Expression of VASA mRNA in Testis as a Significant Predictor of Sperm Recovery by Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction in Patient With Nonobstructive Azoospermia

Abstract

It would be of value to evaluate whether expression levels of mRNAs playing important roles in spermatogenesis could be used as predictors of successful testicular sperm recovery by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). This study included 52 patients with NOA who underwent therapeutic sperm retrieval by micro-TESE at our institution. We measured expression levels of VASA, outer dense fiber-1 (ODF1), ODF2, and sperm mitochondria-associated cysteine-rich protein (SMCP) mRNAs in testicular tissue specimens obtained from these patients by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Expression patterns of these mRNAs were analyzed focusing on the outcomes of sperm retrieval by micro-TESE. There were no significant differences in age, testicular volume, and serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone between successful and unsuccessful TESE groups; however, the proportion of patients with Sertoli cell only in the successful TESE group was significantly lower than that in the unsuccessful TESE group. Additionally, expression levels of VASA, ODF1, ODF2, and SMCP mRNAs in the successful TESE group were significantly greater than those in the unsuccessful TESE group. Univariate analysis identified histological classification, VASA, ODF1, ODF2, and SMCP expressions as significant predictors of sperm retrieval, of which only VASA mRNA expression appeared to be independently related to micro-TESE outcome on multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that measurement of VASA mRNA in testis could be a useful adjunct to conventional parameters for predicting sperm retrieval by micro-TESE in patients with NOA.

Expression analysis of MND1/GAJ, SPATA22, GAPDHS and ACR genes in testicular biopsies from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients

“…Similar results were obtained with the BOULE mRNA occurrence [24]. Ando et al showed that expression of VASA , ODF1 , ODF2 (outer dense fiber 1 and 2) and SMCP (sperm mitochondria-associated cysteine-rich protein) genes was significantly stronger in the successful TESE group [25]. Other genes expressed in post-meiotic stage may also be good candidates for the prediction of successful fertilization.…”

Splice variants and promoter methylation status of the Bovine Vasa Homology (Bvh) gene may be involved in bull spermatogenesis

“…The phenotype of MA and male sterility in cattle-yak hybrids [13] is consistent with the phenotype of Mvh gene knockout mice [10], suggesting that the mRNA levels of Bvh in the testicular tissue may be associated with the male sterility of cattle-yak hybrids. Ando et al [43] found that transcription levels of Vasa in testicular tissue of successful testicular sperm extraction (TESE) patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) were higher than that of unsuccessful TESE groups, and suggested that measuring Vasa mRNA in testis could be a useful adjunct to conventional parameters for predicting sperm retrieval by micro-TESE in patients with NOA. The Vasa mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in patients with oligozoospermia: their mRNA level was only 1/5 of the normozoospermic men [44].…”

Local Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protects Testicular Torsion-induced Germ Cell Injury

“…Some seminiferous tubules near OFSCs showed mature spermatogenesis ( Figure 5D,E, white arrow), and some did not ( Figure 5D,E, black arrow). Antibodies against human/rat P450, Sox-9, and VASA were used to identify Leydig cells [27], Sertoli cells [28], and sperm [29], respectively. In all 10 testis sections stained with P450, some hB2M-expressing cells differentiated into P450-expressing cells could be observed in each tissue section ( Figure 5E).…”