Protamine 1/Protamine 2 mRNA ratio in nonobstructive azoospermic patients. (11th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amjad, Sofia; Mushtaq, Shamim; Rehman, Rehana; Munir, Adnan; Zahid, Nida; Siddique, Pirzada Qasim Raza
• Is Part Of: Andrologia. Volume 53:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-01-11
• Subjects: azoospermia -- nonobstructive azoospermia -- protamine 1/protamine 2 mRNA ratio -- round spermatid maturation arrest -- Sertoli cell‐only syndrome; Andrology -- Periodicals; Infertility, Male -- Periodicals; 616.69
• DOI: 10.1111/and.13936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0303-4569

Abstract

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.