Relationship between Contents of Lipocalin-Type Prostaglandin D Synthase on the Surface of Infertility Sperm and in Seminal Plasma

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De-Yu Chen^1,2, Mao-Ying Zhu², Ya-Dong Cui², and Tian-Hua Huang^1*

¹Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China; E-mail: thhuang@stu.edu.cn

²Department of Biology, Fuyang Normal College, Fuyang 230632, China; E-mail: chendeyu7104@yahoo.com.cn

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received February 21, 2006; Revision received September 18, 2006

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Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is localized in Leydig cells, sperm, and epithelial cells of the epididymis. The present study was to determine the correlation between content of this enzyme in seminal plasma and on the surface of sperm. We analyzed 90 semen samples. L-PGDS in seminal plasma was analyzed by an ELISA procedure. L-PGDS on sperm was analyzed by flow cytometry. The semen donors were categorized in three groups: normal, oligospermic, and azoospermic. According to results obtained, L-PGDS may have the ability to improve progressive motility of sperm, and L-PGDS in seminal plasma and on sperm surface may impact male fertility in the female reproductive tract.

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KEY WORDS: lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase, sperm, infertility

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297907020125

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