Electrophoretic characterization of the human sperm-specific enolase at different stages of maturation

J Androl. 2004 Sep-Oct;25(5):824-9. doi: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.2004.tb02861.x.

Abstract

The presence of a sperm-specific enolase isoform (ENO-S) in human ejaculated spermatozoa was previously demonstrated. The objective of this study was to characterize this ENO-S in spermatozoa at different steps of maturation. Sperm ENO-S was characterized in testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated spermatozoa to determine whether any change occurred in the isoform patterns of this enzyme during epididymal maturation. In testicular sperm, ENO-S was present under 2 main bands named S1 and S3. In epididymal sperm, S1 and S3 bands and a prominent additional S2 band, with the same electrophoretic properties as the S isoform of ejaculated sperm, were visualized. In the testicular extracts obtained from testes in which no spermatozoa were visualized by histologic analysis, none of the 3 ENO-S bands was found. ENO-S exists as different isoforms (electrophoretic variants) in the different stages of sperm maturation. Passage through the epididymis seems to play a major role in the maturational process of this sperm-specific enolase.

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Electrophoresis
  • Epididymis / cytology
  • Epididymis / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / analysis
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms / analysis
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism*
  • Sperm Maturation / physiology*
  • Spermatozoa / cytology*
  • Spermatozoa / enzymology*
  • Testis / cytology
  • Testis / enzymology

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase