Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Mechanisms by which varicocele causes infertility are not clear and few studies have reported that some miRNAs show expression alterations in men with varicocele. Recently, sperm promoter methylation of MLH1 has been shown to be higher in men diagnosed with varicocele. This study aimed to assess the potential effects of miR-145, which was determined to target MLH1 mRNA in silico on sperm quality and function in varicocele.
METHODS: Sperm miR-145 and MLH1 expressions of six infertile men with varicocele (Group 1), nine idiopathic infertile men (Group 2), and nine fertile men (control group) were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated by TUNEL and the levels of seminal oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed by ELISA.
RESULTS: Our results have shown that sperm expression of miR-145 was decreased in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (P = 0.029). MLH1 expression was significantly higher in Group 2 than the controls (P = 0.048). Total antioxidant level and sperm DNA fragmentations of Group 1 and Group 2 were decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Total antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with sperm concentration (ρ = 0.475, P = 0.019), total sperm count (ρ = 0.427, P = 0.037), motility (ρ = 0.716, P < 0.0001) and normal morphological forms (ρ = 0.613, P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with the seminal oxidative damage (ρ=-0.829, P = 0.042) in varicocele patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study investigating the expressions of sperm miR-145 and MLH1 in varicocele patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential effect of miR-145 on male fertility.
METHODS: Sperm miR-145 and MLH1 expressions of six infertile men with varicocele (Group 1), nine idiopathic infertile men (Group 2), and nine fertile men (control group) were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated by TUNEL and the levels of seminal oxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity were analyzed by ELISA.
RESULTS: Our results have shown that sperm expression of miR-145 was decreased in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (P = 0.029). MLH1 expression was significantly higher in Group 2 than the controls (P = 0.048). Total antioxidant level and sperm DNA fragmentations of Group 1 and Group 2 were decreased (P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Total antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with sperm concentration (ρ = 0.475, P = 0.019), total sperm count (ρ = 0.427, P = 0.037), motility (ρ = 0.716, P < 0.0001) and normal morphological forms (ρ = 0.613, P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with the seminal oxidative damage (ρ=-0.829, P = 0.042) in varicocele patients.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study investigating the expressions of sperm miR-145 and MLH1 in varicocele patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential effect of miR-145 on male fertility.
摘要：
背景：精索静脉曲张导致不育的机制尚不清楚，很少有研究报道某些miRNA在男性精索静脉曲张中显示表达改变。最近,已显示MLH1的精子启动子甲基化在被诊断为精索静脉曲张的男性中更高。这项研究旨在评估miR-145的潜在作用，该作用被确定为在精索静脉曲张中靶向MLH1mRNA对精子质量和功能的影响。
方法：6例精索静脉曲张不育男性（第1组）的精子miR-145和MLH1表达，9名特发性不育男性（第2组），通过定量PCR分析了9名可育男性（对照组）。通过TUNEL评估精子DNA片段，并通过ELISA分析精液氧化损伤水平和总抗氧化能力。
结果：我们的结果表明，与第2组相比，第1组中miR-145的精子表达降低（P=0.029）。第2组MLH1表达显著高于对照组(P=0.048)。第1组和第2组的总抗氧化剂水平和精子DNA碎片降低（分别为P=0.001和P=0.011）。总抗氧化能力与精子浓度呈正相关(ρ=0.475,P=0.019),精子总数(ρ=0.427,P=0.037),精索静脉曲张患者的运动性（ρ=0.716，P<0.0001）和正常形态（ρ=0.613，P=0.001），与精索静脉曲张患者的精液氧化损伤（ρ=-0.829，P=0.042）呈负相关。
结论：这是首次研究精索静脉曲张患者精子miR-145和MLH1的表达。需要进一步的研究来阐明miR-145对男性生育力的潜在影响。
方法：6例精索静脉曲张不育男性（第1组）的精子miR-145和MLH1表达，9名特发性不育男性（第2组），通过定量PCR分析了9名可育男性（对照组）。通过TUNEL评估精子DNA片段，并通过ELISA分析精液氧化损伤水平和总抗氧化能力。
结果：我们的结果表明，与第2组相比，第1组中miR-145的精子表达降低（P=0.029）。第2组MLH1表达显著高于对照组(P=0.048)。第1组和第2组的总抗氧化剂水平和精子DNA碎片降低（分别为P=0.001和P=0.011）。总抗氧化能力与精子浓度呈正相关(ρ=0.475,P=0.019),精子总数(ρ=0.427,P=0.037),精索静脉曲张患者的运动性（ρ=0.716，P<0.0001）和正常形态（ρ=0.613，P=0.001），与精索静脉曲张患者的精液氧化损伤（ρ=-0.829，P=0.042）呈负相关。
结论：这是首次研究精索静脉曲张患者精子miR-145和MLH1的表达。需要进一步的研究来阐明miR-145对男性生育力的潜在影响。
