• PMID: 20352323
• Gene Name: SEPT7
• Condition: Absence correlated with multiple sperm defects
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Absence correlated with multiple sperm defects

The expression pattern of SEPT7 correlates with sperm morphology

Chao HC, Lin YH, Kuo YC, Shen CJ, Pan HA, Kuo PL.

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression pattern of the SEPT7 protein during spermatogenesis and its potential role in sperm function. METHODS: We first investigated the expression pattern of SEPT7 during different steps of mouse spermiogenesis using an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). IFA was also applied to study the expression pattern of SEPT7 in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Nine fertile men with normal semen parameters were used as the control group, and 21 infertile men with asthenozoospermia were recruited as the patient group. We assessed the frequency of the SEPT7 signal in the various morphological subgroups. RESULTS: In humans, the frequency of a defective SEPT7 signal was significantly increased in men with asthenozoospermia. The absence of a SEPT7 signal was more prevalent in sperm containing morphological defects of various types. CONCLUSIONS: The expression pattern of SEPT7 suggested that this protein may be involved in the regulation of subcellular-compartment formation during spermiogenesis in the mouse. The absence of a SEPT7 signal correlated with multiple sperm defects. FAU - Chao, Hsin-Chih Albert AU - Chao HC AD - Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine and Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan. chao531018@hotmail.com FAU - Lin, Ying-Hung AU - Lin YH FAU - Kuo, Yung-Che AU - Kuo YC FAU - Shen, Chiung-Jiung AU - Shen CJ FAU - Pan, Hsian-Ann AU - Pan HA