Heparin-Binding Proteins, A New Predictor of The Semen Quality via Regulation Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance

Background: Seminal plasma comprises a large collectionof proteins of clinical significance which are fundamentallyrequired to maintain the successful fertilization and the reproductivephysiology of spermatozoa. Heparin binding proteins(HBPs) are created by accessory glands and secreted into theseminal fluid. HBPs are bind to the spermatozoa at the time ofejaculation, acrosome reaction, favour capacitation. HBPs actsto alter the immune system response toward the sperm. HBPsare essential components of semen, which bind to sperm lipidscontaining the phosphorylcholine group and regulate the fertilizationprocess. On the other hand, Spermatozoa have large concentrationof polyunsaturated fatty acids in their plasma membraneand low levels of scavenging enzymes in their cytoplasm.Therefore, it is subject to peroxidation from elevated semina reactive oxygen species levels. Thus, separation and identificationof HBPs is of principal significance for their biophysicaldescription and functional examination in reproductive physiologicalprocesses.Material and Methods: Semen samples were obtained from ۶۰fertile and ۶۰ asthenozoospermic infertile men of matched age.Sub-fertile male partners from couples who had consulted theinfertility clinic of the Babil Hospital of Maternity (Hilla City,Iraq) from July ۲۰۱۵ to July ۲۰۱۶. Fresh semen were selectedfrom the experimental the two groups. After liquefaction of theseminal fluid at room temperature, routine semen analyses wereperformed. Seminal plasma from semen was separated by centrifugation.HBPs were purified from heparin-agarose affinitycolumn by sutable elution buffer. HBPs concentration was estimatedby Lowry’s method. The purified HBPs were resolved onSodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis tocheck the protein profile. The measured antioxidant parametersinclude total antioxidant status, total reactive oxygen specieslevels; nitric oxide levels and NO synthase activity.Results: The mean values of HBPs concentrations in controlgroup and in asthenospermic group were ۴.۳۱ ± ۰.۱۱ and ۳.۵۱ ±۰.۱۷, mg/mL, respectively. The values HBPs were significantlyhigher (P<۰.۰۱) in control when compared to asthenospermicgroup. ۳۳ kDa HBP was more intensely existed in controlgroup, thus may indicate it’s linked to fertility plausible. Thebiochemical parameters that measured were compared amongfertile controls and infertile patients. NO synthase activity; reactiveOxygen species levels and nitric oxide levels were significantlyhigher in the infertile patients compared to the fertilegroup. Conversely, total antioxidant was significantly higher inthe fertile group than the infertile patients.Conclusion: HBPs concentrations correlated with antioxidantslevels. The decrement of HBPs concentrations may be one ofthe central relations to cause idiopathic asthenospermia.

کلیدواژه ها:

Heparin-Binding Proteins ، Asthenospermia ، Nitric Oxide ، Nitric Oxide Synthetase ، Total Antioxidant