Relationship between Oligozoospermia and Expression of Sperm Phospholipase Cζ

Background: Oligozoospermia refer to a semen with a lowsperm concentration that commonly find in male infertilitypopulation. In recent years, several biomarkers are introducedas evaluation markers of sperm quality that diagnosis fertilitypotential in men. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is considered asmain sperm factor involved in oocyte activation that low or absenceof this protein could be lead to low or failed fertilizationin infertile men candidate for intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate and compare spermparameters, PLCζ at transcription level, and, DNA fragmentationbetween infertile men with normozoospermia and oligozoospermia.Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected frominfertile men referring to Isfahan fertility and Infertility Center.After semen analysis according to world health organization(WHO-۲۰۱۰) criteria, semen samples with sperm concentrationlower than ۱۵ million per millilitre were considered for “oligozoospermia”group and semen samples with normal parametersin related to sperm concentration, motility, and morphologywere considered for “normozoospermia” group. Then, expressionof PLCζ and DNA fragmentation were assessed using RealTime PCR [(data was expressed as threshold cycle (Ct)], andTUNEL assay, respectively. All of the statistical analyses werecarried out using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences(SPSS Inc., Version ۲۳.۰, Chicago, IL, USA) and Independentsample t-test was used for comparison of variations betweentwo groups. P<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: In this study, mean of sperm parameters such as spermconcentration, motility, and morphology were significantlylower in oligozoospermia than normozoospermia groups. Inaddition, mean percentage of DNA fragmentation was significantlylower in oligozoospermia than normozoospermia groups(P<۰.۰۵). Mean of PLCζ CT was significantly higher in infertilemen with oligozoospermia compared to normozoospermicmen. Therefore, expression of PLCζ was low in infertile menwith oligozoospermia.Conclusion: Low expression of PLCζ in sperm from infertilemen with oligozoospermia could be due to anomalies of geneexpression that might be associated with pathogenesis in somesubtypes of male infertility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Phospholipase Cζ ، Oligozoospermia ، DNA Fragmentation ، Sperm Parameters