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A proteomic analysis on human sperm tail: comparison between normozoospermia and asthenozoospermia

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

Abstract

Purpose

Asthenozoospermia is a common cause of human male infertility characterized by reduced sperm motility. The molecular mechanism that impairs sperm motility is not fully understood. This study proposed to identify novel biomarkers by focusing on sperm tail proteomic analysis of asthenozoospermic patients.

Methods

Sperm were isolated from normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic semen samples. Tail fractions were obtained by sonication followed by Percoll gradient. The proteins were extracted by solubilization and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE); then, the spots were analyzed using Image Master 2D Platinum software. The significantly increased/decreased amounts of proteins in the two groups were exploited by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry.

Results

Three hundred ninety protein spots were detected in both groups. Twenty-one protein spots that had significantly altered amounts (p < 0.05) were excised and exploited using MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. They led to the identification of the following 14 unique proteins: Tubulin beta 2B; glutathione S-transferase Mu 3; keratin, type II cytoskeletal 1; outer dense fiber protein 2; voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 2; A-kinase anchor protein 4; cytochrome c oxidase subunit 6B; sperm protein associated with the nucleus on the X chromosome B; phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase-mitochondrial; isoaspartyl peptidase/L-asparaginase; heat shock-related 70 kDa protein 2; stress-70 protein, mitochondrial; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, testis-specific and clusterin.

Conclusion

Fourteen proteins present in different amounts in asthenozoospermic sperm tail samples were identified, four of which are reported here for the first time. These proteins might be used as markers for the better diagnosis of sperm dysfunctions, targets for male contraceptive development, and to predict embryo quality.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all members of the infertility research and treatment center of Khuzestan and in Particular Mrs. Adham and Mrs. Ghalambaz for assistance in semen collection and analysis.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work is a part of the PhD thesis of Susan Sabbagh and was funded by Grant No. 90, from Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC 90), Ahvaz Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Authors’ contributions

Mahmoud Hashemitabar designed the project and revised manuscript.

Susan Sabbagh carried out the experiments, writing of the manuscript.

Mahmoud Orazizadeh participated in its design.

Maryam Bahmanzadeh participated in analysis of data and writing of the manuscript.

Atta Ghadiri helped to draft the manuscript.

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Mahmoud Hashemitabar, Susan Sabbagh, Mahmoud Orazizadeh & Atta Ghadiri

  2. Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Maryam Bahmanzadeh

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  1. Mahmoud Hashemitabar
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  2. Susan Sabbagh
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  3. Mahmoud Orazizadeh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan Sabbagh.

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Capsule

The molecular mechanism that impairs sperm function is not fully understood. The current study evaluated the protein expression of sperm tails in asthenozoospermia patients and identified 14 proteins that had altered amounts. These are conserved proteins and probably play a critical role in sperm function. These proteins might be used as markers for the better diagnosis of sperm dysfunctions, targets for male contraceptive development, and to predict infertility and embryo quality.

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Hashemitabar, M., Sabbagh, S., Orazizadeh, M. et al. A proteomic analysis on human sperm tail: comparison between normozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 853–863 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0465-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0465-7

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