Cyclin A1 and gametogenesis in fertile and infertile patients: A potential new molecular diagnostic marker

Mark Schrader, Carsten Müller-Tidow, Stuart Ravnik, Markus Müller, Wolfgang Schulze, Sven Diederichs, Hubert Serve, Kurt Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The study aim was to evaluate cyclin A1 mRNA expression levels as a potential molecular diagnostic parameter in the work-up of testicular tissue from fertile versus infertile patients. Methods: Cyclin A1 expression was quantified in 55 cryopreserved testicular tissue specimens by fluorescence real-time RT-PCR. A conventional histological work-up was performed concomitantly in all tissue specimens with additional semi-thin sectioning in all cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (n = 12), maturation arrest (n = 17) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS; n = 9). Results: The mean (± SD) normalized cyclin A1 expression (NCyclinA1) was 3.82 ± 2.23 relative gene expression (RGE) in tissue specimens with normal spermatogenesis, and 0.625 ± 0.221 RGE in those with maturation arrest at the level of early spermatids. Only minimal NCyclinA1 was detected in tissue specimens with spermatogonia only or maturation arrest at the level of primary spermatocytes (0.005 ± 0.008). Cyclin A1 expression was absent in the majority of SCOS specimens (0.002 ± 0.002). Conclusions: These investigations suggested that cyclin A1 expression is altered in cases of spermatogenic disorders. Moreover, the level of cyclin A1 mRNA expression correlates with gametogenic disorders and seems well suited for a molecular-diagnostic classification supplementing the histopathological evaluation of spermatogenic disorders.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2338-2343
Number of pages6
JournalHuman Reproduction
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2002

Keywords

  • Cyclin A1
  • Cyclin-dependent kinase
  • Male fertility
  • Spermatogenesis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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