abstract
Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the most common genetic cause of human infertility, but the mechanism(s) responsible for its phenotype remain largely unknown. KS is associated with alterations in body composition and with a higher risk of developing metabolic diseases. We therefore hypothesized that KS men seeking fertility treatment possess an altered testicular metabolism profile that may hamper the nutritional support of spermatogenesis. Testicular biopsies from control (46, XY) (n=6) and KS (47, XXY) (n=6) individuals were collected and analyzed by proton high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mRNA and protein expression of crucial glycolysis-associated enzymes and transporters were evaluated in parallel by quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. Our data revealed altered regulation of glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT3); phosphofructokinase 1, liver isoform (PFKL); and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) expression in the testis of KS patients. Moreover, we detected a severe reduction in lactate and creatine accumulation within testicular tissue from KS men. The aberrant levels of the biomarkers detected in testicular biopsies of KS men may therefore be associated with the infertility phenotypes presented by these men. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 208-216, 2016. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
keywords
HUMAN SERTOLI-CELLS; GLYCOLYTIC PROFILE; MALE-INFERTILITY; IN-VITRO; MOLECULAR-MECHANISMS; INSULIN DEPRIVATION; METABOLIC SYNDROME; DIABETES-MELLITUS; ROUND SPERMATIDS; OXIDATIVE STRESS
subject category
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Developmental Biology; Reproductive Biology
authors
Alves, MG; Martins, AD; Jarak, I; Barros, A; Silva, J; Sousa, M; Oliveira, PF
our authors
Groups
acknowledgements
Grant sponsor: Supported by the Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-FCT: M.G. Alves (SFRH/BPD/80451/2011 and PTDC/BIM-MET/4712/2014); P.F. Oliveira (SFRH/BPD/108837/2015); CICS-UBI (Pest-C/SAU/UI0709/2014); UMIB (Pest-OE/SAU/UI0215/2014), and co-funded by FEDER via Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade-COMPETE/QREN & FSE and POPH funds.