Characteristics of testis-specific phosphoglycerate kinase 2 and its association with human sperm quality

Study question: Is there an association between the expression of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) 2 in spermatozoa and sperm quality in both elderly men and young asthenozoospermia patients?

Summary answer: Spermatozoa from elderly men and young asthenozoospermia patients show decreased expression of PGK2, which has a close positive relationship with sperm quality.

What is known already: PGK1 and PGK2 are involved in spermatogenesis and thought to be related to sperm motility. However, limited information is known about their temporal-spatial expression in human spermatogenesis and their relationship with sperm quality.

Study design, size, duration: This was a case-control study including 30 healthy young males (aged 28-31 years), 30 elderly men (aged 68-70 years), and 30 asthenozoospermic patients (aged 25-40 years, progressive motility <32%) who donated semen samples. Furthermore, young testes samples were obtained from five fathers (27-33 years old) who had died in car accidents, while aged testes samples were obtained from five elderly fathers (78-82 years old) who were prostate Cancer patients.

Participants/Materials, setting, methods: Semen samples from young adults, elderly men and asthenozoospermic patients were prepared, and their parameters were assessed by Computer-Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA). Sperm proteins were extracted for western blot analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to characterize the cellular localization of PGK1 and PGK2 in testes samples. Sperm immunofluorescence quantification experiments identified the differential expression of PGK1 and PGK2 in sperm from young adults, elderly men and asthenozoospermic patients. Antibodies against PGK1 and PGK2 were used to test their influence on sperm motility and penetration into viscous media. A modified Kremer test using methyl cellulose was adopted to assess sperm function via penetration into viscous media.

Main results and the role of chance: Cellular localization analysis showed that PGK1 was mainly expressed in spermatogonia whereas PGK2 was mainly expressed in round spermatids. Expression levels of both PGKs were significantly decreased in the testis with ageing (P < 0.05). Western blot and immunofluorescence quantification showed markedly lower expression of PGK2 (P < 0.05) in sperm from elderly men or asthenozoospermic patients compared sperm from with healthy young men. Sperm functional analysis validated the close relationship between expression of PGK2 and sperm motility (staining percentage, r = 0.60, P < 0.05; intensity, r = 0.59, P < 0.05). Use of an anti-PGK2 antibody on sperm significantly decreased their ability to penetrate into a cervical mucus substitute (P < 0.05).

Limitations, reasons for caution: Before any clinical applications using PGK2 to assess sperm quality can be developed, more cases should be used to evaluate this approach.

Wider implications of the findings: The study provides new insights into the role of PGKs in male reproduction. The results also indicate that PGK2 is a promising molecular candidate for the assessment of sperm quality and the screening of male contraceptive targets.

Study funding/competing interests: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81300533, 81370013 and 81000277) and Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (ZR2013HQ002). The authors declare no competing financial interests.

PGK2; asthenozoospermia; sperm motility; sperm quality; spermatogenesis; testis.