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Sperm acrosomal membrane proteins, such as Izumo sperm-egg fusion 1 (IZUMO1) and sperm acrosome-associated 6 (SPACA6), play essential roles in mammalian gamete binding or fusion. How their biosynthesis is regulated during spermiogenesis has largely remained elusive. Here, we show that 1700029I15Rik knockout male mice are severely subfertile and their spermatozoa do not fuse with eggs. 1700029I15Rik is a type-II transmembrane protein expressed in early round spermatids but not in mature spermatozoa. It interacts with proteins involved in N-linked glycosylation, disulfide isomerization, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi trafficking, suggesting a potential role in nascent protein processing. The ablation of 1700029I15Rik destabilizes non-catalytic subunits of the oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex that are pivotal for N-glycosylation. The knockout testes exhibit normal expression of sperm plasma membrane proteins, but decreased abundance of multiple acrosomal membrane proteins involved in fertilization. The knockout sperm show upregulated chaperones related to ER-associated degradation (ERAD) and elevated protein ubiquitination; strikingly, SPACA6 becomes undetectable. Our results support for a specific, 1700029I15Rik-mediated pathway underpinning the biosynthesis of acrosomal membrane proteins during spermiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the presence of self‐reactive immune responses to seminal and prostate antigens (PAg), biomarkers of inflammation of the male genital tract, and semen quality parameters in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Patients, Subjects and Methods: Peripheral blood and semen samples were collected from patients with CP/CPPS and age‐matched healthy control volunteers. We analysed the lymphoproliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to different seminal plasma (SP)‐derived and purified PAg, serum autoantibodies specific to PAg, leucocyte subpopulations, and inflammatory cytokines in semen, sperm apoptosis/necrosis, and semen quality parameters. Results: Significantly greater PBMC proliferative responses specific to PAg, with elevated secretion of interferon (IFN)γ and interleukin (IL)‐17, were detected in the patients with CP/CPPS vs the controls. Moreover, the patients with CP/CPPS had significantly greater serum immunoglobulin G immune reactivity to SP proteins, such as prostate‐specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase, than the controls. Inflammation of the male genital tract was exemplified by high levels of IFNγ, IL‐17, IL‐1β and IL‐8, as well as higher counts of leukocytes, mainly CD4 T lymphocytes and macrophages, in the semen. In addition, this local inflammation was associated with an overall diminished semen quality, i.e., reduced sperm concentration, motility and viability; and higher levels of sperm apoptosis/necrosis in patients with CP/CPPS vs controls. Conclusion: Patients with CP/CPPS show T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 immune responses specific to PAg associated with chronic inflammation of the male genital tract and reduced semen quality. These immune responses may underlie the induction and development of chronic pelvic pain and inflammation of the male genital tract, which in turn could alter normal prostate functioning and impair semen quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidation of Sperm thiol during sperm maturation is important for sperm components stabilization, the acquisition of sperm motility and the fertilizing ability. The aim of the present study was to measure the sulfhydryloxidase concentration in serum and semen and to look for the association between seminal plasma sulfhydryl oxidase with some of semen parameters in infertile male. The current study included three groups of Iraqi male, 30 infertile patients (15 with oligospermia, 15 with azoospermia) and 15 fertile healthy as a control group. Serum and semen sulfhydryl oxidase concentration was measured in all studied groups. The results of the comparison between this parameters in fertile and non fertile individuals showed. A significant decrease (p< 0.05) in serum sulfhydryl oxidase concentration of oligospermia, a highly significant increase (p< 0.001) of azoospermia. Meantime highly significant increase (p< 0.001) in semen sulfhydryl oxidase concentration of azoospermia, a highly significant decrease (p< 0.001) of oligospermia group. As well as highly significant variations (p< 0.001) between these two patients groups in serum and semen were observed. The personal correlation revealeda significant positive correlation between serum & semen sulfhydryl oxidase concentration in oligospermia group (r = 0.79*, p<0.05). Meanwhile, the correlation between semen SOx in fertile and infertile group with semen parameters revealed a significant positive correlation between semen sulfhydryl oxidase concentration and sperm progressive motility in oligospermia group (r=o.61*, p<0.05) with no correlation with semen count was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Phthalates are environmental chemicals with reproductive toxicity and estrogenic effects in animals. They are of increasing concern to human health. Aim: To determine whether phthalate levels in semen were associated with infertility. Methods: Using semen samples from 107 infertile and 94 fertile men, the presence and quantity of five phthalate esters were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using data collected from questionnaires and clinical examinations, the correlation between phthalate exposure and semen quality was analyzed. Results: The cumulative levels of the measured phthalate esters were significantly higher in the infertility group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Concentrations of the five phthalate esters in men varied by age with older men showing higher cumulative levels. Conclusions: The presence of phthalates may contribute to male infertility in our study population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]