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Heterogeneous distribution of histone methylation in mature human sperm

  • Epigenetics
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To analyze the presence of various histone modifications in ejaculated human spermatozoa

Methods

In this prospective study, seminal ejaculates from 39 normozoospermic individuals were evaluated for semen analysis and the presence of histone modifications in isolated nuclei.

Results

We observed heterogeneous presence of histone methylation in normal mature human sperm. We observed that 12 to 30 % of the nuclei of normal sperm contain a heterogeneous distribution of the marks H3K4Me1, H3K9Me2, H3K4Me3, H3K79Me2, and H3K36Me3. Moreover, the presence of these marks is higher in the poor motile fraction of the ejaculate, which is associated with poor morphology and functional quality. In contrast, we did not observe histone acetylation (H3K4Ac and H4K5Ac) in normal or abnormal mature human sperm

Conclusions

Defects in the process of spermatogenesis may alter the correct epigenetic programing in mature sperm. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact of these findings in human infertility

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Drs. Paula Stein, Juan G. Alvarez, Juan C. Calvo and Lucrecia Calvo and Alejandra Vitale for their comments and technical assistance. RMR is supported by F21C Reproductive Biology Group, University of Missouri. MGB, VJ, MR are supported by CONICET, Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Florenza A. La Spina, Marina Romanato, Vanina Julianelli & Mariano G. Buffone

  2. Centro Médico Seremas, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Santiago Brugo-Olmedo & Sabrina De Vincentiis

  3. Animal Science Research Center, Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

    Rocio M. Rivera

Authors
  1. Florenza A. La Spina
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  2. Marina Romanato
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  3. Santiago Brugo-Olmedo
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  4. Sabrina De Vincentiis
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  5. Vanina Julianelli
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  6. Rocio M. Rivera
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  7. Mariano G. Buffone
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariano G. Buffone.

Additional information

Capsule Histone modifications in human sperm.

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La Spina, F.A., Romanato, M., Brugo-Olmedo, S. et al. Heterogeneous distribution of histone methylation in mature human sperm. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 45–49 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0137-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0137-4

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