Expression of Cys tathionine β-Synthase and Cys tathionineγ-Lyase in Infertile Men: A Case-Control S tudy

Background: Transsulfuration pathway (TSP) leads to the generationof several antioxidants including glutathione (GSH) andhydrogen sulfide (H۲S). The cys tathionine ß-synthase (CBS)and cys tathionine γ-lyase (CSE) are the important enzymes responsiblefor GSH and H۲S production, so the loss of CBS andCSE can lead to oxidative s tress. Spermatozoa are particularlyvulnerable to oxidative s tress. Therefore, the expression of CBSand CSE mRNA in infertile men were evaluated to clarify theirpossible role in male infertility.Materials and Methods: In this case-control s tudy, assessmentof sperm concentration, motility, and morphology was performedon ۲۰ men with varicocele (VC), ۱۰ men with oligozoospermia(OLG), ۱۰ men with as thenozoospermia (AS t), ۱۰ menwith teratozoospermia (TRA), ۱۰ men with oligoas thenoteratozoospermia(OAT), and ۱۵ fertile men. RNA was isolated fromspermatozoa for analysis of CBS and CSE genes by real-timepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: A significant decrease in sperm concentrationwas observed in all infertile groups compared to fertile men(P=۰.۰۰۰). The sperm motility was lower in AS t (P=۰.۰۰۰) andOAT (P=۰.۰۰۰) groups compared to fertile men. The spermatozoaabnormal morphology in AS t (P=۰.۰۰۱), TRA (P=۰.۰۰۴),and OAT (P=۰.۰۰۰) groups were higher than in fertile group.The expression levels of CBS mRNA in all infertile groups(P=۰.۰۰۱) were significantly lower than in fertile men. Nosignificant differences were detected in the expression of CSEmRNA in infertile groups compared to fertile men.Conclusion: The down-regulation of CBS mRNA in spermatozoais implicated in male infertility which may be associatedwith a dis turbance of antioxidants biosynthesis including GSHand H۲S.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cys tathionine β-Synthase ، Cys tathionine γ-Lyase ، Male Infertility ، Oxidative S tress