key Project of China (30930053).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China

    Yue Zhao, Zimei Ni, Shuanggang Hu & Yonglian Zhang

  2. Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, 200031, Shanghai, China

    Hua Diao, Heguo Yu & Yonglian Zhang

  3. The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China

    Yue Zhao & Shuanggang Hu

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  1. Yue Zhao
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  2. Hua Diao
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Correspondence to Yonglian Zhang.

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Zhao, Y., Diao, H., Ni, Z. et al. The epididymis-specific antimicrobial peptide β-defensin 15 is required for sperm motility and male fertility in the rat (Rattus norvegicus). Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 68, 697–708 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-010-0478-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-010-0478-4

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