• PMID: 8270377
• Gene Name: ITGA4
• Condition: Teratozoospermia
• Association: VLA alpha 5 (the alpha-chain of the fibronectin receptor) showed the most significant difference between the "normal" and teratozoospermic semen sample groups. This phenomenon could contribute to the explanation of a lower fertilizing capacity of teratozo
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: VLA alpha 4, VLA alpha 5 and laminin
• Other associated phenotypes: Teratozoospermia

Semen samples with teratozoospermia show a lower percentage of spermatozoa with detectable adhesion molecules (AM)

Glander HJ, Schaller J.

Adhesion molecules (AM) are cell surface proteins which interact with ligands and mediate cell-cell bindings. Possibly, the AM are involved in the spermatozoal adhesion to oocytes. Human spermatozoa showed several adhesion molecules on their surface: the alpha chains of the beta 1-integrins VLA alpha 4 (CDw 49d), VLA alpha 5 (CDw 49e) and VLA alpha 6 (CDw 49f), the beta-chain of beta 2-integrins (CD 18) and the matrix proteins laminin and fibronectin. Semen samples with severe teratozoospermia were characterized by a significantly lower percentage (P < 0.01) of spermatozoa with VLA alpha 4, VLA alpha 5 and laminin. VLA alpha 5 (the alpha-chain of the fibronectin receptor) showed the most significant difference between the "normal" and teratozoospermic semen sample groups. This phenomenon could contribute to the explanation of a lower fertilizing capacity of teratozoospermic semen samples. FAU - Glander, H J AU - Glander HJ AD - Department of Dermatology/Andrology, University of Leipzig, Germany.