[Expression and location of SPAG9 in human ejaculated spermatozoa].

OBJECTIVE:SPAG9, as a member of the MAPK family, plays an important role in sperm-egg fusion. This study aimed to detect the expression of SPAG9 in human ejaculated spermatozoa. METHODS:Different human tissues (as from the muscle, liver, esophagus, lung, stomach, kidney, prostate, uterus, testis and epididymis) and semen samples were obtained from healthy volunteers, and semen analyses were performed according to the WHO criteria. Human ejaculated spermatozoa were purified by discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation to rule out the contamination of germ cells and leucocytes. RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of SPAG9 in human spermatozoa. RESULTS:RT-PCR showed that SPAG9 mRNA was expressed in different tissues and human ejaculated spermatozoa. Indirect immunofluorescence studies revealed the location of SPAG9 protein in the equatorial plate and flagella of human spermatozoa. CONCLUSION:SPAG9 is expressed in ejaculated spermatozoa and may play a role in sperm capacitation and motility.