CatSper genes expression, semen characteristics and histology of testes in the contusive spinal cord-injured mice model.

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. OBJECTIVE: A recently characterized CatSper genes, encodes for unique Ca(2+) channels in the testes, where they play essential roles in sperm motility. The aim of this research is to evaluate potential changes in the expression of CatSper genes, sperm parameters and testis histology following spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Department of Anatomical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: A total of 75 adult NMRI mice were divided into three groups (25 in each group) of SCI, sham and control. Following laminectomy, SCI group was subjected to injury at the ninth thoracic vertebra. The epididymal sperm parameters were studied at day 1 and at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6 after injury. One testis was removed for morphological study and the other testis were used for molecular study. Reverse transcription-PCR was performed at different time in all the groups. RESULTS: Our results revealed that SCI affects spermatogenesis as well as sperm quality and quantity. In gene expression analysis, there was a significant downregulation of CatSpers 1 and 2 at 4 and 6 weeks following contusion. There were no differences between the semen parameters and CatSper genes expression at the different time points in the sham and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that the SCI mouse model causes a significant reduction in all sperm parameters, along with deleterious effects on spermatogenesis as well as the expression of CatSpers 1 and 2.