[Expression of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthase 2 in human testis tissue]

Objective: To investigate the expression of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthase 2 (PRPS2) in the human testis and its clinical significance.

Methods: Using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, we detected the expression of PRPS2 mRNA in the testis tissue of the men with normal spermatogenesis or mile, moderate or severe hypospermatogenesis (HS) and that of the PRPS2 protein in the testicular biopsy tissue of 67 adult males. Then, we analyzed the relationship of the PRPS2 expressions with the testicular histological types and clinical parameters of the subjects.

Results: The expression of PRPS2 mRNA in the testis tissue was significantly higher in the normal spermatogenesis group than in the moderate and severe HS groups (P < 0.01). The positive expression of the PRPS2 protein was 70.0% in the normal spermatogenesis group, 66.7% in the mild HS group, 50.0% in the moderate HS group and 23.8% in the severe HS group, significantly higher in the normal spermatogenesis and mild HS groups than in the moderate and severe HS groups (P < 0.01). No significant correlation, however, was observed between the PRPS2 expression and clinical parameters of the subjects (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: PRPS2 is lowly expressed in the testis tissue of the men with hypospermatogenesis and its expression level may help the diagnosis of male infertility and the prediction of the spermatogenic function of the testis.