Expression of Telomerase Activity in Spermatogenesis

Cho, Won Yeol; Park, Nam Cheol; Kim, Chul Min

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated the relationship between spermatogenesis and telomerase activity in sperm pellet and testicular biopsy specimen to define the pathophysiology.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay was used to detect telomerase activity of sperm pellet from 10 normal fertile volunteers, 25 sperm pellet from infertile patients with oligospermia. and 48 testicular tissues from biopsy or orchiectomy followed by various causes. The telomerase activity were compared with the Johnsen score and serum hormonal levels.
RESULTS
Any Telomerase activity was not detected in sperm pellet from normal volunteers and 22 of 25 (88%) sperm pellet from infertile patients with oligospermia. In testicular tissues, telomerase activity was expressed in all patients with normal spermatogenesis, while was not expressed in all with Sertoli cell only syndrome. Of one disorganization & sloughing, 15 hypospermatogenesis and 6 maturation arrest, one (100%), 14 (93.3%) and 5 (83.3%) cases expressed telomerase activity. Frequency and density of telomerase activity were increased according to the increasing of Johnsen score, but no statistical significance. Telomerase activity was not related with serum hormone levels including FSH, LH, T, E2 and prolactin.
CONCLUSIONS
Telomerase appears to be present in testicular tissue that harbors immature germ cells and is absent in tissue that contains only Sertoli cells. These data indicate that measurement of telomerase activity may be a useful predictor of spermatogenic activity for applicating the assisted reproductive technology including testicular sperm extraction in male infertile patient with Sertoli cell only syndrome.