• PMID: 24386917
• Gene Name: NOS3
• Condition: Idiopathic asthenozoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 85
• Population details: 85 (40 infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia, 45 normozoospermic fertile donors)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Idiopathic asthenozoospermia

Human leucocytes in asthenozoospermic patients: endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression

Buldreghini E, Hamada A, Macrì ML, Amoroso S, Boscaro M, Lenzi A, Agarwal A, Balercia G.

In a basic study at the Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, we evaluated the pattern of mRNA endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in human blood leucocytes isolated from normozoospermic fertile and asthenozoospermic infertile men to elucidate any pathogenic involvement in sperm cell motility. Forty infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia and 45 normozoospermic fertile donors, age-matched, were included. Semen parameters were evaluated, and expression analysis of mRNA was performed in human leucocytes using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Sperm volume, count, motility and morphology were determined, and eNOS expression and Western blotting analyses were performed. A positive correlation was observed between the concentrations of NO and the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. The mRNA of eNOS was more expressed in peripheral blood leucocytes isolated from asthenozoospermic infertile men versus those of fertile normozoospermic men (7.46 ± 0.38 versus 7.06 ± 0.56, P = 0.0355). A significant up-regulation of eNOS gene in peripheral blood leucocytes was 1.52-fold higher than that of fertile donors. It is concluded that eNOS expression and activity are enhanced in blood leucocytes in men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia. CI - © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. FAU - Buldreghini, E AU - Buldreghini E AD - Andrology Unit, Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, School of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy. FAU - Hamada, A AU - Hamada A FAU - Macrì, M L AU - Macrì ML FAU - Amoroso, S AU - Amoroso S FAU - Boscaro, M AU - Boscaro M FAU - Lenzi, A AU - Lenzi A FAU - Agarwal, A AU - Agarwal A