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Effects of Vasectomy on Gene Expression Profiling along the Human Epididymis.

Thimon V, Calvo E, Koukoui O, Légaré C, Sullivan R

Worldwide, almost 100 millions men rely on vasectomy for male contraceptive purposes. Due to changes in their personal life, an increasing number of these men request surgical vasectomy reversal. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of these men remain infertile, despite the reestablishment of patent ducts, possibly due to epididymal damages caused by vasectomy. In animal models, vasectomy affects different epididymal physiological and biochemical parameters. However, consequences of vasectomy on epididymal functions are poorly understood. Furthermore, results obtained with animal models cannot be extrapolated to human to understand the consequences of vasectomy on epididymal functions. Gene expression along the epididymis is highly regulated. We previously showed that the human epididymal expression pattern of two genes is altered after vasectomy. To complete the list of epididymal genes affected by vasectomy, we analysed the epididymal gene expression pattern of three vasectomised donors, using the affymetrix human GeneChip U133 Plus 2. These results were compared with gene expression pattern of three "normal" donors. The data generated allowed the identification of many human epididymal genes for which the expression is modified after vasectomy. Qt-PCR and western-blot analysis of six selected genes known to be expressed in specific epididymal segments were performed. The Qt-PCR results confirmed the selected transcripts expression pattern deduced from microarray data. However, western-blot analysis revealed some differences in protein distribution along the epididymis when compared to the encoding transcripts expression pattern. These results contribute to the understanding of the reasons why fertility is not recovered in vasovasostomized men even though spermogram values suggest surgical success of vasectomy reversal.

Published 24 April 2008 in Biol Reprod.
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