Seminal Plasma Protein N-Glycan Peaks Are Potential Predictors of Semen Pathology and Sperm Chromatin Maturity in Men

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Tihana Marić
• Author: Ana Katušić Bojanac
• Author: Ana Matijević
• Author: Marcello Ceppi
• Author: Marco Bruzzone
• Author: Evangelini Evgeni
• Author: Tea Petrovic
• Author: Iwona Wójcik
• Author: Irena Trbojevic-Akmacic
• Author: Gordan Lauc
• Author: Davor Ježek
• Author: Aleksandra Fučić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Histology and Embryology)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Medical Biology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Cytology, Histology and Embryology

Abstract (english)

Background: Male infertility is increasingly becoming a health and demographic problem. While it may originate from congenital or acquired diseases, it can also result from environmental exposure. Hence, the complexity of involved molecular mechanisms often requires a multiparametric approach. This study aimed to associate semen parameters with sperm DNA fragmentation, chromatin maturity and seminal plasma protein N-glycosylation. ----- Methods: The study was conducted with 166 participants, 20–55 y old, 82 normozoospermic and 84 with pathological diagnosis. Sperm was analyzed by Halosperm assay and aniline blue staining, while seminal plasma total protein N-glycans were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. ----- Results: Sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly increased in the pathological group and was inversely correlated with sperm motility and viability. Seminal plasma total protein N-glycans were chromatographically separated in 37 individual peaks. The pattern of seminal plasma N-glycan peaks (SPGP) showed that SPGP14 significantly differs between men with normal and pathological semen parameters (p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that when sperm chromatin maturity increases by 10%, SPGP17 decreases by 14% while SPGP25 increases by 25%. ----- Conclusion: DNA integrity and seminal plasma N-glycans are associated with pathological sperm parameters. Specific N-glycans are also associated with sperm chromatin maturity and have a potential in future fertility research and clinical diagnostics.

• Keywords (english): DNA fragmentation; Halosperm; N-glycosylation; aniline blue; male infertility; seminal plasma; sperm; sperm chromatin maturity
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Life
• Numbering: vol. 11, no. 9, 989
• e-ISSN: 2075-1729
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/life11090989
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:076068
• Publication: 2021-09-20
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/9/989
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-04-21 07:30:35