Levels of the retinoic acid synthesizing enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase-1A2 are lower in testicular tissue from men with infertility
Author
dc.contributor.author
Amory, John K.
Author
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Arnold, Samuel
es_CL
Author
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Lardone, María C.
es_CL
Author
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Piottante, Antonio
es_CL
Author
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Ebensperger, Mauricio
es_CL
Author
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Isoherranen, Nina
es_CL
Author
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Muller, Charles H.
es_CL
Author
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Walsh, Thomas
es_CL
Author
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Castro, Andrea
es_CL
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2015-01-08T14:23:54Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2015-01-08T14:23:54Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2014
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Fertility and Sterility® Vol. 101, No. 4, April 2014
en_US
Identifier
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DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.12.053
Identifier
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https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/129616
General note
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Artículo de publicación ISI
en_US
Abstract
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Objective: To determine whether decreased testicular levels of enzymes necessary for retinoic acid biosynthesis were associated with
male infertility, as retinoic acid is known to be necessary for spermatogenesis.
Design: Observational analysis of testicular tissue samples, sperm indices, and serum hormone concentrations.
Setting: Two infertility centers in Chile.
Patient(s): 32 infertile men and 11 control men.
Intervention(s): Measurement of the three enzymes necessary for retinoic acid biosynthesis, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 1A1,
1A2, and 1A3, in testicular tissue by a novel liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) peptide assay.
Main Outcome Measure(s): ALDH isozyme levels compared by type of infertility and correlated with testicular germ cell numbers,
sperm parameters, and serum and intratesticular hormone concentrations.
Result(s): Men with infertility had statistically significantly reduced levels of ALDH1A2 but not ALDH1A1 or ALDH1A3 in their testicular
tissue compared with men with normal spermatogenesis. The ALDH1A2 protein levels were strongly correlated with the number of
germ cells found via testicular biopsy.
Conclusion(s): These findings suggest that ALDH1A2 is the enzyme involved in retinoic acid biosynthesis in human germ cells. Further
study of the relationship between intratesticular ALDH1A2 and male infertility is warranted to
determine whether men with infertility have a reduced ability to synthesize retinoic acid within
their germ cells that could impair spermatogenesis.