Purpose: To identify the pathogenic PLCZ1 mutation involved in male infertility and fertilization failure.
Methods: All coding regions of PLCZ1 were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The expression and localization of PLCZ1 in sperm was determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. To promote the fertilization rate, the infertile man with PLCZ1 mutation was treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) accompanied by assisted oocyte activation (AOA) in the following cycle.
Result: We identified a novel homozygous PLCZ1 nonsense mutation, c.588C>A (p.Cys196Ter) in an infertile man from a consanguineous family. No PLCZ1 protein was detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence in ejaculated sperm from the patient. The treatment of ICSI + AOA avoided fertilization failure but did not result in pregnancy in the following cycle.
Conclusion: Our study confirmed the essential role of PLCZ1 in fertilization and male fertility, which indicated the potential prognostic value of testing for PLCZ1 mutations in primary infertile men with sperm-derived fertilization failure.
Keywords: Fertilization failure; Male infertility; Oocyte activation; PLCZ1; Sperm.