Seminal clusterin gene expression associated with seminal variables in fertile and infertile men.

PURPOSE: CLU is a disulfide linked, heterodimeric protein associated with the clearance of cellular debris and apoptosis. We assessed the association of seminal CLU gene expression with seminal variables in fertile and infertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 124 men were divided into healthy, fertile men with normozoospermia, and men with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. History was obtained, and clinical examination and semen analysis were done. In semen we assessed sperm acrosin activity, sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal CLU gene expression. RESULTS: CLU RNA and CLU protein gene expression were significantly increased in semen samples of infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia > asthenoteratozoospermia > asthenozoospermia compared with healthy, fertile controls. CLU gene expression significantly correlated negatively with sperm count, motility, acrosin activity index, linearity index and linear velocity, and significantly correlated positively with the percent of sperm abnormal forms and DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSION: CLU gene expression was significantly increased in the semen samples of infertile men. It correlated negatively with sperm count, motility, acrosin activity, linearity index and linear velocity, and positively with the percent of sperm abnormal forms and DNA fragmentation.

In vitro effect of cell phone radiation on motility, DNA fragmentation and clusterin gene expression in human sperm.

BACKGROUND: Use of cellular phones emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) has been increased exponentially and become a part of everyday life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of in vitro RF-EMF exposure emitted from cellular phones on sperm motility index, sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal clusterin (CLU) gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, a total of 124 semen samples were grouped into the following main categories: i. normozoospermia (N, n=26), ii. asthenozoospermia (A, n=32), iii. asthenoteratozoospermia (AT, n=31) and iv. oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT, n=35). The same semen samples were then divided into two portions non-exposed and exposed samples to cell phone radiation for 1 hour. Before and immediately after exposure, both aliquots were subjected to different assessments for sperm motility, acrosin activity, sperm DNA fragmentation and CLU gene expression. Statistical differences were analyzed using paired t student test for comparisons between two sub-groups where p<0.05 was set as significant. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in sperm motility, sperm linear velocity, sperm linearity index, and sperm acrosin activity, whereas there was a significant increase in sperm DNA fragmentation percent, CLU gene expression and CLU protein levels in the exposed semen samples to RF-EMF compared with non-exposed samples in OAT>AT>A>N groups, respectively (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cell phone emissions have a negative impact on exposed sperm motility index, sperm acrosin activity, sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal CLU gene expression, especially in OAT cases.