• PMID: 27789183
• Gene Name: NDUFA13
• Condition: Asthenozoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Asthenozoospermia

Expression of NDUFA13 in asthenozoospermia and possible pathogenesis

Yang Y, Cheng L, Wang Y, Han Y, Liu J, Deng X, Chao L.

Asthenozoospermia is a common cause of male infertility, which is characterized by reduced forward motility of spermatozoa. The cause and pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1 alpha subcomplex, 13 (NDUFA13) in the spermatozoa of men with asthenozoospermia and its possible pathogenesis. Protein content of NDUFA13 in spermatozoa was measured by Western blot analysis. The results showed that NDUFA13 expression in spermatozoa was significantly lower in men with asthenozoospermic than in men with normozoospermia (P < 0.01). Immunofluorescence experiments showed that NDUFA13 was expressed predominantly in the sperm mid-piece. A lower mitochondrial membrane potential, a higher intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and more apoptotic cells were also detected in men with asthenozoospermia. NDUFA13-specific small interfering RNA was used in the mouse spermatocyte GC2-spd cell line to down-regulate the expression of NDUFA13. The knockdown of NDUFA13 in the GC2-spd cells caused a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, an increase in ROS level and more apoptotic cells. Our study showed that NDUFA13 deficiency may be associated with asthenozoospermia through the disturbance of spermatozoa mitochondrial membrane potential and by increasing apoptosis and intracellular ROS. CI - Copyright © 2016 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. FAU - Yang, Yang AU - Yang Y AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. FAU - Cheng, Laiyang AU - Cheng L AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. FAU - Wang, Ying AU - Wang Y AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. FAU - Han, Yilong AU - Han Y AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. FAU - Liu, Jin AU - Liu J AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China. FAU - Deng, Xiaohui AU - Deng X AD - Infertility Center, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, PR China.