Author/Authors :
Mohammadi ، Shabnam نويسنده Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. , , Jalali، Mehdi نويسنده Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , , Nikravesh، Mohammad Reza نويسنده , , Fazel، Alireza نويسنده Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , , Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan، Alireza نويسنده Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan, Alireza , Gholamin، Mehran نويسنده Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , , Sankian، Mojtaba نويسنده ,
Abstract :
Background: CatSper genes are a novel family of four sperm-specific calcium
channels, which indicate testis-specific expression patterns. Despite the crucial role
of CatSper genes in the male reproduction, very little is known about the factors that
regulate their expression.
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of vitamin E treatment on the expression of CatSper 1 and CatSper 2 genes as well as sperm quality in the aged male mice.
Materials and Methods: Twenty four 11-12 months old aged male mice and twenty
four 2-3-months old young male mice were randomly divided into four groups.
Control groups received no injection. The experimental groups of male mice were
received intraperitoneal injection of 106 mg/kg vitamin E daily for 35 days. Left
testis and cauda epididymides from each mouse were collected on the days 21, 28
and 35 following vitamin E treatment and were used for Real-Time PCR and
immunohistochemistry. Also, sperm analysis was performed according to the WHO
guidelines given for human sperm examination. Data were analyzed using SPSS
software.
Results: Administration of vitamin E improved sperm parameters in the aged as
well as young adult male mice. In addition, the expression of CatSper genes
increased following vitamin E treatment. Also, intensity of signal for CatSper1 and
CatSper2 increased in the head and middle piece of sperm in experimental group as
compared to those of control ones.
Conclusion: The vitamin E treatment significantly improved the sperm quality,
especially in terms of sperm motility, count and morphology rate. Furthermore,
CatSper genes expression could be up-regulated by the vitamin E treatment
