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Expression of the Fas-ligand gene in ejaculated sperm from adolescents with and without varicocele

  • GAMETE BIOLOGY
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Abstract

Purpose

To assess FasL mRNA levels in ejaculated sperm from adolescent patients with and without varicocele.

Methods

Semen was obtained by masturbation following 2–4 days of ejaculatory abstinence, from 14 adolescents with varicocele grades II and III (study group), and 20 adolescents without varicocele (control group). Seminal analysis was done according to World Health Organization guidelines and morphology using Kruger’s strict criteria. The Fas-ligand (FasL) gene expression was performed using reverse transcription and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) analysis, according to the expression level of the housekeeping cyclophilin A gene. A Student’s t-test was applied to compare the groups, and Spearman’s rank test in order to verify possible correlations (p < 0.05).

Results

Quantitative RQ-PCR demonstrated that the expression of FasL mRNA in sperm from the varicocele group was higher than in the control group. Also, sperm concentration was higher in the controls, when compared to the varicocele group. When submitted to correlation analysis, adolescents with varicocele presented a correlation between sperm concentration and FasL gene expression levels (r = −0.470), not observed in controls.

Conclusion

Our results allow us to conclude that, in adolescents with varicocele presenting lower sperm concentration, FasL mRNA levels are higher than in adolescents without varicocele.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Paula Toni Del Giudice, Samira Barbosa Lima, Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla & Agnaldo Pereira Cedenho

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Sao Paulo Federal University, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Marcos Antonio Cenedeze & Álvaro Pacheco-Silva

  3. Sao Paulo Federal University, R Emilio Mallet, 991, ap 52, 03320-000, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Paula Toni Del Giudice

  4. Sao Paulo Federal University, R Borges Lagoa, 933, ap 62, 04038-032, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla

Authors
  1. Paula Toni Del Giudice
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  2. Samira Barbosa Lima
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  3. Marcos Antonio Cenedeze
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  4. Álvaro Pacheco-Silva
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  5. Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla
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  6. Agnaldo Pereira Cedenho
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Correspondence to Paula Toni Del Giudice or Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla.

Additional information

Capsule Adolescent varicocele leads to decreased sperm concentration concomitant with an increase in sperm Fasligand messenger RNA levels.

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Del Giudice, P.T., Lima, S.B., Cenedeze, M.A. et al. Expression of the Fas-ligand gene in ejaculated sperm from adolescents with and without varicocele. J Assist Reprod Genet 27, 103–109 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9384-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9384-9

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