Protamine 1/Protamine 2 mRNA ratio in nonobstructive azoospermic patients

Sofia Amjad, Shamim Mushtaq, Rehana Rehman, Adnan Munir, Nida Zahid, Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddique

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10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Altered protamine 1 (PRM1)/ protamine 2 (PRM2) mRNA ratio in testicular biopsy samples correlates with sperm quality and its fertilising ability. This study is planned to assess PRM1/ PRM2 mRNA ratio in subgroups of azoospermia to suggest a more reliable and accurate marker for assessing sperm quality in nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). A cross-sectional study was done on testicular biopsy samples, taken from 106 azoospermic patients. Samples were histologically classified into subgroups: 36 obstructive azoospermia (OA), and two groups of NOA: 41 round spermatid maturation arrest (SMA) and 29 Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). OA samples showed histologically normal spermatogenesis and serve as a positive control. mRNA expression of jumonji domain-containing 1A (JMJD1A), PRM1, PRM2 and transition nuclear proteins (TNP1, TNP2) genes was determined, by RT-qPCR. Significantly lower expression of JMJD1A (p <.001), PRM1 (p =.0265) and PRM2 (p =.0032) has been seen in the SCOS group of NOA. We found significant (p <.001) increase in PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio in testicular biopsy samples of SCOS group of NOA patients and significant negative correlation of PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio with JMJD1A. Hence, PRM1/PRM2 mRNA ratio may represent a more reliable and accurate marker to assess sperm quality in NOA in addition to standard semen parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere13936
JournalAndrologia
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • Sertoli cell-only syndrome
  • azoospermia
  • nonobstructive azoospermia
  • protamine 1/protamine 2 mRNA ratio
  • round spermatid maturation arrest

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