Anti-SYCP1 monoclonal antibody, clone FQS8020(3)

Objective: To establish the quantitative gene-expression profile of nine meiotic genes involved in synapsis and chromosome cohesion (SYCP1, SPO11, MSH4, MSH5, MLH1, MLH3, PMS2, STAGS, and REC8) in healthy fertile males. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Research university laboratory and clinical andrology service. Patient(s): Twenty healthy males of proven fertility underwent a vasectomy procedure and four infertile patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS). Intervention(s): Analysis of testicular biopsies from 20 fertile males and four SCOS patients. Main Outcome Measure(s): Quantitative gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction in testicular biopsies. Result(s): Four of the nine genes under study (PMS2, MLH3, MLH1, and REC8) are expressed in both fertile males and SCOS patients. The remaining five genes are only (SYCP1, SPO11, MSH4, and MSH5) or mainly (STAGS) expressed in fertile males, and thus they could be considered meiotic-specific genes. All genes analyzed are expressed at similar levels among fertile individuals Conclusion(s): Gene expression levels reported in this study could be considered the gene expression profile of fertile population, and could be used to compare with the expression pattern of infertile patients. Expression of meiotic-specific genes could be used as a clinical diagnosis tool to ascertain the origin of some cases of idiopathic male infertility and sterility. (Fertil Steril (R) 2009;92:578-82. (C)2009 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)

We previously identified eight testis-specific genes using antibodies raised against testicular germ cells. They are expressed during spermatogenesis and are presumed to be involved in testicular germ cell differentiation and sperm formation, We have mapped the genomic loci for these testis-specific genes using restriction fragment length variants In interspecific backcross mice. The calmegin gene (Clgn) was mapped to Chr 8, The synaptonemal complex protein gene I (Sycp1) probe hybridized with two sequences on different chromosomes; Sycp1-rs2 was mapped to Chr 3, whereas Sycp1-rs3 was mapped to Chr 7. The relaxin-like factor gene (Rlnl) was mapped. to Chr 8, and collapsin response mediator protein I (Crmp1) was mapped to Chr 5. Three novel genes encoding testis-specific proteins A2 (Tsga2), A8 (Tsga8), and A12 (Tsga12) were mapped to chromosomes 3, X, and 10, respectively. (C) 1997 Academic Press.