Understanding the seminal plasma proteome and its role in male fertility

Author(s)

Camargo, Mariana ^[1] ; Intasqui, Paula ^[1] ; Bertolla, Ricardo Pimenta ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Urol, Dept Surg, R Embau 231, BR-04039060 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Hosp Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: BASIC AND CLINICAL ANDROLOGY; v. 28, JUN 4 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

Seminal plasma is a complex fluid comprised of secretions from the seminal vesicles, the prostate, bulbourethral glands and from the seminiferous tubule lumen / epididymides / vasa deferentia. While it has been established that seminal plasma serves not only as a medium to carry, protect, and nourish sperm after ejaculation up to fertilization, but also as a functional modulator of sperm function, there is still a need to properly characterize the molecular make-up of seminal plasma in fertile men, and to understand how this is altered in different causes of male infertility. The main purpose of this manuscript was to review articles that studied the human seminal plasma proteome, ranging from characterizing a fertile seminal plasma proteomic map to studies comparing seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men, and comparing seminal plasma of fertile or normozoospermic men to a diverse range of biological causes for male infertility. Finally, this review has focused on the association between semen and sperm functional quality and the seminal plasma proteome, in order to demonstrate cellular and molecular mechanisms of male infertility. Due to the untargeted nature of the majority of the studies presented in this review, and to the diverse range of techniques utilized to study the seminal plasma proteomic composition, many differentially expressed proteins were observed. However, in general, it seems that there is a seminal plasma proteome associated to male fertility, and that different biological conditions or cellular phenotypes shift its pathways away from its homeostatic condition to altered energy production pathways. Moreover, it seems there is an inflammatory component to the seminal plasma of infertile men. In conclusion, there are a number of studies focused on the proteomic composition of human seminal plasma; downstream confirmatory studies will help to understand specific pathways of infertility in different biological conditions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/17185-6 - Confirmatory proteomic analysis of biomarkers of sperm functional alteration and seminal oxidative stress
• Grantee: Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11493-0 - Confirmatory proteomic analysis of a panel of seminal biomarkers of sperm functional abnormalities and semen oxidative stress
• Grantee: Paula Intasqui Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate