Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether altered expression and distribution of calcium- and integrin-binding protein-1 (CIB1) is involved in the pathogenesis of patients with oligoasthenozoospermia.
Methods: Sperm samples were obtained from 25 infertile Chinese men who had failed to achieve conception after a period of 1-2 y and had been referred to the Reproductive Laboratory of the second hospital affiliated to the Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Participants were divided into two groups: oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 13) and asthenozoospermia (n = 12); as a third group, fertile men (n = 19) were included as controls. The expression levels of mRNA and protein levels of CIB1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) were measured using qRT-PCR and western blotting.
Results: mRNA and protein expression levels of CIB1 were decreased in the oligoasthenozoospermia patients. Interestingly mRNA and protein expression levels of CDK1 were increased in the oligoasthenozoospermia patients.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that that CIB1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of oligoasthenozoospermia by the CDK1 signaling pathway.